Page 31 - IB April 2025

Nuclear Justice Nuclear Justice

responsibility of the consequences because comparing the
nuclear weapons impacts, based on scientific studies, to other
countries that experienced them, there are indeed undeniable
long-lasting and intergenerational impacts. These impacts are
health and environmental, which are forever altered due to
nuclear exposure.
Several international treaties have been enacted to halt
nuclear weapon use and testing, such as the Partial Test Ban
Treaty passed in 1963, and the South Pacific Nuclear Free
Zone Treaty, also known as the Rarotonga Treaty in 1986. The
latest Treaty to be passed in 2017 is the Treaty of Prohibition
on Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). This treaty prohibits the use of
nuclear weapons activities, including development, testing,
usage, etc. Another part of the treaty addresses the nuclear
harms that have already occurred through nuclear weapon use
and testing, which is a novel but much-needed aspect within
these types of treaties.
Today, nine countries continue to possess nuclear weapons, Vehia Wheeler
including France, which is the only nation within the European
Union that possesses a nuclear arsenal.
The US, Pakistan, Israel, China, Russia, the United Kingdom,
India, North Korea, and France, have tested their weapons
but failed to sign the TPNW.
Thirty years on from these last detonations in Mā’ohi Nui, testing and the consequences are eerily similar. Our nuclear
the toxic paradise that France created has unfinished business histories are usually hidden from us as youth, and we learn
when it comes to nuclear justice. more about the nuclear exposures and fallouts over the
That is why it is so important for justice and nuclear non- years, and mostly as adults. There are high rates of cancers,
proliferation groups that France sign the TPNW. While France stillbirths, malformations, and mental disorders within our
has given up on the “clean bomb” narrative of the past, the communities, which tend to be intergenerational, starting
ecological and health damage caused by the tests are yet to from grandmother or father down to grandchildren. And
be fully addressed by the French state. the environmental impacts and data continue to be difficult
Medical care in the territory remains inadequate, with only to obtain, as there is usually a lack of research, and more
one fully-functioning hospital on the main island of Tahiti. importantly, very few independent studies that have been
The other islands, which experienced nuclear fallout from the conducted which are available to communities. The states
atmospheric tests, sometimes only have one doctor or nurse that conducted these nuclear weapons tests are consistently
residing on the island, accompanied by a small clinic. These lacking in transparency and accountability across the globe.
clinics and the one hospital are not fully able to address the Therefore, this Treaty on the Prohibition on Nuclear
23 radio-induced cancers, recognised by the French state, Weapons is incredibly important to discontinue the
that are the result of the nuclear testing. Some cancer development or potential use of nuclear weapons, considering
patients have to fly to France in order to receive treatment, all the harm it has already caused and could further cause
far from their families and home. in the future if used again. But also, this Treaty is important
By abstaining from signing this Treaty, France continues to address the health and environmental impacts. These are
to evade responsibility for their nuclear past and ongoing clear human rights violations as the right to a healthy and
consequences due to those tests they detonated in Mā’ohi clean environment is the right to all. By ignoring our pleas and
Nui, 30 years ago. ignoring to sign the Treaty, France ignores its responsibility to
This is why a Ma’ohi delegation made the voyage from Ma’ohi people, allowing for these human rights violations to
Pape’ete, Tahiti to New York from March 4 to March 7 2025, continue.
to attend the Third Meeting of State Parties (3MSP) for the
Treaty of Prohibition on Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). This is the Vehia Wheeler is from Mā’ohi Nui (French Polynesia). She is a
largest delegation of nuclear justice activists from Ma’ohi Consultant for Sustainable Oceania Solutions, an organisation
Nui yet to attend the Meetings, but this is essential, as the that centers around implementing “ite tupuna”, a phrase
nuclear legacies in Ma’ohi Nui are ongoing. By attending that originates from Tahiti which means, “knowledge from
these meetings, the delegation is able to advocate to France the ancestors”. She believes Pacific knowledge should be at
to sign the Treaty and to build coalitions with other affected the center of learning. Vehia is passionate about empowering
communities and allies. the community to make global change.
For most affected communities, the experiences of nuclear

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