Pacific countries warned Plutonium shipment on the way

Greenpeace today warned Pacific Island nations to be on high alert for a dangerous plutonium/Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel shipment which is expected to pass through the region on its way to Japan.

Pacific Island governments have also been urged to make their opposition to the shipments known to the shipping states- Britain, France and Japan.

The MOX fuel was taken to two armed ships in the French port of Cherbourg yesterday with an enormous police and military convoy. Five Greenpeace activists protesting the transportation of the fuel were arrested.

The armed nuclear transport freighters the Pacific Pintail and Pacific Teal will most likely head for Japan via the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean.

The British, French and Japanese governments and the nuclear companies responsible refused to say what route will be taken or the amount of plutonium on board. The companies have also refused to consult with Pacific Island nations.

“The shipments occur in our region largely due to the support Australia gives to the shipping states and the investment it has in the nuclear industry,” said Greenpeace nuclear campaigner, Stephen Campbell.

“Pacific Island states should register their opposition to nuclear shipments with Britain, France, Japan and Australia, if they want to avoid their waters becoming a nuclear highway.”

Campbell also urged Pacific Island governments to follow the lead of Argentina whose Federal Court of Appeal ruled last week that the Argentinean government must stop a British-flagged nuclear freighter from entering its 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone. New Zealand’s foreign minister, Phil Goff has also told Britain, France and Japan that the nuclear shipments are unwelcome, and must not come within New Zealand’s waters.

“The nuclear industry’s claims that these transports are safe have no credibility. A cargo of hundreds of kilograms of plutonium, high explosive ammunition, and fuel oil is a recipe for environmental disaster.”

“The industry’s refusal to conduct an international environmental impact assessment and hold prior notification and approval talks with the en-route nations, highlights the disregard they have for public health and the environment,” said Campbell.

“Unfortunately, ships have accidents and so does the nuclear industry. The 1999 criticality accident at Tokai-mura in Japan was impossible according to the Japanese Government. But it happened. Shipping plutonium around the planet is inherently dangerous and wholly unjustified,” said Campbell.