Where did the Rainbow Warrior happen?
On 11 July 1985, news spread of dramatic explosions on the Auckland waterfront. Greenpeace flagship the Rainbow Warrior had been sunk while moored at Marsden Wharf. One crew member, Fernando Pereira, had been killed.
What was the background to the Rainbow Warrior?
Background. France began testing nuclear weapons in 1966 on Mururoa Atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia. In 1985 eight South Pacific countries, including New Zealand and Australia, signed a treaty declaring the region a nuclear-free zone.
When did the Rainbow Warrior arrive in NZ?
July 1985
The sinking of the Greenpeace protest ship Rainbow Warrior in Auckland in July 1985 shocked the nation. The incident galvanised an anti-nuclear movement that had emerged in opposition to both French nuclear tests at Mururoa and American warship visits to New Zealand.
What caused the French to bomb the Rainbow Warrior?
The bombing of the Rainbow Warrior was caused by nuclear testing in the Pacific, New Zealand opposing to nuclear testing in the pacific, New Zealand’s anti-nuclear policy and the anti-nuclear protests of Greenpeace. These events caused the French to bomb the Rainbow Warrior in 1985.
Why was it called the Rainbow Warrior?
She was re-launched on 2 May 1978 as Rainbow Warrior. The ship was named by Greenpeace co-founder Susi Newborn after the book Warriors of the Rainbow which she had been given by another Greenpeace co-founder, Robert Hunter. In early 1985, Rainbow Warrior was in the Pacific Ocean campaigning against nuclear testing.
Who owned Rainbow Warrior?
Greenpeace
Rainbow Warrior (1955)
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sir William Hardy (1955–1977) Rainbow Warrior (1978–1985) |
| Owner | United Kingdom Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1955–1977) Greenpeace (1978–1985) |
| Operator | Greenpeace (1978–1985) |
| Port of registry | Aberdeen, United Kingdom |
Why did France stop nuclear testing in the Pacific?
Riots took place across Polynesia, and the South Pacific Forum threatened to suspend France. These tests were meant to provide France with enough data to improve further nuclear technology without needing additional series of tests.
When did NZ become nuclear free?
In 1987 Labour passed the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act.
Did Australia test nuclear weapons?
Maralinga was not the first nuclear weapons test conducted on Australian soil. Three years earlier, on 3 October 1952, Britain detonated a nuclear weapon on the Montebello Islands off the coast of Western Australia. A further two detonations were carried out at Emu Field.