Stop The Bombs
International Peace Walk
Time Line - On This Walking Day
March 3rd, in 1981


A tornado washes nuclear waste from
Moruroa into the lagoon and
thus into the Pacific Ocean.


   The more than 180 atmospheric and underwater tests at Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls have dispersed in the environment or created crude nuclear waste dumps underground of hundreds of kilograms of plutonium and other highly radioactive fission products.

   Atmospheric tests released into the air and ocean most of the radioactivity they produced. This radioactive contamination was measurable throughout the southern hemisphere. It contributed, along with American, Russian, British and Chinese tests to an increase in cancers and radiation-induced birth and genetic defects. It is estimated that an extra 2 million fatal cancers will result globally from atmospheric testing.

   The interior of the atoll is effectively a vast, unregulated high-level radioactive waste dump.

   For further information about Moruroa please visit: The Environmental Impacts of Nuclear Testing at Moruroa Atoll
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