01/29 NZ Protest at French Embassy over 6th Nuke Test

[the.greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org]

----------
Original-TO:      World Press (Green2:Green2:Gnl:INET)
Original-Cc:      The Greenbase (Green2:Green2:Gnl:Main)
----------
               ************************
               GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
               ************************
 
>> "LAST EVER TEST?" - GREENPEACE PROTEST AT FRENCH EMBASSY
 
WELLINGTON, 29 January 1996 (GP) Three Greenpeace climbers hung a
large banner saying "Last Ever Test?" off the top of the French
Embassy this morning in protest at France's sixth nuclear bomb
test yesterday.
 
The 6 by 2.5 metre banner and full sized flags of the four 
nations supporting nuclear testing (France, United Kingdom,
China, and the United States) were attached to the front of the
French Embassy floor of the Willis Corroon building at 9.00am. 
The climbers abseiled down 3 floors from the roof.
 
"Greenpeace is not going to stop publicly protesting against
French nuclear testing in the Pacific. This must be the last ever
nuclear bomb test - that's our message to France and the other
nuclear nations" said Kirsty Hamilton, Greenpeace spokesperson in
front of the Embassy. 
 
"Crucial international government talks to agree on a final  ban
on all nuclear testing are being jeopardized - France is
continuing to do whatever it wants, despite last weeks report's
of radiation leakage." 
 
Greenpeace is calling on the French, Chinese and all the nuclear
nations to immediately cease testing and pledge to achieve a zero
threshold test ban in 1996 (ie no testing at all). This is an
essential step to eliminating nuclear weapons.
 
France announced yesterday that its nuclear test measured up to
120 kilotonnes.  The nuclear explosions took place under

Fangataufa Atoll which has already been seriously damaged by past
French weapons tests.   
 
International delegates gathered in Geneva, last week, for the
opening of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) at the United
Nations. CD delegates will decide the language of a Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) over the next six months.
 
While French President Chirac has stated that he supports a CTBT,
it is widely recognised that the French tests have seriously
undermined ongoing CTBT talks.  In addition, China may test again
at its Lop Nor site as early as 19 February.  India may also
decide to test a nuclear weapon before the talks are completed.
 
 
 
 
In all, the United States, Russia, France, Britain, China and
India have conducted 2,043 nuclear tests since 1945.  France and
China are still testing nuclear weapons, and the threat remains
that other nations may resume nuclear tests.   ENDS
 
Contact:  Kirsty Hamilton, Greenpeace NZ  ++64 025-825221
Blair Palese, Greenpeace Communications ++44171-833-0600
Manuel Pinto, Tahiti Greenpeace ++689-433282.
 
 

----------