01/29 End of French N.Tests 6 Tests Too Late

[the.greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org]

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Original-TO:      World Press (Green2:Green2:Gnl:INET)
Original-Cc:      The Greenbase (Green2:Green2:Gnl:Main)
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               GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
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>>  GREENPEACE: END TO FRENCH TESTING SIX TESTS TOO LATE       
 Jacques Chirac's Visit This Week To Washington Clouded By
Fallout
 
WASHINGTON, January 29, 1996 (GP) Greenpeace renewed its call
for a worldwide end to all nuclear testing following today's
announcement by Jacques Chirac that France has ended its
current series of nuclear tests.  The news follows France's
explosion Saturday of a 120 kiloton nuclear bomb under
Fangataufa atoll in the South Pacific, one of the islands
under French colonial rule already extensively contaminated by
years of French atmospheric nuclear testing.
 
"While we are pleased with the French announcement, it came
six nuclear bombs too late," said Greenpeace anti-nuclear
campaigner Audrey Cardwell.  "Experts worldwide called the six
French tests unnecessary and France should never have
detonated them in the first place. Greenpeace demands this be
the LAST nuclear test the world has to suffer."
 
Chirac's planned State visit to Washington, D.C., this
Thursday comes under a mushroom cloud of controversy.  Chirac
will be met in Washington with protests, including a 1 p.m.
rally Thursday at the White House.  Several members of
Congress are threatening to write letters of protest, and
to boycott his planned address to a joint session of Congress.
 
 
 France's test Saturday occurred just days after the start of
international talks in Geneva to end nuclear weapons tests.
Last May, Presidents Bill Clinton and Jacques Chirac promised
the 120 signatory nations of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty a truly Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996.
However, France immediately began testing and the U.S.--after
pushing for a 'zero yield' CTBT--announced it would conduct a
series of  tests on nuclear weapons starting this
year in Nevada. China and India could also test this year
before a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
is signed.
 
"It is now time for both Clinton and Chirac to display some
leadership instead of hypocrisy and call for an immediate end
to all nuclear tests worldwide," said Cardwell. Following
revelations that radiation in the form of deadly Iodine-131
had leaked from the French test site at Moruroa,  Cardwell
added, "There is no such thing as a harmless nuclear test and
it's scandalous the French continue to lie about the tests'
health and environmental safety."
 
Jacques Chirac last year announced his  irrevocable  decision
to conduct eight nuclear weapons tests in France's Pacific
colonial territories between September, 1995, and May, 1996,
but changed his mind following worldwide protests. French
authorities continue to hold hostage several Greenpeace
vessels, including the Rainbow Warrior and the U.S.-owned
Manutea, hijacked during their peaceful protests at Moruroa.
 
 
CONTACT: Audrey Cardwell, 202.319.2510, Jonathan Hall
319-2542, Deb Rephan 319.2492

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