nuclear-news

The mess that USA atomic bomb tests have left in Mururoa

Effects of nuclear tests in French Polynesia remains a major concern: veterans http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-21/an-french-polynesia-upgrades-former-nuclear-sites/5276042 21 Feb 2014, A veterans’ association in French Polynesia has criticised a senior army official for her apparent lack of concern about the effects of nuclear testing in region.

France conducted nearly 200 nuclear tests in French Polynesia between 1966 and 1996.The French Government has admitted in the past it’s possible the Mururoa atoll could cave in because it has been sapped by the underground tests.The territory is set to embark on a four-year renovation of infrastructure and facilities on former test sites.The Joint Commander of Armed Forces in French Polynesia, Rear Admiral Anne Cullere, has recently toured the area.

She has dismissed the risks of Moruroa atoll collapsing and downplayed concerns of radioactivity levels and the health problems of former test site workers.Rear Admiral Cullere has also been quoted in local media as saying French Polynesian veterans should be proud of their contribution to France.

Roland Oldham, the head of French Polynesia’s nuclear tests veterans association Moruroa e Tatou, has told Pacific Beathe finds her comments shocking and “offensive”.

“Especially when they know that Moruroa e Tatou, the organisation for the victims has been battling for the past 13 years to get compensation and we hardly get any compensation,” he said.”[Rear Admiral Cullere] does know that most of the members of our organisation; we are 4,500 members, but 85 per cent of our members are sick and have problems – mainly cancer.

“Those people are former workers, and when she does (sic) the statement like this I think it’s very sad.”Mr Oldham says previous attempts to fix facilities at the sites have failed and locals have little confidence in the upcoming project.

“We’ve known for many, many years already that the civilian system is down because most of the cables giving the information about movement of the atoll are old and have broken down,” he said.

“I must say that when you look at parts of the atoll, especially the road on the north side of the atoll, the road goes on and then suddenly there is no road.A”All these holes now they’ve blocked with cement, and most of these holes now are under the level of the sea, which is another big worry.”

February 23, 2014 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized