Greenpeace Applauds S. African and S. American Statements Agains

["greenbas" <greenbas@gb.greenpeace.org>]

GREENPEACE APPLAUDS SOUTH AFRICAN AND SOUTH AMERICAN STATEMENTS
AGAINST NUCLEAR WASTE SHIPMENT
 
Amsterdam, January 21st 1997 --- Greenpeace welcomes the
statement issued on 20th January by the South African
Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Tourism, which
opposes the nuclear waste  shipment steaming towards the Cape of
Good Hope. The environmental organisation also calls for further
action from the South African Cabinet and neighbouring
countries. 
 
The statement issued by Ms. Gwen Mahlangu, Chairperson of the
South African Parliamentary Committee on Environment and
Tourism, calls on Japan, France and Britain to "face their
global responsibilities and to publicly commit to halt all
future such shipments."  The letter also states solidarity with
the other nations for "[...] their refusal to allow the shipment
to pass through their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)".
 
The South African statement follows a joint declaration issued
by Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay opposing the
controversial shipment of nuclear waste from France to Japan.
The  four
governments state that they "reiterate their preoccupation with
the risks -- due to the intrinsic danger of the cargo -- that
this transport represents to the health of the population and to
the marine environment of the region [...]". The four nations
also declared the need for "warranty about no contamination of
the marine environment, information about the routes, the
obligation to inform coastal countries about the emergency plans
in case of accidents, the commitment to rescue the radioactive
waste in case of accidents with the ship and payment of
reimbursements in case of injuries and damages."
 
The two statements have been issued in response to the departure
from France on January 13th of a shipment of highly radioactive
glassified nuclear waste bound for Japan.  Despite countries
around the world  requesting prior notification and
consultation, the shipment of nuclear waste left France with its
route a tightly guarded secret.  Due to the increasing
condemnation, British, French and Japanese authorities announced
on January 14th that the shipment would go to Japan via the
"Cape of Good Hope and the South-West Pacific."
 
Since the high-level waste shipment left the French port of
Cherbourg on the British-flagged "Pacific Teal", a Portuguese
naval vessel was put to sea to guarantee that the ship did not
enter Portuguese  waters, while the New Zealand and Malaysian
governments have condemned the transport and likewise demanded
that it does not enter their 200 mile EEZ. The Caribbean
community (CARICOM) had previously protested against the
transport through the Caribbean Sea of such shipments. 
 
"We are concerned that unless the South African government and
its neighbours make strong declarations against these nuclear
waste and plutonium shipments, they could become the route of
choice" - said Damon Moglen of Greenpeace International.  "It is
a scandal that such dangerous shipments take place without
adequate safety arrangements and without the permission of en
route nations.  Unfortunately, if countries do not state
national and regional opposition, France, Britain and Japan may
choose to persevere with these deadly transports". end
-----------------------------
 
For More Information: 
- Damon Moglen, Greenpeace International - Amsterdam, t. +31 20
52 36 222 - Luisa Colasimone, GPI Press Desk - Amsterdam, t. +31
20 52 49 546
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