Nuclear Testing in South Pacific
When France carried out its first atmospheric test at Mururoa Atoll in the South Pacific in 1966, it allowed a concentrated centre for NZers to direct their anti-nuclear protests towards. The NZ protests towards French nuclear testing in the Pacific was a significant event because it was a milestone for the protest movement in NZ, cementing our position as a country that would speak out when our morals were in violation and would not be barred by political bureaucracy that moved slower than the pace of the people.
After the second world war and the devastating impacts of the USA’s nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, other major powers began developing nuclear weaponry. NZ became concerned with nuclear testing after the development of the hydrogen bomb – especially in 1954 when the atoll of Rongelap, Rongerik and Utirik were contaminated by radioactive fallout, as was the Japanese fishing trawler the Lucky Dragon. In 1959, NZ voted to condemn nuclear testing in the United Nation against the UK, the US, and France due to rising public concern. In 1959 also, the NZ Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (NZCND) was formed by Mary Woodward and Elsie Locke. In 1960, NZ PM Keith Holyoake expressed ‘profound dismay’ at US and Soviet nuclear testing. The long-term impacts of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki increased public concern further, especially concerning British testing in Christmas island and Johnson Atoll. In 1963, the NZ branch of the NZCND presented a petition of 80,238 signatures calling for a Southern Hemisphere Nuclear Free Zone, with the slogan “No Bombs South of the Line.” The partial test ban Treaty was signed in 1964 to ban atmospheric testing, however the French refused to sign it, and in future years this come to the forefront of NZ protests.
In 1961, Algeria gained independence, which was important because it was the nuclear testing area of France. A five-year treaty was signed for France to continue its nuclear testing but in 1966,
After the second world war and the devastating impacts of the USA’s nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, other major powers began developing nuclear weaponry. NZ became concerned with nuclear testing after the development of the hydrogen bomb – especially in 1954 when the atoll of Rongelap, Rongerik and Utirik were contaminated by radioactive fallout, as was the Japanese fishing trawler the Lucky Dragon. In 1959, NZ voted to condemn nuclear testing in the United Nation against the UK, the US, and France due to rising public concern. In 1959 also, the NZ Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (NZCND) was formed by Mary Woodward and Elsie Locke. In 1960, NZ PM Keith Holyoake expressed ‘profound dismay’ at US and Soviet nuclear testing. The long-term impacts of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki increased public concern further, especially concerning British testing in Christmas island and Johnson Atoll. In 1963, the NZ branch of the NZCND presented a petition of 80,238 signatures calling for a Southern Hemisphere Nuclear Free Zone, with the slogan “No Bombs South of the Line.” The partial test ban Treaty was signed in 1964 to ban atmospheric testing, however the French refused to sign it, and in future years this come to the forefront of NZ protests.
In 1961, Algeria gained independence, which was important because it was the nuclear testing area of France. A five-year treaty was signed for France to continue its nuclear testing but in 1966,