The shipment, which left France at 1700 CET yesterday, now sails directly into rising international protest against the dangers posed to en-route nations. So far, safety and security concerns have already prompted the Irish, New Zealand and South Korean governments and 25 governments of the wider Caribbean region (meeting as the Association of Caribbean States-ACS) to protest the plutonium fuel shipment.
On July 16, the Heads of State of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) issued a statement in which they said they are "particularly outraged at the callous and contemptuous disregard of their appeals by the governments of France, the United Kingdom and Japan to desist from this dangerous misuse of the Caribbean Sea."
"Each of these ships will be carrying a quarter of a tonne of plutonium, some 7 tonnes of high explosive ammunition and 1,100 tonnes of fuel oil -this is a recipe for disaster," said Damon Moglen of Greenpeace International. "It is inconceivable that Britain, France and Japan think that they have the right to make these deadly transports through the waters of other sovereign states without any process of consultation. Clearly the transporting countries are only concerned about the well-being of their plutonium programs."
Under increasing pressure to provide information about the secret plutonium fuel shipment that left France yesterday, British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL) and the French state-owned nuclear company COGEMA, today announced that the transport will travel to Japan via "the Cape of Good Hope and the South West Pacific Ocean".
"Making the announcement after the departure of this dangerous shipment reveals BNFL and COGEMA's arrogant disregard for the legitimate concerns of the en-route nations", said Damon Moglen. "En-route nations have demanded prior consultation and resolution of urgent safety, security and liability issues and instead they have received an after-the-fact ultimatum."
The "announcement" only states that the shipment will go "via the Cape of Good Hope and Southwest Pacific". No details are given about the particularities of the route, which coastal nations are at risk, nor is there any guarantee given that the ships will not pass through the waters under the jurisdiction of en-route nations.
Following its peaceful protest against this dangerous shipment, Greenpeace International was informed on Tuesday evening by its bank in Amsterdam that its bank account had been seized at the request of BNFL. Greenpeace anticipates that BNFL will escalate legal and financial pressure on the environmental group and its employees and is currently considering its legal options.
At approximately 2000 CET, off the French coast, the Teal met with the nuclear freighter Pacific Pintail carrying its cargo of plutonium fuel from Britain. The two lightly armed freighters then left their French and British naval escorts and began their journey to Japan alone.
Greenpeace has also warned that the shipment could set off a "plutonium powder keg" in a region already destabilized by military tensions between mainland China and the Taiwanese government, and between North Korea and its neighbours. Greenpeace has called on the Japanese government to cancel its plutonium transport and procurement program in an effort to provide peaceful leadership in the region. Greenpeace has also urged China, Taiwan, and North Korea and South Korea to exercise restraint and caution.
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Greenpeace press office on: 020 7865 8255
