BANNING NUCLEAR WEAPONS A PACIFIC ISLANDS PERSPECTIVE “For almost 60 years, we have been displaced from our homeland, like a coconut floating in the sea.” – LEMYO ABON, NUCLEAR TEST SURVIVOR, MARSHALL ISLANDS By Nic Maclellan Contributions by Tim Wright, Tilman Ruff, David Donaldson, Jessica Lawson, Jenna Parker, Tatsuya Tomizawa, Sharon Bhagwan Rolls, François Pihaatae and Christopher J. Loeak Published by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Australia in January 2014 This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, provided that ICAN is acknowledged as the source. Contact: [email protected] Cover: The 10.4-megaton “Ivy Mike” shot, conducted by the US at Enewetak Atoll in 1952, was the first successful hydrogen bomb test. This page: A mushroom cloud rises above Moruroa Atoll after a French nuclear test in 1970. Contents Foreword 5 Rev. François Pihaatae, Pacific Conference of Churches Introduction 6 The struggle for a nuclear-free and independent Pacific Timeline 8 The nuclear era in the Pacific Public opposition 10 Resistance to nuclear testing and the build-up of nuclear arms Health impact 13 The long-term effects of nuclear testing in the Pacific Government action 16 Pacific island leaders call for a total ban on nuclear weapons BOXES 1 MARSHALL ISLANDS Nuclear test survivors speak out 7 2 RED CROSS Nuclear weapons must be banned and eliminated 12 3 FEMLINK PACIFIC Women building a more peaceful Pacific 12 4 MORUROA ATOLL Clean-up workers unprotected from radiation 14 5 KIRITIMATI Decades on, physical and emotional wounds remain 15 6 MARSHALLESE PRESIDENT We seek a nuclear-weapon-free world 17 7 RAROTONGA TREATY The South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone 18 The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) is a global coalition of non-government organisations working for a nuclear-weapon-free world. We are urging all nations to start negotiations now on a treaty banning nuclear weapons completely. Find out more at www.icanw.org JOHNSTON (KALAMA) ATOLL 67 US nuclear tests ENEWETAK & BIKINI ATOLLS US nuclear tests 9 31 KIRITIMATI (CHRISTMAS) ISLAND US and UK nuclear tests MALDEN ISLAND UK nuclear tests 3 3 MONTE BELLO 193 ISLANDS MORUROA & UK nuclear tests FANGATAUFA ATOLLS 9 French nuclear tests + 600 “minor trials” EMU FIELD & MARALINGA UK nuclear tests Map: Pacific nuclear test sites From 1946 to 1958, the UNITED STATES conducted 67 atomic and hydrogen bomb tests at Bikini and Enewetak atolls in the Marshall Islands, accounting for 32 per cent of all US atmospheric tests. In the 1960s, there were 25 further US tests at Christmas (Kiritimati) Island and nine at Johnston (Kalama) Atoll. The UNITED KINGDOM tested nuclear weapons in Australia and its Pacific colonies in the 1950s. Starting in 1952, there were 12 atmospheric tests at the Monte Bello Islands, Maralinga and Emu Field in Australia (1952–57). There were also more than 600 “minor” nuclear trials, such as the testing of bomb components and the burning of plutonium, uranium and other nuclear materials, conducted at the Maralinga test site. Under “Operation Grapple”, the British government conducted another nine atomic and hydrogen bomb tests at Kiritimati and Malden islands in the central Pacific from 1957 to 1958. After conducting four atmospheric tests at Reganne (1960–61) and 13 underground tests at In Eker (1961–6) in the Sahara desert of Algeria, FRANCE established its Pacific nuclear test centre in French Polynesia. For 30 years between 1966 and 1996, France conducted 193 atmospheric and underground nuclear tests at Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls. Marshall Islands: Iroji Kebenli, a Marshallese boy, suffered radiation burns to his skin after contact with “Bikini snow” – radioactive ash from US nuclear tests. Credit: US Government Foreword A united Pacific voice to ban nuclear weapons his year marks the 40th year of the Pacific Conference of Churches’ efforts to bring justice to a region affected by nuclear testing. In 1967 the Young Women’s Christian TAssociation and the Student Christian Movement in Suva, Fiji’s capital, convened a meeting on nuclear testing on Moruroa, Maohi Nui (French Polynesia). Two years later, a large march took place in Suva recognition of the intergenerational damage caused against nuclear testing, and after a further five years to the environment and human life by nuclear tests. the PCC Executive Committee passed resolutions in Our people remain in mental turmoil, seeking opposition to tests in the region. But for almost 70 justice for the misuse of their lands and resources. years since the United States’ first Pacific nuclear test The Pacific churches – through leaders such as on Bikini in 1946, church members have been forced Anglican priest Father Walter Lini of Vanuatu, to live with the legacy of this menace. Three of the Methodist Reverend Setareki Tuilovoni of Fiji, and world’s major powers – the US, Britain and France John Doom of the Maohi Protestant Church – – conducted nuclear tests in the Pacific with