Olympic surfing comes to a 'poisoned' paradise
Teahupo’o, site of Olympic surfing, has a history of health issues from French nuclear testing. Residents report cancers linked to radiation, prompting calls for accountability and investigation into its impacts.
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Teahupo’o, Tahiti, the site for Olympic surfing in the Paris Games, has a complex history marked by the legacy of French nuclear testing. In 1974, a radioactive cloud from a French nuclear test affected the area, leading to significant health issues among residents. Mayor Roniu Tupana Poareu revealed that many villagers, including her family, have suffered from cancers linked to radiation exposure. Despite the French government's acknowledgment of the health impacts and a compensation process initiated in 2010, many residents feel the toll of nuclear testing is underreported.
Teahupo’o, while celebrated for its surfing waves, is also a cancer hotspot, reflecting the duality of development and danger in French Polynesia, which was the site of nearly 200 nuclear tests from 1966 to 1996. The local cancer institute reports lower overall cancer rates compared to metropolitan France, but many believe the true impact of nuclear fallout is not fully captured due to cultural taboos and inadequate health reporting.
Political leaders, including President Moetai Brotherson, have called for accountability and a formal investigation into the nuclear testing's effects. Activists argue that the legacy of nuclear colonialism continues to affect the population, with many families suffering from radiation-induced diseases. The upcoming Olympic event brings international attention to Teahupo’o, but it also highlights the unresolved issues stemming from its troubled past.
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4 comments[1] https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/14/australia/australia-uk-nu...
In the areas affected by Chernobyl disaster, that lifetime cancer risk went up to 41%/38% respectively. It's unclear even if that rise can be attributed to Chernobyl fallout, or to other factors.
See also: https://cancerletter.com/guest-editorial/20210423_3/
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