Greenpeace today promised to keep telling the public about the dangers of the nuclear industry despite proposed legislation that would make this illegal and inflict a prison sentence of up to seven years for offenders. Today (Monday 19th) is the second reading of the Government's Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill, which contains measures to stop people publishing information on nuclear technologies, nuclear sites and the transport of nuclear materials (1). If the Bill became law it would impact on both journalists and campaign groups.
Greenpeace is starting a national campaign against the proposed legislation by publishing today a national newspaper advert showing a map of nuclear waste train routes through central London. The supporting train timetables and a map covering train routes across the whole of the UK can be found on Greenpeace's website at www.greenpeace.org.uk. Greenpeace has vowed to continue publishing material that is in the public interest whether or not the Act becomes law and will be releasing the results of other investigations on its UK website throughout the week.
Stephen Tindale, Executive Director of Greenpeace in the UK, said:
"Letting people know about the secretive and dangerous goings-on of the nuclear industry is a public service. We all have a right to know what happens at Britain's crumbling nuclear plants or about the radioactive waste being quietly transported past our homes or schools or along our coasts."
During its long-running campaign to expose the threats from the nuclear industry to health, environment and security, Greenpeace has revealed numerous safety scandals at nuclear power stations, landfill sites used as nuclear waste dumps and the routes of secret nuclear shipments from Sellafield to Japan. Greenpeace investigations have also revealed the routes of plutonium road convoys, spent nuclear fuel deliveries that have made regular stops for tea-breaks at motorway service stations and highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel being transported on a roll on-roll off ferry with ordinary freight trucks and their drivers on board.
Stephen Tindale added:
"The measures in this Bill show that the nuclear industry is incompatible with a democratic society. If the Government thinks that the nuclear industry is a threat to our safety and security then it is the industry that must be stopped and not the public's right to see information that directly concerns our health and environment."
Other nuclear revelations that could be covered by the proposed draconian Act include a recent New Scientist article and Channel 4 Dispatches programme, both of which exposed how vulnerable Sellafield is to terrorist attack. Similarly, the Bill could impact on comedian Mark Thomas who last year uncovered a complete lack of security around train transports of nuclear waste when he filmed one driver in London leaving his train unattended to get a sandwich.
Another clause of the Act prohibits disclosures of 'uranium enrichment technology'. Highly enriched uranium can be used in nuclear weapons. However, enriched uranium, which would be covered by the clause, is the material used as normal fuel for use in power stations. This Bill as it stands would make it illegal to talk about the process by which nuclear fuel is made, where it is made or the potential problems of using it.
Further information
For more information please contact Greenpeace Press Office on 020 7865 8255
Notes to Editors:
clause 79 Prohibition of disclosures in relation to nuclear security
79(1) A person is guilty of an offence if he discloses any information or thing the disclosure of which might prejudice the security of any nuclear site or any nuclear material-
(a) with the intention of prejudicing that security; or
(b) being reckless as to whether the disclosure might prejudice that security
"nuclear material" means:
a) nuclear material held on a site or
b) nuclear material anywhere in the world which is being transported to or from a nuclear site or on Board a British ship
This offence is punishable with up to seven years imprisonment.
Clause 80 Prohibition of disclosures of uranium enrichment technology
Applies to
a) any information about the enrichment of uranium or
b) any information or thing which is, or is likely to be, used in connection with the enrichment of uranium
It provides that the Sec of State may through regulation prohibit the disclosure of information and this will be punishable by up to 7 years imprisonment.
Click here for:
Nuclear transport routes
Nuclear transport across London
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Anti-terrorism act threatens peoples right to know
