France’s nuclear legacy in French Polynesia is the subject of high level discussions in Paris this week. The discussions aim to ‘turn the page’ on the aftermath of the weapons tests. Between 1966 to 1996, France carried out 193 tests in the South Pacific. French president Emmanuel Macron called the meeting after a new study Read more
Leaders in France’s South Pacific islands lied about the dangers of nuclear testing, French Polynesia’s president Edouard Fritch says. From 1960 to 1996, France carried out almost 200 nuclear tests in French Polynesia. “I’m not surprised that I’ve been called a liar for 30 years. We lied to this population that the tests were clean. Read more
French Polynesia’s Maohi Protestant church has decided to take France to the International Criminal Court over the legacy of the French nuclear testing. But the French Polynesian president Edouard Fritch believes the church’s plan is pointless. He says there are still avenues left for a dialogue with France. Fritch says to get compensation it is Read more
French Polynesia is not a Pacific Forum member but an associate member and so President Oscar Temaru was not able to participate in all Forum discussions. However he was able to attend the Polynesian leaders’ meeting. He wanted to raise the issue of sovereignty for French Polynesia. “Getting my country back on the list is Read more
Churches in French Polynesia have spoken out against suggestions that the Sofitel Maeva Beach Hotel, which is due to close in November, be turned into a casino. Church leaders have told the local press that they doubt a casino will benefit tourism, warning of negative outcomes for the poor. A Tahiti-based businessman, Franck Falletta, has Read more
At conference last week in Tahiti some delegates claimed climate change could to drown some Islands in French Polynesia. The effects of rising tides in the region were part of discussions involving politicians and scientists from France, the European Union and the Pacific Island region in Papeete. Delegates have heard that French Polynesia’s 270,000 inhabitants Read more
But how did an isolated island with a population of less than 1000 come to have, not just a Catholic church, but an immense church capable of seating 2000 people?
In three words, Father Honore Laval.
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