The students will tell the French media and teacher unions that young Australians are opposed to the tests. They will also plant flags from South Pacific nations under the Eiffel Tower as a symbol of protest to the French government and as a gesture of solidarity and peace with the children of France and Europe.

The visit was co-ordinated by the Australian Teachers’ Union which has called on teachers across the country to take part in rallies and protests against the French decision to resume testing.

French language students have been urged to write to their counterparts in France explaining Australia’s position on nuclear testing. The teachers’ union also encouraged schools to hold a Blue Ribbon Protest Day last week to mark the 50th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

A Sydney mother, Sharon Collyer, is also travelling to Paris this month with her family. Ms Collyer has obtained 40,000 signatures for a schools’ petition in Australia and New Zealand opposing nuclear testing .

Ms Collyer wants to visit 10 Downing Street, the White House in Washington and the Japanese Diet to get endorsements from the leaders of the three countries.