Exactly forty years ago, one of the darkest nights in the history of green movements and environmental protection occurred. The Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior sank to the depths after two explosions. What happened that night? What was the Rainbow Warrior, and what led to the tragedy? What impact do these events have today, and how does the incident relate to national sovereignty?
On July 10, 1985, on a quiet night in Auckland’s harbor, two explosions shook Greenpeace’s flagship, the Rainbow Warrior. The ship was preparing for a protest action in French Polynesia (Mururoa Atoll), where France was conducting nuclear tests. The explosions were not accidents. The sinking of the ship and the death of photographer Fernando Pereira were the result of an operation by French intelligence.
The attack was carried out by French agents disguised as swiss tourists. They placed two separate explosive devices on the hull. After the first explosion, while most of the crew had already evacuated the ship, Pereira returned for his equipment, a decision that proved fatal for him. Seven minutes later, the second explosive detonated, dragging the sinking ship and the photographer into a watery grave.
France initially condemned the incident and terrorism while attempting to cover its tracks. However, New Zealand authorities captured two of the operatives and exposed their identities. It turned out that the attack was orchestrated by the French government, violating New Zealand’s national sovereignty. The DGSE (Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure), France’s foreign intelligence service, directed the operation, and the agents involved were later placed under Paris’ protection. Although the two agents were arrested in New Zealand, France used diplomatic pressure to secure their release after just two years instead of the ten-year prison sentence they had received. Breaking the agreement, they never returned to serve the remainder of their punishment.
The Story of the Rainbow Warrior
Originally launched in 1955 as the Sir William Hardy, the ship was purchased by Greenpeace in 1977 and had participated in numerous campaigns since 1978. These primarily drew attention to the environmental impact of seal and whale hunting off the coasts of Canada, Norway, and Spain, and it also stood up for the protection of indigenous lands in Canada. In 1985, however, their goal was to stop nuclear weapons testing and raise awareness of its consequences, which had caused severe environmental destruction and lasting health damage to native communities for decades. Their journey included stops at Mejatto Atoll and Kwajalein Atoll, both under U.S. jurisdiction, before arriving in Auckland, New Zealand, where they planned to refuel before heading to French Polynesia for the protest (Figure 1). But they never reached their final destination.
Fig. 1. The Rainbow Warrior’s final journey:
Mejatto Atoll, Auckland, and the intended destination, Mururoa (Source: Der Spiegel)
The origin of the name Rainbow Warrior is interesting. Nowadays, many associate the rainbow with the LGBTQ movement, but this is a relatively recent phenomenon. The rainbow as a symbol traces back to the Bible (Genesis 9:12-17), where it represents God’s covenant with humanity and all living creatures after the flood: “I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” This symbol of reconciliation was later adopted by movements like the hippies and anti-war protests. However, the ship’s name actually comes from Warriors of the Rainbow, a 1962 book by William Willoya and Vinson Brown, which compiled Native American prophecies and legends foretelling a day when “people of all races and beliefs” would unite to protect the Earth. Greenpeace chose this symbolism for its ship.
International Consequences and Impact Today
After the incident was exposed, France was forced to admit responsibility. It later emerged that the bombing had been carried out under the direct orders of socialist President François Mitterrand, effectively turning France (according to much of the contemporary assessment) into a state sponsor of terrorism. Most of those responsible were never held accountable due to French interference. The international public strongly condemned the incident, but Western powers (the U.S. and the U.K.) did not firmly stand by New Zealand’s sovereignty or condemn the act, leading to diplomatic tensions. Following UN mediation, France eventually paid compensation to the photographer’s family, Greenpeace, and New Zealand, and was compelled to issue a public apology.
The sinking of the Rainbow Warrior was not just the loss of a ship. The incident highlighted how major powers, when they deem it necessary, ruthlessly defend their interests. It raised questions about how global issues like environmental protection and international law, often cited as benchmarks can lose significance when they clash with the interests of a strong nation.
