wfn.org | Effects of Nuclear Tests

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                   WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES

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                         PRESS RELEASE

N.B.  EMBARGO 1200 GMT Thursday 13 June 1996

WCC BACKS STUDY ON EFFECTS OF NUCLEAR TESTS IN PACIFIC

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has given US$50,000 from its
"priority issues fund" to help finance the first comprehensive
independent study on the possible consequences of French nuclear
tests on the health and well-being of the people in French
Polynesia.

The study will cost a total of US$200,000 and has been initiated
by the Protestant Church of French Polynesia (Eglise Evang?lique)
and Hiti Tau (a national non-governmental organisation).

Research, to begin in late June, will be conducted by two social
economists from the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands. 
Dr Pieter de Vries and Dr Han Seur expect to conclude their study
by the end of this year.

During the 30 years of French nuclear testing on the atolls of
Moruroa and Fangataufa in French Polynesia there have been many
calls from local and international organisations for an
independent study on the consequences of the nuclear tests on the
health of the Polynesian population.

Short missions of independent scientists (Atkinson Commission in
1983, IPPNW-France in 1990 and M?decins sans Fronti?res in 1995)
have reported omissions in the available data and health
statistics and have called for further research.  These calls
have been in vain until today.

Despite the small amount of public research done on the possible
harmful effects of the tests in French Polynesia, the French
government has always maintained there has been no effect on
health or the environment.

However, these reassurances are not convincing to many people in
French Polynesia.  L'Eglise Evang?lique and Hiti Tau have noted
an increased anxiety among the population about the consequences
of the tests.

As a result, the two organisations have developed the current
project with the support of the World Council of Churches in
Geneva (Switzerland), the Centre de Documentation et de Recherche
sur la Paix et les Conflits (Peace and Conflict Documentation and
Research Centre) in Lyon (France) and the European Centre for
Pacific Issues in Zeist (Netherlands), in collaboration with the
University of Wageningen.

The aims of the project are:

i)	To contribute to a public discussion on the medical, social
and environmental consequences of the nuclear tests for the
French-Polynesian population.

ii)	To obtain solid data on the environmental and health
situation of identified risk-groups, viz. a) Polynesians who
worked at the test-site; b) inhabitants of the islands in an area
of 500 km around the test-site.

The project will begin with a qualitative case-study among a
small group of people.  This will investigate the different
aspects of the possible impact of the nuclear tests on health and
the environment in French Polynesia.

The case-study will then become the basis for the development of
a quantitative survey, based on a questionnaire, to be conducted
among a larger group of persons in October 1996.

It is expected that the qualitative and quantitative studies will
provide reliable data on the impact of the nuclear tests on
health and the environment in French Polynesia.

Note for editors: On 13 June 1995, President Chirac announced the
resumption of nuclear testing in French Polynesia.

For more information:

  Eglise Evang?lique de Polyn?sie Fran?aise
  BP 113 Papeete
  ph: +689-42.00.29  fx: +689-41.93.57
  Contact person: Rev. R. Teinaore, General Secretary

  Hiti Tau
  BP 4611 Papeete
  ph: +689-52.13.71  fx: +689-57.28.80
  Contact-persons:  G. Tetiarahi, general coordinator
                    B. Hahe, project-coordinator

  World Council of Churches
  PO Box 2100
  1211 Geneva 2  Switzerland
  +41-22-791.63.07 (direct)  fx: +41-22-788.00.67
  Contact-person:  J. Doom, secretary, Pacific desk, Unit IV

  Centre de Documentation et de Recherche sur la Paix et les
  Conflits (CDRPC)
  BP 1027  69201 Lyon  France
  ph: +33-78.36.93.03  fx: +33-78.36.36.83 
  Contact-person:  B. Barillot, coordinator

  European Centre for Information on Pacific Issues (ECSIEP)
  PO Box 151  3700 AD Zeist  The Netherlands.
  ph: +31-30-69.27.827 or +31-24-360.12.03  fx: +31-30-69.25.614 
  Contact person:  M. Helmer, coordinator.