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FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTING.   Term Paper ID:25984 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Examines France's justification for testing nuclear weapons in Pacific despite global & local protests.... More...

9 Pages / 2025 Words 7 sources, 9 Citations, APA Format $36.00 Return to List of Papers

Paper Abstract: Examines France's justification for testing nuclear weapons in Pacific despite global & local protests. Paper Introduction: France's Position on Nuclear Testing in the Pacific Introduction: Since its inception in 1992, 178 nations have signed on to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). As part of this agreement, the five nuclear weapons states (China, France, Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom) pledged to the other 173 participating countries to exercise 'the upmost restraint' in nuclear testing at the Nuclear Non Proliferation conference held in New York. China ran an underground nuclear test at Lop Nor not three days later, and then another that August. Despite tremendous diplomatic protest, France went on to perform nuclear tests in the South Pacific not 6 months later in Mururoa, then again on October 2 in the Fangutaufa atoll, and had six Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. France should carryout however many tests it took to perfect laboratory simulation of nuclearexplosions to keep the French deterrent credible and restrict itscommitment to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which was not enforcedin practice" (Statements in favour, 1997, Online). (1997).Greenpeace. As evidence of their commitment,France promised to close its South Pacific test facilities once itcompleted its current round of blasts. As aresult, France, Britain and the United States joined the South Pacificnuclear-free zone (SPNFZ) treaty, also known as the Treaty of Rarotonga,which committed these countries to not station nuclear weapons in theregion and not use or threaten to use nuclear explosive devices. Statements in Favour of French Nuclear Testing. That mistake will be haunting as additional problemsconfining the radioactive materials arise as a result of the influx ofwater from the fissures created both by the blasts and the naturallyoccurring volcanic activity in the region. Significantly and surprisingly enough, Great Britain and Germany wereneutral on the decision to detonate nuclear weapons in the South Pacific.British diplomats came out with the following statement regarding thetests. There were also numerous, valid, well-documented environmentalconcerns. As far as health risks, there is ample evidence that they were real.France's testing in the South Pacific "contributed, along with American,Russian, British and Chinese tests to an increase in cancers and radiationinduced birth and genetic defects. It is independentin its dealings with internal issues and has its own government to handlethe domestic agenda. Aside from experiencing many of the negative impacts of nucleartesting mentioned in the above section on opposition to the tests, one ofthe unexpected consequences experienced by Cook Islanders has been theabsence of tourists from Europe and America concerned about the resumptionof testing. Online.Available: www.westgov.org/ wga/policy/95 26.htm International opposition to French nuclear testing. "We see no reason why a limited programme of tests need affect theprospects of a successful negotiation of a comprehensive test ban treaty"(Statements in favour, 1997, Online).The Opposition's Side Aside from the disappointing absence of Great Britain and Germany,opposition to the tests were widespread and overwhelming. References The effects of nuclear testing at Mururoa and Fangataufa. There was also animmediately noticeable decline in sales of French goods abroad. Online. Online. As part of this agreement, thefive nuclear weapons states (China, France, Russia, the United States, andthe United Kingdom) pledged to the other 173 participating countries toexercise 'the upmost restraint' in nuclear testing at the Nuclear NonProliferation conference held in New York. Online. Online.Available: www.ratical.org/ratville/nukes/Mururoa1 .18a.95.txt Vaka ki Moruroa. Spokespeople for the Frence government provided the followingrationale for their decision to detonate their weapons in defiance of theglobal nuclear testing moratorium. The country'sMinister of Foreign Affairs also boycotted the 5 th anniversarycommemorations of the end of the war in the Pacific. This wasan apparent response to the worldwide denunciation over French nucleartesting and a good faith gesture toward helping France rebuild its ties inthe South Pacific. Greenpeace. (1997). Greenpeace.Online. The French government cited low population densities as a majorfactor in its selection of a site, but that did little to ease the minds ofthose inhabiting the area. There were extremists in France who argued vehemently in favor of thetests. There were manyfears expressed. Only time and a full scientificinvestigation will tell how severe the damage is from these tests-- acritical lapse in judgement which will create grave consequences for yearsto come. "The people of the CookIslands have rejected the resumption of nuclear testing by the French atMoruroa Atoll, aka Mururoa... Cook Islanders believe their nationalsecurity, and especially the future security of their children andgrandchildren, is in grave danger" (Vaka ki Moruroa..., 1997, Online).These are legitimate concerns considering that this is the nearest nationoutside French Polynesia to the proposed test site. These are legitimate concerns.Focus on the Cook Islands The Cook Islands, a Polynesian island nation in the South Pacific,hosts a small population of approximately 19,5 . They also organized several massprotests to rally against the government's decision. In terms of the environment, atmospheric testing is known to releaseradioactive fall-out that has contaminated people in many countries in thepast. This argument boilsdown to the immature logic that if China did it, France should be able toalso. However, when it comes to external affairs, New Zealand sets thecountry's foreign policy. Even if such efforts succeed, the impact of France's decision topusue nuclear testing in the South Pacific will be long felt there. Available: www.greenpeace.org/~comms/rw/testchr2.html. Available: www.greenpeace.org/~comms/rw/ testchr3.html. These wastesinclude: "contaminated earth, waste from decontamination of equipment,contaminated clothes, etc. (1997).Greenpeace. This group launched a nationwidepetition to stop the resumption of tests. National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen stated, "France has notsurrendered with its hands and feet bound to the dictates of foreigngovernments or the threats of the anti-military lobby. With good reason, too. Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, SouthPacific. "They are vital to check the safety andefficiency of France's arsenal... Onestrict criteria in choosing a nuclear storage site is the complete absenceof water. Available: lucy.ukc.ac.uk/Tradition/ Vaka_Moruroa.html On a more positive note, we can view France's actions as the finalsteps toward the long awaited road to a world free of the threat of nuclearwar. The Minister of Marine Resources came out to say hewas "both concerned and opposed to nuclear testing resuming especially ifresearch shows it will affect our waters" (International opposition...,1997, Online). Local groups are raising funds from donations, but this isdifficult given the subsequent downturn in their economy over the pastyear. Resolution 95 - 26: Pacificnuclear testing by France. Therefore, an atoll was never a suitable site for performingthese detonations. "French tests, whether in theatmosphere or under water, have left enormous quantities of wastes at thetest site" (The environmental impacts..., 1997, Online). Again citing Chernobylas proof, keep in mind that "several European countries, situated two orthree hundred miles from Chernobyl were seriously affected by thatdisaster, and radionuclides from the accident were transportedatmospherically around the globe" (The environmental impacts..., 1997,Online). Wellington. (1995, October 19). Reuter Newswire. This is in part because underground testsproduce fissures and create faults resulting in permeability and the waterbecomes a carrier for the waste material, spreading the damage. Theirresponsibility of conducting these tests and then not remedying thesituation thereby created is not only appalling, but deadly. This geographic region is nowcharacterized by a saturation with water, making waste control an evenbigger problem than normal. (1999). Western Governors' Association. The victims of this 'third world war'are more numerous than those of chernobyl, which is considered the largestindustrial catastrophy in history" (The effects of..., 1997, Online). Following that is a synopsis of the arguments given against thetesting, including the fear of nuclear proliferation, environmentalconcerns, and potential health risks, as well as some past evidence thatthese apprehensions were rational. A primary concern regarding the tests was theproliferation of weapons and possible expansion in numbers of nuclearpowers. In this paper, France's justification for performing the tests ispresented. The fact that the country is now willing to participate fully withthe NPT holds the promise that future generations, although forced to payfor mistakes already made, will not have the added burden of furtherdeterioration and degradation of the planet, not to mention its own safetyfrom the consequences of nuclear destruction. Online. (1995, December 1). The interior of the atoll is effectively a vast, unregulated highlevel radioactive waste dump" (The environmental impacts..., 1997, Online). Basically, France argued that despite the fact that they wereperforming the tests, they were still on board for the treaty and werestill on track to participate in 1996 when the comprehensive test bantreaty was expected to be concluded. Underground testing can also cause unplanned radioactive releases,even more damaging to the environment. The other major milestone yet to besigned was the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty which is due to be signed bymajor nuclear powers next year, after France completes its current nucleartest programme [emphasis added]" (Wellington, 1995, Online). One South Pacific country's perspectiveon the situation, that of the Cook Islands, and a few of the consequencesthat nation has experienced as a result of the tests are described next.The paper concludes with a brief discussion of the event in light of thebenefits of hindsight.The Official Position of France On June 13, 1995, French President Jacques Chirac announced hisintention to perform eight underground nuclear tests in the South Pacificbetween September 1995 and May 1996 before agreeing to sign on to the NPT.The decision received international condemnation. It was argued that if France was detonating weapons, othercountries could demand the right to develop their nuclear capabilities.This posed a threat to progress made toward nuclear disarmament.Furthermore, the action proved to be extremely detrimental to the globalsolidarity represented by pact. There have been several scientific missions allowed to study theregion which the tests were performed, all of which have detected thepresence of artificial radioactivity either in or around the test site. Available: www.greenpeace.org/~comms/rw/bkgndefx.html The environmental impacts of nuclear testing at Mururoa atoll.(1997). Despite tremendous diplomatic protest, France went on to perform nucleartests in the South Pacific not 6 months later in Mururoa, then again onOctober 2 in the Fangutaufa atoll, and had six more planned through May1996. The way the Cook Islands are run is interesting. France has thus demonstrated not only arrogance in its defiance of thetreaty, but also acted devoid of accountability in its lack of anappropriate remediation effort. China ran an undergroundnuclear test at Lop Nor not three days later, and then another that August. There is no official acknowledgment of thestorage, transfer or eventual clean-up of these thousands of tonnes ofwaste. Note that there was also dissent in France regarding the tests, mostnotably by the socialist party there. In 1996, the government of the Cook Islands ended up declaringbankruptcy.Conclusion The official international consternation toward France resulted inthe above mentioned freeze on military cooperation between it and NewZealand as well as countries such as Australia. These included the release of highly radioactive fissionproducts, particularly in the atoll. Available:www.greenpeace.org/~comms/rw/enviroim.html Gutierrez, . There is past evidence was there that these fears were justified.First, by arguing that it was acceptable to perform these tests becauseChina had done so, France itself validated the proliferation argument.Also, a similar scenario was seen soon after between India and Pakistan,who are competing in an arms race of their own, where it was argued thattests need to be run in the name of national security. France's Position on Nuclear Testing in the PacificIntroduction: Since its inception in 1992, 178 nations have signed on to theNuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In spite of the factthat the government was highly and loudly criticized when announcing itsplans, France went on to carry out tests. New Zealand was very vocal in its condemnationof the testing, freezing military cooperation and dismissing a Frenchambassador from a meeting with their Foreign Minister. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.