Posted on 17-4-2002

Black Magic Sails For French

17 April, 2002, Auckland: The French nuclear industry group, Areva is
leasing New Zealand's 1995 America's Cup boat, "Black Magic" as a promotion
tool in its campaign to promote its dirty nuclear business. "Black Magic"
skippered by Sir Peter Blake brought the Cup to NZ after winning the race
in San Diego in 1995.

"The leasing of Black Magic is adding insult to injury,” said Greenpeace.
"Its quite unbelievable, first they hijack the race itself to promote one
of the most dirty and dangerous businesses on the planet and now they have
hijacked Sir Peter's boat to assist in that bid. "You have to wonder what
they are thinking. This is not just any old boat. This is the boat that
brought the cup to NZ and skippered by a man who in his later days
redirected his sailing to advance the cause of protecting the oceans. "The
tragic irony is that the boat is now being used by a company that is
involved in polluting the oceans on a daily basis."

Sir Peter Blake gave his support to the nuclear free Tasman flotilla last
year when seven boats sailed out to protest a shipment of plutonium fuel
that an Areva company was making. He said, "I thoroughly agree with a stand
being made to protect the oceans from what will, given time, cause a
catastrophe of unheard of proportions."

Greenpeace is opposed to Areva's sponsorship because its subsidiary
companies have polluted the seas around France and Moruroa and its
activities continue to put the global environment and the health of
hundreds of thousands of people at risk. Moreover, the activities and
interests of Areva continue to be central to the French nuclear weapons
programme. Areva is the major sponsor of the French entry in the America's
Cup sailing race.