The recent cyclone in Mayotte and the earlier violence in New Caledonia have drawn attention to the problems of people in ‘Overseas France’. France has 13 such ‘territories’ in various parts of world where about 2.8 million live. While these territories covering about 120,396 sq. km. account for about 18% of the total area of the French Republic, their real economic and strategic significance becomes more apparent when we realize that with their vast coastal areas the overseas territories have an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of as much as 9825538 sq. km. which amounts to 96.7% of the EEZ of France, thereby making its EEZ the second biggest in the world after the USA. Thus France gets very extensive footprint and potential military use sites, apart from a vast potential of mineral wealth.
Unfortunately while France has been happy to have the benefits it has not cared to bring adequate benefits to local people including indigenous people, leading to social and political unrest in several territories. In addition crime rates in some territories are extremely high.
New Caledonia, located about 17,000 km. away from France, has experienced violence and use of force to curb people’s protests in recent times. The demand for independence or increased autonomy has been growing here, while the indigenous population feels that it rights are being curtailed in violation of earlier understandings or agreements.
In French Guiana, located about 7000 km. away, illegal gold mining and ecological ruin have been in news while at the same time high poverty and unemployment levels have been reported.
In French Polynesia, comprising of over 100 dispersed islands and atolls stretching for about 2000 km. in the South Pacific, people, wild life and the environment have suffered a lot due to over 150 nuclear tests conducted here by France from the 1960s to 1990s. As subsequent studies have revealed, most of the population was very badly affected by the radioactive fallout, although the contamination and the harm to people was played down by the French authorities. In reality even the drinking water was badly contaminated and very adversely affected the health of the people. Cancer rate and other health problems increased alarmingly.
Extreme weather events have been reported from several territories including Mayotte which in recent times has experienced a prolonged drought, water crisis and outbreak of diseases, prior to the very recent devastating cyclone. Several coastal territories are highly exposed to the increasing threat of cyclones in times of climate change, and with some of the more densely populated areas located at lower altitudes, a substantial share of the population is highly vulnerable, a threat compounded further wherever housing conditions are poor and precarious.
Hence the recent devastation suffered by the people of Mayotte may be seen in the context of other territories too unless France takes many more precautionary steps to protect the life of people in difficult times.
This should be seen as part of a much-needed wider reform by France to improve economic and environmental conditions, as well as to improve the prospects of autonomy (if not independence) as well as democratic governance. Actually it makes no democratic sense for France to retain control over the people of such distant lands, but as it unlikely to voluntarily give up its territories, the least it can do is to give much more attention and priority to the welfare and safety of people.
Bharat Dogra is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Protecting Earth for Children, Planet in Peril, Man over Machine and A Day in 2071.
