You never know when the public and events will catch up to one’s writing ideas — authors are often «before our time». In 2008 I published «Le Paradis», a controversial book in French/English/Tahitien about the after-effects of French nuclear testing (cancer, environmental issues etc.), the effects of colonization upon local culture, religion, language, as well as the introduction of drugs and prostitution. Amazon France refused to list my book for several years, and a literary giant in Tahiti tried to impede publication — but I perservered. And now — finally a commentary on how the peoples are still suffering from cancer as a result of nuclear testing decades ago.
Read the article here:
The AI update:
To date only a limited number of Polynesians have received compensation for cancers linked to French nuclear testing, but claims have been hindered by strict eligibility rules and the French government’s underestimation of radiation exposure. Under a 2010 law, victims are eligible for compensation for 23 specific cancers if proven to have received more than 1 mSv of radiation, a threshold many argue was significantly underestimated by the French government. As a result, very few compensation claims, particularly from civilian populations, have been approved.
Challenges to Compensation
- Low Dose Thresholds: The 1 mSv annual radiation dose threshold for eligibility is considered unrealistically low by many researchers and victims.
- Underestimation of Radiation:Studies suggest that French authorities significantly underestimated the actual radiation levels, making it difficult for victims to meet the established criteria.
- Strict Causality Rules: The compensation committee can reject claims if the risk of cancer from the tests is considered “negligible” compared to other factors like smoking.
Limited Success for Victims
- Few Claims Approved: As of 2023, fewer than half of submitted claims have been judged admissible, and by 2017, only 11 people had received compensation.
- Ongoing Fight for Justice: Despite the difficult compensation process, many Polynesian civilians continue to fight for recognition, care, and compensation for the lasting health impacts of the nuclear tests.
Increased Awareness and Advocacy
- New Studies: Recent research, including work from Princeton University, has highlighted the extent of the underestimation of radiation fallout.
- Activist Efforts: Organizations and activists continue to work to shed light on the issue and advocate for greater compensation and recognition of the harm caused by the tests.
Read excerpts from my book here:
NB « Le Paradis » a rencontré une certaine résistance politique de la part de la communauté littéraire polynésienne en raison de la manière dont il abordait divers sujets (politique, drogue, prostitution, scepticisme local face aux expériences atomiques françaises, colonialisme et gentrification). J’ai quand même publié le livre. Amazon France a refusé de le référencer pendant plusieurs années en raison de son caractère trilingue, et je soupçonne que ce soit également pour les raisons évoquées précédemment.
- The raeraes
Amura and Tita sit on their
bar seats and take in the
potential entourage of admirers
amongst the new crop of tourists;
many too embarrassed to stare
and others who not only gawk but
point and shriek in loud voices:
« Harold! Is that a man? Oh my God!! »
The raeraes’ favourites are not the
photo-snapping honeymooners and
older couples, nor the raeraes’
friendly own fellow countrymen;
but rather the gorgeous ‘would-be’ models
and movie actresses, and the robust,
muscular popaa men who vie the
raerae for attention, and whose
self-conscious nods in recognition
of their Polynesian mahu competitors
confirm a sense of interpersonal intrigue
and sportsmanship.
- Les raesrae
Amura et Tita sont assises au bar
avisant leurs admirateurs potentiels
parmi la nouvelle fournée de touristes ;
la plupart d’entre eux, trop timides pour
échanger avec elles des regards, tandis que d’autres,
grandes gueules, se dirigent dans leur direction
et poussent des cris perçants :
« Harold ! C’est un homme ou une femme ? Ti Dieu !! »
Les favoris des raesrae ne sont pas
les jeunes mariés qui prennent photo sur photo
ni les couples plus anciens,
ni leurs camarades raesrae;
mais plutôt ces superbes filles
qui rêvent de devenir mannequins
ou stars hollywoodiennes,
et ces hommes virils et musclés popaa
qui leur font concurrence,
leur faisant des signes quasi complices
c’est de bonne guerre ou ça ne l’est pas.
2) The maraes
The maraes of Opunohu Valley,
stretching from Cook’s Bay to Belvédère,
are still alive with transitory ghosts and
memories from ages long past:
images and sounds of protestant and Catholic
missionaries — still not repenting their previous
misdeeds, and apparitions of post-Lemurian
worshippers — hypnotically dancing about the
coral and stone pyramids … offering prayers
and sacrifices to the gods.
The lingering smells of burnt bamboo and vanilla
seem as real as they must have been even
some nine hundred years ago;
but the smokeless vision does little to
ward away the relentless, blood-sucking
mosquitoes who are oblivious to insect repellent.
Standing nearby the stone archery platform,
our old guide ‘Matahi’ smiles as we tourists
continuously swat at the flying menaces …
while cursing under our breath.
And none of us pay him any mind when
he says: « We never really had much of a
problem with mosquitoes in the old days …
before the popaa came … »
2) Les marae
Les marae de la vallée d’Opunohu,
laquelle s’étend de la Baie de Cook à Belvédère,
vivent encore avec leurs fantômes fugaces
et le souvenir d’antan :
images et échos des missionnaires protestants et catholiques —
qui ne se repentent toujours pas de leurs méfaits du passé,
apparitions des adorateurs post-lémuriens —
dansant avec une frénésie hypnotique parmi
les pyramides de corail et de pierre …
offrant des sacrifices aux dieux.
Les odeurs de bambou et de vanille brûlés
doivent être les mêmes que ceux d’il y a environ neuf cents ans;
mais la vision, absente de fumée, n’empêche pas
les moustiques de vous sucer le sang malgré les crèmes insecticides.
Debout, près de la plateforme en pierre du tir à l’arc,
notre vieux guide ‘Matahi’ sourit, tandis que nous, les touristes,
livrons des batailles, le plus souvent inutiles,
à nos ennemis zézayants et ailés.
Tout en maugréant, d’une rage contenue.
Et aucun de nous ne l’écoute vraiment lorsqu’il profère :
« Je ne comprends pas toute cette sérénade.
Les moustiques ne nous embêtaient pas …
du moins, jusqu’à l’arrivée des popaa … »
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