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Kon-Tiki Replica to Sail, Study Pacific in 2005 Sept. 6, 2004 — By Alister Doyle, Environment Correspondent OSLO (Reuters) - A replica of the Kon-Tiki balsa raft will sail the Pacific in 2005 to study mounting environmental threats to the oceans since Thor Heyerdahl made his daredevil 1947 voyage, organizers said on Monday. One of Heyerdahl's grandsons will be among the six-strong crew for the trip from Peru aiming to reach Tahiti, about 310 miles west of the Raroia atoll where the Kon-Tiki ran aground after traveling 4,970 miles in 101 days. Heyerdahl's original voyage defied many experts' predictions that...

One of France's farthest-flung and most exotic colonial possessions, French Polynesia, elected its first pro-independence leader yesterday in a blow to the government in Paris. The new head of state, Oscar Temaru, replaced a long-time political ally of President Jacques Chirac as president. The new man favours independence for the South Pacific archipelago, also known by the name of its main island, Tahiti. The high tension of the past few weeks is at odds with French Polynesia's reputation as the epitome of South Seas tranquillity and romance, an image first fostered by 18th century explorers such as Capt James Cook....

UPDATE - Independence campaigner, anti-nuclear testing protester and former Westfield freezing worker Oscar Temaru has been confirmed as the new president of French Polynesia. The elevation of Mr Temaru, 59, will end the 20-year rule of Gaston Flosse, 72, a close friend of French president Jacques Chirac. Elections were held three weeks ago and legal action by Mr Flosse to have the elections nullified were unsuccessful. At last count, Mr Temaru, leader of the Tavini Huiraatira Party, had formed a coalition with 30 seats in the 57-member Assembly. Mr Temaru has not set a deadline for independence from France but...