IAEA Daily Press Review

Notes specific to Mururoa taken from <http://www.iaea.or.at/worldatom/inforesource/pressreview/>.

Number 201, 1995-07-17

President Chirac's Bastille Day declaration on France's nuclear test plans reported. Protests worldwide, but particularly strong in South Pacific Region. Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island unions resolve to step up action against France. Flotilla of 'peace yachts' to sail from Australia and New Zealand to Mururoa Atoll in bid to thwart tests; New Zealand may send Navy to support them. France's rationale for tests questioned. Unknown protestors set fire to French TGV train in Switzerland. French Legionnaires search for Greenpeace protestors on Mururoa. Protestors interrupt embassy party in Rome; other protests reported from UK, Ireland, Japan, Fiji, and South Africa. Australian delegation to have series of meetings with the five declared nuclear weapon powers in support of CTBT. Increasing boycott of French products; Danish Spar supermarket chain has asked all Spar food stores in Europe to join it in French goods boycott; cars, airlines, insurance companies also being affected worldwide.German reaction discussed. 500 scientists at an international congress at Goettingen criticize France.

Number 210, 1995-07-26

Six-year study of global nuclear weapons production by International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War concludes that bombs, although used only twice in a war, have still been responsible for extensive destruction, producing millions of tons of toxic and radwaste, massive environmental damage and untold effects on human health. French deny nuclear test protests are hurting exports although there is an unprecedented campaign of consumer boycotts in Japan; New Zealand has cancelled order for rockets; Australian trade unions are boycotting French materials; Spar supermarkets in Denmark are boycotting French goods and Sweden and parts of Germany are boycotting French alcoholic drinks. The protest flotilla going to Mururoa includes more than 60 politicians from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, Denmark and Austria. Greenpeace suing France over tests. Australian call to confront President Chirac with an international inquiry. Australian Medical Association running advertising campaign in French newspapers to urge French public to protest. Institution of Engineers, Australia has asked the National Council of French Engineers and Scientists for evaluation of further testing at Mururoa. Australian geoscientist calls for inspection of Mururoa after French expert says the atoll could be destabilized by further nuclear detonations. Australian scientist disputes French claim that there is no radiation leakage from nuclear testing at Mururoa. Scientist claims his daughter was one of hundreds of Polynesians killed by radioactivity from French tests. Health hazards after nuclear tests. Call for cancer register in South Pacific. Former French nuclear tests have left radiation beneath Pacific Ocean equivalent to 850 doses that of Hiroshima, according to a French documentary. 130 yachts from 13 nations at 'Sail '95' are flying Greenpeace flags saying "Stop Nuclear Testing'. France mounts media counter offensive. Comment on Australia's U-trade with France. New Zealand is as angry with China as it is with France over testing. Japanese Emperor visits Nagasaki. Comment that US decision to use atomic bombs against Japan just speeded up the inevitable. Atom-bomb films on TV commemorate 50th anniversary.

Number 239, 1995-09-04

Conflicting scientific reports on projected aftermath of French nuclear tests. Tests said to raise suspicions of new French weapons programme. IAEA-MEL publishes report on 1994 dose intercomparison exercise at Mururoa. Executive summary of paper prepared for South Pacific Environment Ministers meeting, 8/95: "The Impact of Nuclear Testing at Mururoa and Fangataufa" (full text available from ADPI). France still to announce when first test will take place; Japan says it is imminent. Protests continue, including hijacking of Paris-bound airplane; bomb blast in Paris market which injured four women; and last ditch attempts to enter exclusion zone at Mururoa which lead to arrest of divers. New Zealand refuses to be drawn into controntation between French military authorities and Greenpeace; French forces boarded Greenpeace ship in international waters. Mood said to be sombre in Australia on realization that France will go ahead with the tests; comment that Australian reaction to French tests 'far from rational'. Australia and New Zealand to lead international protest against French nuclear testing at World Local Government Congress this month in The Hague. Australian seismic monitors on standby. Australian Foreign Minister assures there is no quarrel with French people. French Premier says the tests are 'France's service to peace and for Europe'. UK said to be cool over French offer to extend its nuclear deterrent to rest of EU. Closed EU session on 6/9 to discuss French tests. More on simulated nuclear tests. Nuclear tests and German interests considered. Book review: "Nuclear Wastelands" says though no one has been killed by a nuclear explosion since WWII, "thousands have died in production and testing". Nuclear testing worldwide to date.

