Polynesia’s Evangelicals
p. 53 · Read in the full issue
demand end to N-race
The Evangelical Church of French Polynesia has demanded a halt to the “nuclear race” in the world, the dumping of radioactive wastes in the Pacific and nuclear testing on Mururoa Atoll.
At a meeting in Papeete in August, the Synod of the Evangelical Church passed a re solution condemning the nuclear race in all its forms.
In a televised appearance on the eve of the end of the five-day
Synod meeting, the general secretary of the Evangelical Church. John Doom, commented on the resolution.
Mr Doom said the resolution was the outcome of long reflec tion in the Church during the past few years.
The Church agreed with resol utions on the subject of the World Council of Churches and the Pacific Conference of Churches, he said.
He explained that the resolu tion had been preceded by a one
week Bible study session for all ministers of the Tahitian church which represented over 65 per cent of the total population of French Polynesia.
Mr Doom also said he did not want this decision to be under stood as anti-French, but as an anti-nuclear decision.
He also expressed his concern over the question of land bought by foreign or non-Polynesian people, the problem of the dying Tahitian language and the spread of alcoholism and drug-taking.