Posted on 22-2-02

French Nuclear
Areva Not Wanted In America’s Cup

From Greenpeace NZ


Auckland, February 20,
Major French
sponsor of the French entry in the America’s Cup feels the pressure as
New Zealanders demand Areva pull out of the America’s Cup.


Environmental campaigning organisation, Greenpeace has placed
information about Areva on their website and invited people to send a
message calling on the nuclear company to withdraw their sponsorship of
the America’s Cup. In less than a week more than 700 people have sent
messages. “The public have a right to know the true nature of Areva’s
core business. Unfortunately the media seem more interested in
Greenpeace tactics rather than why we are opposed to the nuclear
industry’s sponsorship of a sporting event,” says Greenpeace
spokesperson, Bunny McDiarmid.


In France communities opposed to Areva highjacking the America’s Cup is
growing with sailing and maritime organisations joining with the
anti-nuclear groups in condemning Areva’s actions. Areva is not a new
company but the result of restructuring within the French nuclear
industry over the last year –a merger of the nuclear power (Framatome),
reprocessing (Cogema) and electrical connectors (FCI) companies under
one roof, Areva. Cogema pumps millions of litres of radioactive discharge
into the sea from its reprocessing facility every year. In 1998, 15
European countries voted for reducing and eliminating radioactive
discharges because pollution from both the UK and French (Cogema)
nuclear facilities were found as far north as Norway and the Arctic. In
2000 the same countries called on France to consider the alternatives to
reprocessing.


New Zealand and Pacific governments have also voiced concern with Cogema
over their production and shipment of plutonium fuel through the Tasman
and Pacific. The last shipment was in February 2001. Areva is 79% owned
by the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), who are responsible for
the development of Frances nuclear weapons and oversaw nuclear testing
at Moruroa. In 2000, the Commander of French forces in Polynesia admitted
fractures in Moruroa atoll could result in the atoll collapsing. Yet
the CEA still refuse to conduct long term monitoring of the atoll. “Areva
is a new name for the same old business. We cannot turn a blind eye to
one of the dirtiest and most dangerous industries hijacking the
America’s Cup to promote and sanitise their business, and it is clear
that many New Zealanders will not either. “Greenpeace is not opposed to
the America’s Cup nor to a French entry. It is possible to have a
successful America’s Cup event without the nuclear industry
onboard.