Gabriel Yeung -
For over 30 years, France has conducted 193 nuclear tests on its polynesian territory. When the war in Algeria escalated, the French government decided to move their nuclear testing in the Pacific, to French Polynesia where they could have a geographical isolation from the world. The CEP (Centre d’expérimentation du Pacifique) was created in 1961 and has operated on the islands of Moruroa and Fangataufa with 46 aerial nuclear tests between 1966 and 1974, and 147 underground nuclear tests from 1975 to 1996. In the midst of the Cold War period, France tried to establish its nuclear deterrent force, stuck between the American and Soviet giants, but at what cost? However, these tests took place without the consent or consultation of local populations who were unaware of their sacrifice. This led to the rise of protests and concerns about health and environmental risks over the past few decades. Local population, site workers and French soldiers were exposed to high levels of radiation.
By analyzing recent declassified French military documents, searchers at Princeton University, as explained in their book Toxique, 2021, have determined the impacts of the explosion of Centaure, the 41st and last aerial nuclear test on Moruroa. This test was a failure for multiple reasons. First, the mushroom cloud did not reach the expected height (5200m instead of 8000m) and took a direction that was not planned by the french authorities. The population of French Polynesia, about 125 000 at the time, such as the inhabitants of Tahiti and the surrounding islands, were exposed to significant amounts of radiation. According to their estimation, this represents almost 110 000 potential victims for only very few compensations. Today, the fight continues as the local population seeks an official apology with better recognition and help for victims of those nuclear tests.
Bibliography:
Essais nucléaires : Centaure, le nuage radioactif qui a touché Tahiti en 1974. (2021, mars 13). France Inter. https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/podcasts/secrets-d-info/essais-nucleaires-centaure-le-nuage-radioactif-qui-a-touche-tahiti-en-1974-8810098
Essais nucléaires en Polynésie : « Les petits Français doivent savoir pour Mururoa » - L’Humanité. (2024, janvier 14).
French nuclear tests contaminated 110,000 in Pacific, says study. (2021, mars 9). https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56340159
Il y’a 60 ans, la Polynésie apprenait qu’elle accueillerait le C.E.P. (2023, janvier 13). Polynésie la 1ère. https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/polynesie/tahiti/polynesie-francaise/il-y-a-60-ans-la-polynesie-apprenait-qu-elle-accueillerait-le-c-e-p-1357126.html
INTERPRT. (s. d.). Moruroa files. Consulté 24 avril 2024, à l’adresse https://moruroa-files.org
Mission de suivi des conséquences des essais nucléaires. (s. d.). Les services de l’État en Polynésie française. Consulté 24 avril 2024, à l’adresse https://www.polynesie-francaise.pref.gouv.fr/Services-de-l-Etat/Mission-de-suivi-des-consequences-des-essais-nucleaires
Philippe, S., & Statius, T. (2021). Introduction. In Toxique (p. 9‑19). Presses Universitaires de France. https://www.cairn.info/toxique--9782130814849-p-9.htm
Polynésie : Sur les essais nucléaires, Macron noie le poisson - L’Humanité. (2021, juillet 29). https://www.humanite.fr/politique/polynesie-francaise/polynesie-sur-les-essais-nucleaires-macron-noie-le-poisson
Sites fréquentés par les personnels du Centre d’expérimentation du Pacifique (Cep) à Tahiti, Hao, Moruroa et Fangataufa. (s. d.). Consulté 24 avril 2024, à l’adresse https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/cep-centre-d-experimentation-du-pacifique.html
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