Kia ora people I was going to send over an article written by a Kanak activist (from the Pacific Island of Kanaky in "French" Polynesia) to coincide with Bastille Day today (14th July) but I seem to have mis-placed the disk (may send it tomorrow or next week). Anyway the article spoke about the fight for independence from French domination (and American domination) in the Pacific. Colonialism has always been a human rights problem in the South Pacific, and with the French intentions to resume nuclear testing at Mururoa, it is a not only a bioregional/ecological problem for the Pacific it is a global problem for the whole world. People have died and are still dying from past atmospheric testing and cancer and birth defects/deformities are common-place on islands which have been exposed either directly (via fall-out) or indirectly (via the food chain). Groups throughout the Pacific including New Zealand and Australia, strongly condemn the actions of France, but also need the help of the global community to effectively put a stop to this madness. The nuclear debate, however, doesn't mean that the call for Pacific Independence hasn't taken a "back-seat", on the contrary I think that now the global audience may take more of an interest in these independence issues. Regards, Nellie