Number 255, 1995-09-25

Reports on IAEA GC resolution voicing grave concern at resumptions of nuclear testing; final wording 'watered down'. IAEA considering French request for team of experts to monitor environment at Mururoa at end of test series. More on International Court of Justice rejecting on technical grounds New Zealand's case against French tests; French politician hailed result as 'victory for good sense'. France to cut media access to next test which will be bigger than the first and will take place on 4/10. Sweden leads EU summit French test protests. EU experts at Mururoa. UN Disarmament Conference works on CTBT. Strained relationship between France and Austria analyzed. Greenpeace Mururoa campaign organiser forced to resign. French atom bomb history. German condemnation of French and Chinese tests. Sir Rudolph Peieris whose work led to first atom bomb dies.

Number 258, 1995-09-28

France defends use of Mururoa for tests. Greenpeace loses fourth protest ship to France but is to continue action. Vote at UN GA on France and China's nuclear tests; France and China defend their positions, Japan denounces tests. Call for UK boycott of French products has little impact. EU hearing in 10/95 to determine if any country can block French tests and to hear results of examination of possible links between French tests and New Zealand volcanic eruption. Warning that Mururoa could break up under pressure of tests. Tests affect Club Mediterranee. Explanation why complete nuclear disarmament is real possibility. Paris to bar land mines.

Number 263, 1995-10-05

Controversy continues over fissures in Mururoa atoll; France defends nuclear tests and denounces nuclear cracks reports as "lies." French Defense Ministry says that the situation at Mururoa Atoll is under "perfect scientific and ecological control." If France refuses to provide prompt information on possible health and environmental risks at Mururoa, EU will consider this a violation of the Euratom Treaty. Pacific rim group deplores detonation of France's second nuclear device in a month. EU scientists were reportedly denied access to the atolls where nuclear tests took place, despite being promised full co- operation. Japan will send a mission to Paris to protest French nuclear testing in the Pacific.

Number 264, 1995-10-06

More controversy over fissures in Mururoa atoll; French Minister of Foreign Affairs threatened to sue newspaper Le Monde for "mendacious" allegations about fissures caused by nuclear tests. EU demands France to provide complete information about the consequences of nuclear testing in Mururoa: refusal to be considered a violation of the Euratom Treaty.

Number 268, 1995-10-11

EU Commission avoids open confrontation with France over its nuclear testing. Protests of Polynesian NGOs against French nuclear tests in Mururoa. Recent nuclear test at Fangataufa on 1 October has not increased radiation level in the vicinity, according to French statements. France's ambassador says New Zealand has been a victim of Greenpeace "lies and misinformation" about French tests in the South Pacific.

Detroit News, Aug 5, 1996

China conducted what it says will be its last nuclear test beneath the Lop Nor Desert, and declared a self-imposed moratorium on further explosions. Seismologists estimate the blast registered a magnitude of 4.3, and yielded between one and five kilotons of TNT.

Amoebae found growing in the cooling pipes of a French nuclear plant were killed by a quick dose of chlorine, according to officials. The organisms, which can carry the meningitis virus, were discovered in the Dampierre-en-Burly facility in western Loiret in June. Bathing in the nearby Loire has since been prohibited due to fears of possible non-radioactive contamination.

Detroit News, Oct 21, 1996

The French military announced plans to dismantle its entire nuclear testing facility on Mururoa Atoll in the South Pacific by April of 1997. General Michel Boileau said that the entire area, site of three decades of nuclear blasts, would be "clean" once the operation is completed.

France [also] launched a doomsday health campaign on Monday by distributing iodine pills to every person living near nuclear plants to help protect them from possible cancers in the event of radioactive leaks. The pills are meant to saturate the thyroid with nonradioactive iodine, preventing the gland from absorbing any of the chemical in its radioactive form released by a nuclear accident.