SYDNEY, June 16 -- Furious Australians have led an international boycott Friday, of French goods to protest France plans to resume nuclear testing at Mururoa Atoll in the South Pacific. In a remarkable display of people power, hotels, cafes, consumers and trade groups have launched campaigns against French products. France's defiant decision to discharge eight more nuclear bombs underground at Mururoa, has drawn outrage from all corners of Australia. Sydney's Novotel Hotel -- 20 percent owned by French interests -- has canceled July 14, Bastille Day celebrations. Brisbane has 'torn up' its sister city agreement with the French Riviera city, Nice. Restaurants and liquor shops throughout Australia have launched boycotts of French wines and foods. Several travel agencies have prepared to ban France -- and French Pacific territories such as Tahiti and Noumea -- as holiday destinations. Hundreds of telephone callers have protested to the French Consulate in Sydney. The sex industry has slapped a $200,000 boycott on French products, and urged France to make love not war. Individuals have made public displays of tipping out French champagne and perfume. A truckload of manure was dumped at the main gate of the French Embassy in Canberra early Friday morning. Federal police said a small tip-truck driven by an unknown person dumped the manure early Friday morning. Australian Trade Union president Martin Ferguson has called for a boycott of the $1.1 billion import of French wine, perfumes and clothes. Qantas management Friday, will meet union representatives to discuss a call to ban French champagne and perfumes in the airline's in-flight catering and duty free shop.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Jim Soorley conceded the end of Brisbane's sister city relationship with Nice probably would not break many hearts, but it was a symbolic gesture. 'Nuclear testing in the Pacific is not on, so we have torn up the sister city agreement with Nice,' Soorley said. The Sydney Novotel Hotel has decided to cancel its biggest annual event, the lucrative Bastille Day celebration which draws up to 700 customers. Peter Hook, general manager of public relations at Novotel, said the decision was made out of 'absolute anger.' Eros Foundation president Fiona Patten said it would advise its 200 sex industry members to cease ordering adult videos, magazines and toys made in France until nuclear testing ceased. 'French maid outfits and French knickers are being taken out of window displays,' she said.
