Greenpeace joins Nuclear Free flotilla yachts to confront plutonium
ships

7July, 2002

Auckland - The Greenpeace yacht, the Tiama, today joined the Nuclear Free Pacific Flotilla as yachts left Australia and New Zealand to protest against the shipment of plutonium through the Pacific and Tasman Sea.

The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark was one of a large crowd that gathered in Auckland to farewell the New Zealand arm of the Pacific flotilla. Prime Minister Clark, an official speaker at the flotilla departure, gave strong words of support and claimed the Pacific Ocean, the Tasman Sea and New Zealand should remain nuclear free.

The Prime Minister also said the New Zealand Government had officially contacted the British and Japanese Governments stating strong objection to the transportation of nuclear materials through the Pacific.

Two yachts leave Sydney Harbour to join the Nuclear Free Pacific flotilla.

The Australian contingent, the “Love of Gaia” and “Kaileia” were sent off by a traditional smoking ceremony and Green’s Member of the NSW Legislative Council, Ian Cohen, who will join the flotilla in the Tasman next weekend.

They will join the seven ships from New Zealand and two from Vanuatu, and gather next week in the northern Tasman Sea and wait for the two ships carrying the reject plutonium mixed oxide (MOX) en route from Japan to England as it passes through the Pacific and Tasman Sea.

“This shipment is totally unnecessary and puts us all at risk. Flotillas have also formed in South America and Ireland to protest these shipments demonstrating the growing concern that the public has to over the transportation of plutonium,”said Bunny McDiarmid of the Greenpeace New Zealand Nuclear Campaign.

Opposition also has come from the Governments of New Zealand and the Federated States of Micronesia, elected representatives in Fiji and Guam, the Japanese communities living around the nuclear reactors and the people of Ireland who have lived with their sea being polluted by the industry responsible for these shipments.

Plutonium shipment threat to Pacific Island Nations. View Large Map

Two UK lightly armed nuclear freighters, the Pacific Pintail and Pacific Teal carrying the cargo of faulty MOX, including 255 kgs of weapons-usable plutonium, left Japan on Thursday and are expected to arrive in the Tasman in the next two-three weeks.

The shipment of faulty MOX is being returned to the UK because its producers, the government-owned British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL), falsified critical safety data on the fuel and the Japanese refused to use it.

Greenpeace has launched a virtual flotilla on the new Greenpeace Planet website for people who want to join the growing opposition to this shipment.

"The commitment of people in the flotillas is both inspiring and courageous. One individual’s action can make a difference. Even if you can’t sail a boat into the path of a nuclear transport, you can show your opposition. For those of us watching from home, joining our virtual flotilla will show your support for the brave activists out on the rough seas. You can also talk with other people speaking out against nuclear transports and participate in cyberactions throughout the transport routes," Said Bunny McDiarmid.

For more information:

Bunny McDiarmid, Greenpeace Nuclear Campaigner in Auckland +64 21 838 183
Brendan Lynch Greenpeace New Zealand Communications Officer +021 790 817

View more maps of the shipment route.

Visit www.nuclearfreeflotilla.org

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