>> PLUTONIUM LORRY TRAPPED IN GREENPEACE ROADBLOCK
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GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
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>> PLUTONIUM LORRY TRAPPED IN GREENPEACE ROADBLOCK
AS IT LEAVES MOTORWAY FOR LUNCH BREAK
LONDON, MARCH 15, 1995 (GP) A Greenpeace roadblock today trapped
a British Ministry of Defence (MoD) convoy preventing it from
transporting plutonium from Sellafield to Aldermaston for use in
Trident bombs.
Some 50 Greenpeace activists trapped the lorry in a half mile
section of the A34, just off Junction 14 off the M6, as it headed
for a lunch break at RAF Stafford.
Vehicles were used to close the dual carriageway in front of and
behind the convoy and 21 Greenpeace activists attached themselves
to the tarmac using chains. Another 25 activists sat in front of
and behind the convoy and a road block was set up to divert
traffic.
Greenpeace is demanding that the dangerous weapons-grade
plutonium be returned to Sellafield and that Britain live up to
its obligation under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
to end the nuclear arms race (1).
The NPT, which came into effect 25 years ago, comes up for review
in April this year. Britain has not taken part in any
disarmament talks since the treaty was signed and is massively
increasing its nuclear capability with the new Trident missiles.
"We have blocked this convoy because the deadly plutonium it is
carrying will go straight into Trident bombs and that is evidence
that the UK intends to continue ignoring its obligation to
disarm," Greenpeace campaigner Janet Convery said. "Britain has
done nothing more than pay lip service to its commitment to the
NPT for 25 years and the plutonium in this lorry is proof of
that," she said.
In the past six months, Greenpeace has tracked three MoD convoys
carrying plutonium from Sellafield, where it is produced, to
Aldermaston where it is machined into the cores of nuclear bombs.
The convoy travels along public highways including the M6 and
parts of the M5, M42, M40 and the A34 (2).
Plutonium is the key ingredient of nuclear bombs and was used in
the bomb which devastated the Japanese city of Nagasaki, three
days after Hiroshima.
ENDS
CONTACT/PHOTOS AND FOOTAGE AVAILABLE FROM:
ADAM WOOLF, Greenpeace UK: 0171 359 4837 or Blair Palese,
Greenpeace Communications: ++0171 833-0600
(1) Article six of the NPT obliges Britain to undertake nuclear
disarmament and end the nuclear arms race.
(2) Plutonium convoy route map available.