http://www.greenpeace.org/~comms/rw/aug17d.html (Einblicke ins Internet, 10/1995)
Howling winds and raging seas. The last two days the ship has been virtually immobilised by a vicious low pressure system that has obviously been sent to test our resolve! The old ship shudders as she crashes into the powerful easterly swells, the biggest ones knocking us over to a 30 degree roll. It's at times like these that a firm grasp on your bunk is required unless you want to conduct an intimate inspection of the cabin's carpet! Gecko fingers would definitely be an advantage in this weather. At least we've discovered everything that wasn't well tied or bolted down.
Work has come to a virtual standstill. To stand on the main deck
is to get a brisk saltwater shower every 30 seconds, whilst five
metre swells leer at you threateningly over the rails. The grey
of the sky merges with the grey of the sea around a indistinct
horizon. This is not the SOuth Pacific we know and love! At
lest we have the relative comfort of a larger ship, but
meanwhile, to the south, the yachts of the Peace Flotilla must do
battle with the southern edge of this foul weather. Brve people
they are too: its no fun to be at sea in a small yacht in those
conditions. But we can be sure that they -- just as we -- will
not be discouraged in our task by the weather; and our resolve
and moral strength will be enhanced, not diminished by the trial
of the voyage. However, as we watch yet anaother wave pound the
bridge windows, one thing we won't lose is our respect for the
power of the sea!
Alice (Richard) Leney
China's 20-80 kiloton test at 0100 GMT on 17 August has raised a storm of international protest. Japan is threatening to review its aid to Beijing, while Indonesia, the Philippines, New Zealand, Australia and a host of European countries expressed outrage. France was strangely silent, remarking that their eight tests between September and May were somehow "different" from China's. In fact, China is planning fewer tests than France in the next year but the aim is the same: to develop new nuclear weapons for the 21st century. Both countries clearly put their own nuclear arsenals ahead of their international pledges to non- proliferation and nuclear disarmament, and are thereby risking the successful conclusion of a comprehensive test ban treaty.
Coming just two days after six leading Greenpeace activists demonstrated in Tianamen Square in Beijing, the test sparked protest from Greenpeace around the world:
* the French office had activists chained to the Chinese Embassy demanding a meeting with the Ambassador. * the Irish office successfully occupied the Chinese Embassy but were eventually thrown out * the UK office held their demonstration until 4.30 local time, when CND took over for a 24 hour vigil * the Belgium office held a protest and were granted a meeting with a Chinese official. * the Norwegian office had 3 people arrested for invading the Embassy. * the Chile office have organised a demonstration due to commence at 1 pm local time. * the Argentinian office have a demonstration planned to begin at 4 pm local time. * the US office have a demonstration planned to begin at 2 pm local time. * the Austrian office will be doing an action tomorrow * most offices have faxed letters and jammed up the Chinese Embassy switchboards with phone calls.
Meanwhile, Greenpeace Canada accused its government of complicity
in France's nuclear testing programme by continuing to sell
Canadian uranium that can end up in French nuclear bombs.
Greenpeace activists blockaded the gates of the Cameco Uranium
refinery which sends nuclear material to the French nuclear
weapons program. During the protest Greenpeace revealed
documentation of the trail - which includes the Cameco refinery -
linking Canadian Uranium and French Nuclear weapons. A poll
released today by Greenpeace shows that 81% of Canadians think
that Canada should suspend nuclear cooperation with France while
that country continues to test nuclear weapons.