The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) convened a Blue Pacific Talanoa series on Friday 27th August, 2021.
The Talanoa focused on the theme, “Pacific History, Global Futures: Securing a Nuclear- Free Blue Pacific,” and it was officially opened by the Pacific Islands Forum Chair, Fijian Prime Minister, Honourable Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama and the Secretary General of PIF, Mr. Henry Puna.
Prime Minister Bainimarama said the Blue Pacific Continent has endured some of the most powerful nuclear tests ever conducted in world history, with more than 300 nuclear tests at atmospheric, surface and underground levels.
“The impacts have been nothing short of devastating; from the local, regional and global fallout, to the residual contamination and radioactivity in our ocean and lagoons. From the permanent relocation of resident populations in the Marshall Islands, to the serious and lasting impacts on the health, environment and human rights of our affected communities.”
Prime Minister Bainimarama further stated that Forum Leaders have been steadfast in calling for action on longstanding nuclear testing legacy issues in our Blue Pacific and advocating for effective remedial action to mitigate against the threat to the health, security and prospects of our Blue Pacific, as a consequence of the nuclear testing programs.
Prime Minister Bainimarama paid tribute to the foresight and visionary leadership of the Pacific fore bearers in their vision of a nuclear free Pacific, establishing a South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, also known as the Rarotonga Treaty.
“Though a product of its time, the Treaty of Rarotonga is one of our very first and most significant achievements as a Forum family; a legally binding instrument with a regional and global reach that continues to serve and inspire our region, and protect our people and our prospects to this day, and no doubt, into the future,” he said.
Further elaborating that to this day, the threat of nuclear proliferation remains a reality and the region must remain vigilant and must never be complacent. Knowing and experiencing the damage to our environment, health and well-being as a result of nuclear testing, the Forum Chair urged the remaining States to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
Prime Minister Bainimarama also called on every peace-loving member of the global community of nations yet to sign the Treaty to consider doing so, thus contributing meaningfully to ending the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and bolstering world peace.
“As a united Forum family, we honour the victims and survivors of nuclear tests, and we celebrate our proud Blue Pacific success and activism against nuclear tests and nuclear threats.”
“As we envision the safe and peaceful world we want to leave for our children, a nuclear-free Blue Pacific must remain our legacy, and the total elimination of nuclear weapons must be the highest disarmament priority in the world.”
The International Day against Nuclear Tests was declared by the UN General Assembly in 2009, following a resolution initiated by Kazakhstan to mark the closure of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test site on 29th August 1991.
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