Plut Waste Shipment Leaves Cherbourg

[The.Greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org]

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Forwarded message:
                                <199701152236.OAA09168@bb.greenbase.gl3>
To:      @INET world-press@xs2.greenpeace.org
From:    @INET "The Greenbase" <greenbas@bb.greenbase.gl3>

Date:    WED 15-JAN-97 22:39:08 GMT
Subject: Plutonium Waste Shipment Leaves Cherbourg
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Original to: The.Greenbase@g2.bos.us.gl3

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PLUTONIUM WASTE SHIPMENT LEAVES CHERBOURG.
GREENPEACE WARNS EN-ROUTE STATES OF IMMINENT THREAT


Amsterdam, January 13th, 1997--At around 7h00 am today, the
controversial high level nuclear waste shipment departed the
port of Cherbourg, France, bound for Japan.  The transport has
left under a veil of secrecy and sails directly into the growing
opposition of countries around the planet. 

As the "Pacific Teal" left Cherbourg, Greenpeace warned all
potential en-route governments that the departure of the
plutonium waste shipment meant that the environment of their
coastal waters was now under imminent threat. Most immediately
threatened was France itself, followed by Spain and Portugal. 

"Despite their promises, the Japanese and French Governments
have as yet given no indication of what route this ship will
take and they have failed to alleviate concerns raised around
the world about the safety of the transport," said Damon Moglen
of Greenpeace
International.

The hazardous nuclear cargo on-board the Pacific Teal contains
40 glassified blocks of highly radioactive nuclear waste. The
material is so intensely radioactive that a person standing
nearby a single unshielded glass block would receive a lethal
dose of radiation in less than 60 seconds. The transport on the
Teal is the second of a series of global waste shipments
involving the movement of over 3,000 blocks of plutonium waste
in the course of the next ten to fifteen years.  

The first shipment in February 1995 on-board the Pacific Pintail
witnessed Portuguese and Spanish naval vessels deployed to
protect

their 200-mile exclusive economic zone from the shipment.

The Teal's departure coincides with new evidence linking the La
Hague plutonium reprocessing plant with leukemia cancers in the
area around Cherbourg. In the article published on January 10th
in the British Medical Journal Professor Viel, the French
epidemiologist who conducted the study, suggests that the
plant's radioactive
contamination of beaches and local fish and shellfish may be the
cause.

"With the departure of the Teal, the health threat posed by
plutonium reprocessing inflicted upon the people of northern
France is today being exported to countries around the planet.
The nuclear industry has decided to disregard political and
public opposition to this unjustified and dangerous shipment.
Governments should act immediately to prohibit the Teal and all
other nuclear waste and plutonium shipments from their coastal
waters. Ultimately, the only way to end this nuclear nightmare
is for the international community to stop the global plutonium
economy," said Jean-Luc Thierry, nuclear campaigner of

Greenpeace France.

Since December, the MV Greenpeace ship has been touring
Caribbean nations to highligh the threat posed by nuclear
shipments through the region. In addition, the Rainbow Warrior
has been campaigning in southern Argentina and Chile near Cape
Horn in opposition to nuclear shipments. In 1995, the Pacific
Pintail routed around Cape Horn on its way to Japan. end

For more information: 

Damon Moglen: Greenpeace International - Paris +33 1 53438585
Jean-Luc Thierry: Greenpeace France - Cherbourg - +33 233932800
Greenpeace International Press Desk - Amsterdam +31 20 52 49 546

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