Page 24 - IB AUG 2017

We Say
Keep Pacific nuclear-free

LAST month, the heads of the Pacific’s against the damage caused to the environ-
largest churches met in Auckland, New ment and return it to its original state
Zealand, and voiced concern over contin- 3. That the countries which con-
ued nuclear activities in the region. ducted nuclear testing in the Pacific
They also raised the fact that despite the repatriate all those from the region who
continued cries of the victims of nuclear have been displaced due to nuclear tests
testing in the Pacific, larger nations have ensure the return of these people to their
done nothing to act justly. homelands and make just, equitable com-
The Pacific leaders who gathered in The US nucler testing inthe Marshall Islands in 1946. pensation
Photo: File
Auckland were from the Cook Islands, But that dominion has been corrupted 4. That all nations sign the Treaty of
Fiji, Kanaky (New Caledonia) Kiribati, through irresponsible actions, greed and Rarotonga and pledge to stop all nuclear
Maohi Nui (French Polynesia) Nauru, New irresponsibility – including the creation activities – armament, testing and prolif-
Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and proliferation of nuclear power and eration - in the region in order t5o help
the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and arms. create a cleaner, more peaceful world
Vanuatu. Therefore we call on leaders of govern- 5. That all Pacific nations adopt
They represented several denomina- ment to ensure that: internal policies which stop all nuclear
tions but raised a united voice for the 1. We support the Etaretia Poro- activities – armament, testing and prolif-
people of the region despite ideological, tetani Maohi’s (Maohi Protestant Church) eration - in the region in order t5o help
dogmatic and cultural differences. action in taking the government of France create a cleaner, more peaceful
One leader went as far as to proclaim to court in an effort to seek justice for the 6. That all churches in the Pacific
that the Pacific could not be free until all victims of nuclear testing and communities agree to use their prophetic role to speak
its people were liberated from the present displaced by these tests out against the injustice of nuclear prolif-
threat and past injustices linked to nuclear 2. Countries which conducted eration.
testing. nuclear testing in the Pacific – the US, UK At Islands Business we would add that
This is their statement which we en- and France - act urgently and justly to take it is the duty of every Pacific Islander
dorse: Having met in Auckland, New care of the victims of these activities and to stand united and declare the Pacific
Zealand, in August 2017, the leaders of take every possible measure to mitigate nuclear free.
Pacific Churches reflect with sorrow on
the French government’s nuclear testing
on Mururoa and Fangataufa in Maohi Nui
(French Polynesia) from 1966 to 1966
causing irreparable damage to the fenua
(land, sea and the people). And we note
there has been, as yet, no just reparation ‘ ... At
or compensation for the loss of land, life Islands
and for the severe illnesses and deformi-
ties caused by these tests. Business, we
We also reflect with sorrow on the
United States’ nuclear testing in the North- would like to
ern Pacific from 1946 to 1962 leading to add that it is
untold physical harm and sickness and the
displacement – in some cases for 50 years the duty of
– of the people of those atolls without any
consultation or explanation or reparation. every Pacific
And we note with sadness the failure of Islander to
the United Kingdom to act justly towards
the soldiers and sailors of its former Pacific stand united
colonies who took part in nuclear and
hydrogen bomb testing in waters of the and declare
present-day Kiribati in 1957 and 1958. the Pacific
Many of those men and their descendants
have been diseased or debilitated due to nuclear-free
the effects of testing.
We firmly believe that God created the ... ‘
world in which we live as a means to
sustain mankind – to provide life through
water, air food and shelter.
At the same time we recognise that
humanity has been given dominion of the
earth and all that is in it.

24 Islands Business, August 2017