NZ: L’Affaire Rainbow Warrior – what’s that about?

Saturday, 27 June 2015, 12:18 pm
Article: Pacific Media Centre

NZ: L’Affaire Rainbow Warrior – what’s that about?

http://www.pmc.aut.ac.nz/pacific-media-watch/nz-l-affaire-rainbow-warrior-what-s-about-9323

EYES OF FIRE MICROSITE
Stories and videos about the last voyage of the Rainbow Warrior

Amelie David
AUCKLAND (Pacific Media Watch): COMMENT: Let's be honest. When I first arrived in New Zealand - just over two months ago on April 10 - I barely knew anything about the Rainbow Warrior.

Like most of people of my age (born since the bombing) back in France, the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior in 1985 is far from being part of our history.

Why? The reason is simple - our fault, our huge mistake, mostly seen as an act of terrorism against a friendly country.

When I started working on l’Affaire Rainbow Warrior in order to sell a story to French newspapers, I actually had no idea how big and sensitive the issue was.

After a while, I finally started to get a picture.

As far as my research went, I met a great group of journalism students from Auckland University of Technology working on a project called "Rainbow Warrior, 30 years on" for a microsite on the last voyage linked to David Robie's book Eyes of Fire.

I was gladly surprised to realise that, for them, this project didn't only represent another assignment that needed to be done. It was also working on a piece of their New Zealand history.

Little idea
I wish it could have happened in France.

Unfortunately, people in their twenties or thirties don't know about the Rainbow Warrior.

For example, none of my ex-classmates at journalism school - who are today journalists had an idea about what happened in Auckland Harbour on the 10 July 1985.

"The Rainbow Warrior? What’s that?" is the most common answer I could get.

When they know a little bit about it, they can't really explain it clearly.

It's understandable. A country doesn't really want to talk about its own mistakes, does it? Still, this is sad.

What happened and is happening in the Pacific and countries where we have 12 hours global time difference should still be important, especially when we are involved in it.

It's a good thing new generations look ahead of them and not behind.

But, isn't it by learning from the past that we could better understand our future? It's time to be honest.

Amelie David is a French journalist who has been living in New Zealand for the past two months. She joined a group of AUT University students working on the Rainbow Warrior: 30 Years On project. In the video, Pacific Media Watch's Alistar Kata interviews Amelie David and Pacific Media Centre director Dr David Robie.

ENDS

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