The Pacific Islands in the Cold War Era His502 Lecture Week 8 Designed by Dr. Ryota Nishino and Ms. Lalita Sharma. Edited by Dr. Gary Kieffner

The Cold War (1947-1991) A struggle between two sets of ideas about how to run countries: Capitalism (United States and its allies) Communism (Soviet Russia, mainland China, and other communist nations) A series of smaller wars, acts of espionage, and other forms of contestation Propaganda from both sides

The Cold War Constant fear from people throughout the world that another world war would break out. The new war, if it were to happen, would be fought between the capitalist nations and the communist nations, and thousands of nuclear weapons from both sides would destroy the earth and all human life.

The Cold War The nuclear weapons developed and constructed were stored by each side just in case the need arose. Nuclear weapons research and development

Pacific Islands Testing Sites Amchitka Island, Alaska, United States Mururoa and Fangatau Atolls, French Polynesia Eniwetok and Bikini Atolls, Marshall Islands Johnston Island Ocean, Micronesia Christmas Island, Kiribati

Nuclear Weapons Research and Development Misfortunes to the Pacific nations. More than 250 nuclear devices tested on the Islands of Bikini, Eniwetok, Johnston, Christmas, Malden Mururoa and Fangataufa. Destruction of islands Disruption to people’s everyday lives Radioactive contamination harming: humans, animals, plants, soil, air and water

Nuclear Weapons Research and Development Radioactive contamination harming: humans, animals, plants, soil, air and water

British Tests, 1956-1963 A hydrogen and two atomic bombs on Christmas Island in the Gilbert Islands. The British worked with Americans to conduct more tests at Christmas and Johnston Islands.

American Tests, 1946-1958 After taking the Marshall Islands from the Japanese in 1944, the United States conducted tests there. Nearly 70 tests at the Bikini Atolls. The people on the Atolls were relocated, and could not return. Clean-up began in 1988.

American Tests, 1946-1958 Bravo Test, 1954 Detonated the largest thermo-nuclear device, a hydrogen bomb named Bravo 1000 times more powerful than the bomb at Hiroshima Fireball 6.5 kilometres wide

American Tests, 1946-1958 Bravo Test, 1954 At the time of the test, the Japanese boat Fukuryu-maru (Lucky Dragon) was catching tuna 82 nautical miles (100 kilometres) to the east, outside the ‘danger zone’ marked out by the United States. But the blast went well beyond the zone 23 fishermen onboard saw black ash falling, the waste from the bomb. Also residents of Rongelap, Ailinginae and Utrik Islands exposed to radiation, evacuated

American Tests, 1946-1958 Bravo Test, 1954 The radio operator on board died six months later. At his deathbed he said, “I want to be the last person to die from nuclear weapons”. Japan outraged. The test led to a strong anti-nuclear movement, then it transformed into anti-American movement. United States government offered compensation to the Japanese government, to stop the Japanese from turning against the USA.

French Tests, 1966-1996 Algeria was a French colony in Africa from the 1830s to 1962. France conducted nuclear tests there after World War Two. After Algeria became independent, French testing shifted to Mururoa and Fangataufa Mururoa was uninhabited atoll, 1200 kilometres from Tahiti At least 175 French nuclear experiments Started underground testing in 1975

Anti-Nuclear Resistance, 1950s-1990s People in French Polynesia divided: Testing caused many problems and posed health risks Yet, financial assistance from the French was significant

Anti-Nuclear Resistance, 1950s-1990s Tahitian nationalist Pouvanaa o Oopa petitioned and collected signatures for the Stockholm Peace Appeal After British government announced nuclear testing at Christmas Island, Western Samoa petitioned United Nations Trusteeship Council in 1956 to stop the test Also in 1956, Rarotonga Island Council requested tests be carried out farther away from the Cook Islands

Religious Anti-Nuclear Resistance, 1960s-1990s Roman Catholic leaders spoke out against nuclear weapons: Ratu Kamisese Mara of Fiji Bishop Patelisio Finau of Tonga Jean-Marie Tjibaou of New Caledonia

Religious Anti-Nuclear Resistance, 1960s-1990s Opposition from the predominantly Catholic Islands France is a predominantly Catholic nation Catholic teachings on war, peace and social justice Religious inspiration. Camaraderie amongst Pacific Islanders and motivation to unite against colonial power

Political Anti-Nuclear Resistance South Pacific Forum, 1970 Palau struggled to draft a non-nuclear constitution Vanuatu declared nuclear-free status, 1983 Fiji banned nuclear ships, but it was later cancelled Fiji Labour Party opposed nuclear weapons International treaties Rarotonga Treaty for a South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, 1985

New Zealand and Australia Australia and New Zealand had traditionally sided with Europeans and Americans up through the world wars and after For instance, Australia exported uranium to Britain for nuclear weapons in the 1950s But this was not to last for ever....

New Zealand and Australia Pacific nations became resentful of European and American use of the Pacific Islands Australian and New Zealand anti-nuclear movements from the 1950s, but they were relatively weak Changes in popular sentiments in the 1970s. Many Australians and New Zealanders fought in the Vietnam War, became more concerned about the Cold War.

New Zealand and Australia Also in the 1970s, Britain joined the European Common Market, forerunner of today’s European Union. Australia and NZ had depended so much on Britain for export. Now trade with Britain declined. Needed to rethink their places in the world.

New Zealand and Australia Australia and NZ in a difficult position. Trade and co-operation with the United States becoming more important. For NZ to declare itself a nuclear-weapon free zone was a serious issue of debate amongst its politicians and the public NZ home to many anti-nuclear groups including Greenpeace

New Zealand and the Rainbow Warrior Scandal Greenpeace planned to oppose French nuclear testing in French Polynesia Their usual tactic was to go into the nuclear testing zone and to protest at the very site of testing

New Zealand and the Rainbow Warrior Scandal One Greenpeace ship, the Rainbow Warrior, was about to go to Mururoa Atolls to protest against French testing But just days before the voyage, on 10 July 1985, ship was bombed at Auckland Harbour Ship destroyed. One journalist on board drowned. Who bombed the ship?

New Zealand and the Rainbow Warrior Scandal Who bombed the ship? Two French espionage agents. France was annoyed with Greenpeace activities. The two French secret agents charged and convicted for sabotage

New Zealand and the Rainbow Warrior Scandal Strong antipathy amongst New Zealanders towards France Tarnished relations between France and New Zealand New Zealand resolved to renounce nuclear weapons – even if it was to irritate the Untied States Other Pacific nations encouraged by New Zealand’s stance

End of the Cold War, 1989-1991 Russia’s Communist government and economic system collapsed Neighbouring communist nations collapsed Nuclear arms race and the imagined threat of a final war ceased when nations with nuclear weapons dismantled their missiles

End of the Cold War, 1989-1991 The French, however, continued testing in the Pacific Test at Mururoa Atoll, 1995 Mass protest by the usually calm Tahitians French ceased nuclear tests in 1996 But this is not the end of Pacific nuclear history

End of the Cold War, 1989-1991 The bombs went away, but effects on the health of people and on environments will stay longer Disused equipment and infrastructure Disposal of unused and used materials Funding for cleanup jobs What happens to the places once cleared?

End of the Cold War, 1989-1991 Now, Pacific Islanders realise that the benefits of nuclear weapons testing were minimal Fijian military veterans seek compensation for health problems associated with nuclear tests at Christmas Island Australian veterans once involved in atmospheric testing seek compensation from British and Australian governments Marshall Islands government seeks greater aid from Untied States claiming that people’s ability to earn a living was compromised