There were many causes to the substantial protest movement as witnessed in the early 1970s. Although there are some more significant than others, each contributed to the overwhelming shift in public opinion.
Although there are more obvious causes to the shift in public opinion against nuclear energy, the development of a strong pacifist tradition and an environmental conscience in New Zealand contributed to the substantial support for action. These forces acted as underlying causes to what would become a very effective protest movement. The pacifist ideology used during the anti-nuclear movement had deep roots in the pacifism created around the time of the First and Second World War, where campaigns against conscription were successfully passive while managing to draw attention to core issues. The use of non-violent resistance was effective in prior protest, thus it was often discussed as a viable option for future action. Similarly there was a growing environmental conscience, where New Zealanders were becoming aware of the implications of human actions. Such implications of nuclear power were exposed by the Hiroshima and Nagasaki crisis, where the use of nuclear weapons not only devastated an entire population, but also the environment in which these people lived. This developing conscience spread to the realisation that the capabilities of nuclear power had the potential to be more sinister than initial expectations. The global outlook on nuclear power, especially in New Zealand, shifted to caution rather than enthusiasm as it was obvious that nuclear tactics could easily be used for warfare rather than industrialisation. Thus it is evident that the anti-nuclear movement as observed in New Zealand was very much part of the nuclear age, where the side effects of such technology were beginning to be realized.
World War Two and its aftermath acted as a long-term cause of the anti-nuclear movement, where the initial fear surrounding its nuclear capabilities were discovered. The nuclear bomb was created in 1945, and immediately caused concern globally. The possibility of the destructive weapon falling into the wrong hands could potentially destroy cities or civilisations. The creation of this bomb, and the threat of conflict between superpowers USSR and America made the threat of another World War more imminent. The dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 in Japan at the end of the war further entrenched fear into the minds of many people throughout the world. The issues of deformities and radiation sickness were also concerns after the Hiroshima and Nagasaki crisis, where the world was exposed to the possibilities of nuclear warfare. Hence it is not surprising that in New Zealand there was an automatic resent against nuclear testing in the Pacific, where there was an overwhelming fear that radiation could leak into the ocean and/or there could be a large scale disaster like that witnessed at Hiroshima.
The long-term development of this strong pacifist tradition coincided with the radicalisation of New Zealand society, where conventional ideas and ethics were challenged in all societal realms. This social cause united many New Zealanders. Throughout New Zealand in the mid-1960s and early 1970s there was continued protest as the conservative society was undergoing a deep radicalisation. New Zealand as a country was becoming less isolated from the rest of the world during this period, where television coverage throughout the country played a role in creating ideas of change. Hence the feminist movement that appeared in the 1960s was one example of New Zealanders taking action against issues of controversy. However a significant event that radicalised New Zealanders was the atrocities seen during the Vietnam War. The horrific death toll and also New Zealand’s involvement with the controversial American strategies sparked widespread protest throughout the country. The success of this movement made it more acceptable for others to seek answers and challenge ideas that they did not agree with. The era in which this movement occurred was one of drastic change and civilians seeking answers to often controversial questions. The rejection of war as an inevitable part of life united many people in the protest against both the Vietnam War and eventually the use of nuclear energy.
Before the outbreak of large scale protest during the 1970s and 1980s there were smaller protests against nuclear energy use. This short-term cause laid the foundation for larger and more diverse activity as witnessed in the following decades. The two issues highlighted during these protests were also central to the larger anti-nuclear movement, where the greatest opposition was towards the French nuclear testing in the Pacific and the visits of the American armed warships that had nuclear capabilities. These protests were largely influenced by the confrontation of the Cold War, where the reality of nuclear warfare was exposed through the US and Soviet dispute. The nuclear threat was becoming increasingly dangerous, hence some activists were involved at this early stage with sailing boats to obstruct nuclear warships entering the ports and also with smaller protests at the various harbours throughout New Zealand. Although it was not as successful or publicized as the later protest, such action formed the basis of the more successful movement.
The most immediate cause of the anti-nuclear movement in New Zealand occurred due to the controversial French nuclear testing in the Pacific. The anger at the French government and their actions unified many groups and individuals in the stand against nuclear testing. France had begun its nuclear testing above the atolls of Moruroa and Fangataufa in French Polynesia between 1966 and 1974. These were conducted underground with some ‘safety trials’ also occurring. However activists and members of the New Zealand public understood the implications of testing nuclear weapons, where there was the possibility of toxic radioactive substances escaping into the Pacific Ocean, where it would endanger not only the human population but also that of wildlife and ecosystems. Hence there was overwhelming resent towards the ignorance of the French in terms of the effects of their testing. In the current societal context of radical protest, the developing environmental conscience and the challenging of conventional ideas, many activists and ordinary citizens took direct action to raise awareness of what was occurring and the possible implications. The opposition to French testing was led by Greenpeace and affiliated environmental groups. This immediate cause effectively brought the issue of nuclear testing closer to home for New Zealanders, as not only was it much closer geographically, but many citizens had relatives living, or had previously lived in the Pacific Islands. Thus despite the initial optimism towards nuclear power and its capabilities, the New Zealand public was now being exposed to the negative issues surrounding nuclear energy, where this increasing opposition eventually lead to direct and effective action.
The contribution of these complex and varied causes set in motion the manifestation of anti-nuclear emotions. Such sentiments resulted in direct action to be taken throughout New Zealand, where the extent of the movement reached not only ordinary people, but also governments and international governments.
