Paris Marchers Protest Planned A-Tests in Pacific
Thousands of anti-nuclear demonstrators marched through the streets of Paris in searing heat Saturday, adding their voices to protests in the South Pacific against France’s decision to resume nuclear tests.
To the rhythm of beating drums, protesters wearing gas masks, carrying plants and waving banners made their way peacefully from the Place de la Republique to the Nation district.
“Chirassic Park,” proclaimed one banner depicting a nuclear mushroom cloud--a reference to President Jacques Chirac’s decision to carry out eight nuclear weapons tests at Mururoa Atoll in the South Pacific starting in September.
Police estimated that about 3,300 people had joined the march, but protest organizers said the turnout was 5,000.
The Paris march followed demonstrations in the French-controlled islands of Tahiti and New Caledonia in the South Pacific and official protests from neighboring Australia and New Zealand.
At the Paris march, a lone Australian flag was waved amid banners proclaiming, “Nuclear war is not for testing” and “Ban the Bomb.”
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