Gaston Floss, president of French Polynesia, plans to destroy the sacred monument to the victims of French nuclear tests known as the “Place du 2 juliet 1966” (located in Papeete, the capital of Tahiti). Why? To support former French President Jacques Chirac (and, I believe, to erase the memory of the human toll of these tests). Chirac received widespread criticism for ordering a second series of nuclear tests in 1995 after a long moratorium. It’s almost unbelievably ironic: Floss wants to re-dedicate the site, which now honors nuclear radiation victims, to the pro-nuclear Chirac.
France Nuclear Tests in French Polynesia for 30 Years
France conducted nearly 200 atmospheric and underground nuclear tests in French Polynesia, on Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls, between 1966 and 1996. Many people who worked on the atomic tests are now ill from radiation-related disease.
Place du 2 juliet 1966, Tahiti,–A Humble but Sacred Place
The monument is a humble but sacred place that includes symbolic stones from Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and global nuclear test sites worldwide.
Since July 2, 2006, when the Place du 2 juliet 1966 monument was inaugurated by Mr Flosse’s predecessor, Mr Oscar Temaru, the memory of all global victims of nuclear tests has been honored according to Ma’ohi tradition every 2nd of July. These ceremonies including dignitaries and atomic testing survivors from many parts of the world.
Save the Place du 2 juliet 1966 in Papeete Tahiti!
Help protect this monument! It would be an irreparable insult to all victims of nuclear testing to remove or destroy the Place du 2 Juliet 1966, which is known worldwide.
This is urgent—the demolition is very soon!
Petition
Please sign the petition created by Mururoa e Tatou, French Polynesia’s nuclear tests veterans association, to tell Mr Flosse to preserve this irreplaceable monument.
Thank you—please spread the word!
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