6/10 GP Protests N-Testing at Chinese Embassy (U.S.)

[the.greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org]

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Original-TO:      World Press (Green2:Green2:Gnl:INET)
Original-TO:   The.Greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org
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GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS PROTEST NUCLEAR TESTING AT CHINESE
EMBASSY  
 
WASHINGTON, June 10 (GP) -- Today, in conjunction with anti-
nuclear protests worldwide and the diplomatic mission to China
by the ship MV Greenpeace, peace and disarmament activists,
accompanied by a bright red seven-person dragon, marched to
the Chinese Embassy to protest China's recent nuclear
explosion, and called on Chinese President Jiang Zemin to
cancel all further nuclear tests.
 
In addition to the red dragon, which was emblazoned with the
message, "Disarmament Now," activists outside the embassy set
up "oozing" nuclear-waste drums, banged Chinese gongs and
displayed Chinese anti-nuclear slogans.  
On June 8, China detonated a 20-80 kiloton nuclear bomb at its
test site in Lop Nor, and announced it would conduct another
test by September of this year. The test was roundly condemned
by the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Germany,
Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Finland and South Korea.   
While China is the only nuclear power currently testing

nuclear weapons, the United States is planning to conduct
"sub-critical" nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site on June
18. These tests could jeopardize the completion of the
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) which is currently being
negotiated at the Geneva Conference on Disarmament. The
Conference ends June 28.  
"The US and China want to have their cake and eat it too,"
said Bruce Hall, Greenpeace nuclear campaigner.  "Even while
they are negotiating an end to nuclear testing in Geneva, back
home they are feverishly working to develop even more deadly3
weapons of mass destruction." 
 
 Meanwhile, off the southern tip of Taiwan, the MV Greenpeace
is making its way to Shanghai to request talks between
Greenpeace and Chinese officials about nuclear disarmament and
an immediate end to nuclear testing.  On June 9, the MV sent
an open letter to President Jiang Zemin requesting his
assistance in facilitating the ship's visit to Shanghai.
 
Signed by Xavier Pastor, the senior Greenpeace campaigner on
board the ship, the letter voiced concern about China's
ongoing nuclear weapons testing program and its effect on the
CTBT. 
 
Said Mr. Pastor, "ongoing testing neither complies with the
intent nor the spirit of the CTBT. The Chinese must choose
between developing weapons and developing peace."
 
CONTACT:  Bruce Hall, Greenpeace USA, 202-319-2514
          Jonathan Hall, Greenpeace USA, 202-319-2542
          Damon Moglen, In Hong Kong, 011-852-2745-6914

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