Although there are more obvious causes to the shift in public opinion against nuclear energy, the development of a strong pacifist tradition and an environmental conscience in New Zealand contributed to the substantial support for action. These forces acted as underlying causes to what would become a very effective protest movement. The pacifist ideology used during the anti-nuclear movement had deep roots in the pacifism created around the time of the First and Second World War, where campaigns against conscription were successfully passive while managing to draw attention to core issues. The use of non-violent resistance was effective in prior protest, thus it was often discussed as a viable option for future action. Similarly there was a growing environmental conscience, where New Zealanders were becoming aware of the implications of human actions. Such implications of nuclear power were exposed by the Hiroshima and Nagasaki crisis, where the use of nuclear weapons not only devastated an entire population, but also the environment in which these people lived. This developing conscience spread to the realisation that the capabilities of nuclear power had the potential to be more sinister than initial expectations. The global outlook on nuclear power, especially in New Zealand, shifted to caution rather than enthusiasm as it was obvious that nuclear tactics could easily be used for warfare rather than industrialisation. Thus it is evident that the anti-nuclear movement as observed in New Zealand was very much part of the nuclear age, where the side effects of such technology were beginning to be realized.
World War Two and its aftermath acted as a long-term cause of the anti-nuclear movement, where the initial fear surrounding its nuclear capabilities were discovered. The nuclear bomb was created in 1945, and immediately caused concern globally. The possibility of the destructive weapon falling into the wrong hands could potentially destroy cities or civilisations. The creation of this bomb, and the threat of conflict between superpowers USSR and America made the threat of another World War more imminent. The dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 in Japan at the end of the war further entrenched fear into the minds of many people throughout the world. The issues of deformities and radiation sickness were also concerns after the Hiroshima and Nagasaki crisis, where the world was exposed to the possibilities of nuclear warfare. Hence it is not surprising that in New Zealand there was an automatic resent against nuclear testing in the Pacific, where there was an overwhelming fear that radiation could leak into the ocean and/or there could be a large scale disaster like that witnessed at Hiroshima.
The long-term development of this strong pacifist tradition coincided with the radicalisation of New Zealand society, where conventional ideas and ethics were challenged in all societal realms. This social cause united many New Zealanders. Throughout New Zealand in the mid-1960s and early 1970s there was continued protest as the conservative society was undergoing a deep radicalisation. New Zealand as a country was becoming less isolated from the rest of the world during this period, where television coverage throughout the country played a role in creating ideas of change. Hence the feminist movement that appeared in the 1960s was one example of New Zealanders taking action against issues of controversy. However a significant event that radicalised New Zealanders was the atrocities seen during the Vietnam War. The horrific death toll and also New Zealand’s involvement with the controversial American strategies sparked widespread protest throughout the country. The success of this movement made it more acceptable for others to seek answers and challenge ideas that they did not agree with. The era in which this movement occurred was one of drastic change and civilians seeking answers to often controversial questions. The rejection of war as an inevitable part of life united many people in the protest against both the Vietnam War and eventually the use of nuclear energy.
Before the outbreak of large scale protest during the 1970s and 1980s there were smaller protests against nuclear energy use. This short-term cause laid the foundation for larger and more diverse activity as witnessed in the following decades. The two issues highlighted during these protests were also central to the larger anti-nuclear movement, where the greatest opposition was towards the French nuclear testing in the Pacific and the visits of the American armed warships that had nuclear capabilities. These protests were largely influenced by the confrontation of the Cold War, where the reality of nuclear warfare was exposed through the US and Soviet dispute. The nuclear threat was becoming increasingly dangerous, hence some activists were involved at this early stage with sailing boats to obstruct nuclear warships entering the ports and also with smaller protests at the various harbours throughout New Zealand. Although it was not as successful or publicized as the later protest, such action formed the basis of the more successful movement.
The most immediate cause of the anti-nuclear movement in New Zealand occurred due to the controversial French nuclear testing in the Pacific. The anger at the French government and their actions unified many groups and individuals in the stand against nuclear testing. France had begun its nuclear testing above the atolls of Moruroa and Fangataufa in French Polynesia between 1966 and 1974. These were conducted underground with some ‘safety trials’ also occurring. However activists and members of the New Zealand public understood the implications of testing nuclear weapons, where there was the possibility of toxic radioactive substances escaping into the Pacific Ocean, where it would endanger not only the human population but also that of wildlife and ecosystems. Hence there was overwhelming resent towards the ignorance of the French in terms of the effects of their testing. In the current societal context of radical protest, the developing environmental conscience and the challenging of conventional ideas, many activists and ordinary citizens took direct action to raise awareness of what was occurring and the possible implications. The opposition to French testing was led by Greenpeace and affiliated environmental groups. This immediate cause effectively brought the issue of nuclear testing closer to home for New Zealanders, as not only was it much closer geographically, but many citizens had relatives living, or had previously lived in the Pacific Islands. Thus despite the initial optimism towards nuclear power and its capabilities, the New Zealand public was now being exposed to the negative issues surrounding nuclear energy, where this increasing opposition eventually lead to direct and effective action.
The contribution of these complex and varied causes set in motion the manifestation of anti-nuclear emotions. Such sentiments resulted in direct action to be taken throughout New Zealand, where the extent of the movement reached not only ordinary people, but also governments and international governments.