Pacifique Sud

With Helen Rousseau

What do the following two men have in common underwater French scientist Captain Jacques Cousteau and commander of the Tahiti nuclear test base Rear- Admiral de Castelbajac? Both these members of the French Navy share an intense interest in the Pacific Ocean though each has his own out look upon this vast area.

One of the most significant changes coming to the Pacific is demonstrated by a new map recently published in Noumea. It features the new face of the Pacific for the end of 1977 once islands claim their new sea boundaries extending out to 320 km. This new zone of economic in terest gives the Islands within the scope of the South Pacific Commis sion a sea area of some 20 million square km. Yet the total land area is only about 560 000 sq km.

A territory such as French Polynesia, for example, has a land area of only 4 000 sq km, but its sea boundaries enclose over 4 million sq km. For the territory of New Caledonia the land area is 19 103 sq km while the new sea boundaries will enclose over 1 million sq km.

The third French territory, Wallis and Futuna, has similar areas of 210 and about 2 400 sq km respectively.

The new sea limits have prompted a Noumea newspaper to point out that “This pin head lost in the mid dle of the ocean, New Caledonia, takes on greater importance in this new context ... The new Pacific is no longer an empty stomach held in disdain right up to the military top brass; it has become a gigantic em pire. Empires have always had a great history.”

It will be interesting to see who is carving out new empires in the Pacific. Certainly the French have been promoting interesting ideas to justify their share of the cake, or should we say jelly? Ideas being espoused in both the New Hebrides and Canberra are that the Pacific risks greater infiltration by the Chinese and Russians. In this con

text, it is argued, the French presence should be encouraged as a stabilising force in the balance of power. The French seem to be very considerate in this role of hopping in and pointing out other people’s frightening problems, especially problems other people are not bright enough to see for themselves,

then promptly proposing expert

French diplomacy (not to mention nuclear aid) to solve the situation.

Of course no-one would be so un civilised as to openly mention arms deals, but it can happen that offers of technical assistance awaken a keen appetite for expensive arma ments and protective naval vessels, to police the extended island waters.

When the commander of the nuclear test base in Tahiti, Rear- Admiral Gerard de Castelbajac, spoke out early this year about French intentions in the Pacific he mentioned the importance of sea resources. He also said France “ex pects to remain here and make her contribution to the maintenance of peace in this part of the world.”

More recently, Captain Jac-* ques Cousteau, world-famed French underwater explorer, in a radio broadcast from America launched a strong plea for the protection of the sea and in particular denounced the use of nuclear energy and urged the development of solar energy which is naturally concentrated in the sea.

Jaques Cousteau, who holds the rank of captain in the French Navy, has been awarded the Legion of Honour by the French Government as well as the Croix de Guerre ser vice medal for his contributions to underwater science including the Cousteau diving bell. But his many years observing the destruction in oceans and lakes prompted him to create the Cousteau Society in 1974.

There he put all his personal resources for the production of films and publications to promote public awareness of the environment prob lem. The society has aroused tre mendous public response in the US

and plans to expand to other coun tries. Captain Cousteau spoke re cently with America’s “Mr Radio”

Studs Terkel in a lengthy interview broadcast in August by the Australian Broadcasting Commis sion.

Cousteau said, “The world has made the most formidable mistake that was ever made, to go nuclear.”

He said this compromises future generations. It was a bad choice, “probably made under military in fluence”. For example, he claimed Pakistan is buying nuclear power plants from France as they want the bomb. Instead, he urged the development of solar energy which is renewable, non-polluting and re quires the same investment as nuclear energy. He said solar power is only 15-20 years away. He urged people to check the affiliations of people involved in the nuclear debate because “unfortunately with money you can influence people”.

Cousteau’s campaign would not be popular with the French nuclear industry. He has already made him self unpopular with the French min ing authorities after his comments several years ago about the pollu tion of the New Caledonian lagoon caused by nickel mining. About four years ago, before his Noumea visit, eleclrrc power authorities were speaking of the possibility of a nuclear power plant for New Caledonia within 12 years.

As short-term economic interests have no weight in view of the need to preserve life, Cousteau says he now spends two-thirds of his time communicating his ideas on the pro tection of the earth’s water system.

The headquarters of the Cousteau Society is 777 Third Avenue, New York City, USA, where new in dividual members are welcome to join. The Pacific will no doubt be hearing more of the famous French explorer’s views as he plans to visit Australia next year for a conference on the ocean.