Nuclear ban lobby

Press, 15 July 1980, Page 1

Nuclear ban lobby

NZPA , Tarawa A' strong lobby is urging the South Pacific Forum to ban the storing and testing of nuclear weapons and the disposal of nuclear waste throughout the entire region. The New Zealand branch of the conservationist group Greenpeace has sent a representative to the forum seeking a firm commitment from the 13 governments attending it.

In a letter to forum delegates, Greenpeace said the “health, safety and rights of the peoples of the Pacific are gravely threatened, by the possibility of nuclear weapons

being transported or stationed in the South Pacific.” The group asked that the forum approve a “nuclear weapon-free zone in - itially limited to the land areas of the South ' Pacific.” ■ It sought a “senior-level representation from the forum requesting .France to permanently end nuclear testing in French Polynesia.” It also wanted strong, concerted action to prevent any part of the South Pacific being used as a nuclear waste dumping ground, and the appointment of a scientific mission to investigate the health, environmental and

sociological effects of the French testing programme in French Polynesia. A Greenpeace representative, Mr Richard Northey, said that the nuclearfree areas were intended only as a first step tonwards a full nuclear-free zone.

Mr Northey said that though many forum nations were once enthusiastic about the plan, New Zealand and Australia had since firmly opposed it. Greenpeace says that its land based nuclear-free zone would not affect the two nations’ military commitments, but the issue is expected' to spark lively debate at the forum.