blatant initiated the battle for justice and the end to nuclear disregard for human life and the environment. testing. And with the resolution of the PCC General This unwanted activity has maimed generations Assembly in 2013, Pacific governments have been of Pacific people and hundreds of European urged to consistently call for the abolition of nuclear servicemen and their families. To this day, they weapons and the just treatment of those affected by continue the fight for justice, knocking on the doors nuclear activities. This must continue despite the aid of governments, pleading for compensation, yet offered by Japan, China, France, the US and Britain. their cries fall on deaf ears. To this end, it is necessary that our regional The families of Fijian servicemen who took leaders – secular and faith-based – recognise the part in tests as part of “Operation Grapple” near threats of nuclear weapons and speak forcefully for Kiritimati Atoll from 1957 to 1958 continue to a ban. In international forums, including conferences wait for compensation from Britain. In Maohi Nui on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons, the (French Polynesia), local landowners remain unpaid Pacific must speak with a united voice to bring about for the damage caused on Moruroa and Fangataufa attitudinal change in the larger nations. We must during nuclear testing between 1966 and 1996. speak out, for if we remain silent the larger countries Today, despite the end of tests in the region, the will be under the misconception that their testing, Pacific continues to face two specific nuclear threats: development and construction of nuclear weapons the persistent radioactive contamination from are acceptable. In this shrinking world, it is quite the tests and the newer issue of fallout from the possible for the Pacific to be affected by nuclear Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. fallout half way across the world in less than a week. In March 2013 the PCC General Assembly in That is why we will continue to call for a global ban Honiara, the Solomon Islands, agreed to remain on nuclear weapons. These weapons are no good for steadfast in its stand against nuclear testing and the Pacific, and no good for the world. for the compensation of victims of this Western influence. The churches recognise that justice is Rev. François Pihaatae an integral part of peace. Many of the Pacific’s GENERAL SECRETARY communities do not have peace because they PACIFIC CONFERENCE OF CHURCHES continue to battle for justice. This includes Suva, Fiji, January 2014 5 Introduction The struggle for a nuclear-free and independent Pacific n 2014 Pacific islanders will mark the 60th anniversary of the “Bravo” nuclear test at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands. This atmospheric nuclear test on 1 March 1954 Ispread radioactive fallout over inhabited islands. Today this date is marked across Oceania as “Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Day”. From the beginning of the nuclear age, Pacific Treaty (SPNFZ), an important regional contribution islands have been used for the development and to global nuclear disarmament. proliferation of nuclear weapons. The plane Enola Even since the end of nuclear testing in the Gay left the Micronesian island of Tinian to carry region in 1996, many Pacific island governments the atomic bomb to Hiroshima in August 1945. have continued to support international efforts for The following year, the United States began nuclear disarmament. In the United Nations General testing nuclear weapons in the Marshall Islands. Assembly and at international summits, Pacific Over the next five decades, more than 315 nuclear nations have voted in favour of resolutions calling test explosions were conducted across the region by for a global treaty banning nuclear weapons. France, Britain and the United States. Seeking “empty” spaces, the Western powers A continuing threat to all humanity chose to conduct Cold War programs of nuclear Today many thousands of nuclear weapons remain testing in the deserts of central Australia or the in the world – more than two decades since the end isolated atolls of the central and south Pacific. of the Cold War. Even though they have the greatest Missile testing ranges in the Pacific still provide destructive capacity of all weapons, they are the only the infrastructure for the development of the weapons of mass destruction not yet prohibited by intercontinental ballistic missiles that are a key an international convention. The detonation of just component of nuclear warfare preparations. one nuclear bomb over a large city could kill more than a million people. The use of tens or hundreds Longstanding public opposition could disrupt the global climate, causing widespread Today many Pacific communities are living with agricultural collapse and famine. the health and environmental impacts of this No matter the scale of the attack, an adequate nuclear testing. Testimony from nuclear survivors humanitarian response would not be possible.