Plutonium ships a 'dangerous precedent'

International protest against nuclear transports from Europe to Japan is mounting as two armed ships laden with weapons-usable plutonium rounded the Cape of Good Hope. The ships are en route from British Nuclear Fuels' Sellafield plant in the UK and a similar plant in France. From South Africa, they are believed to be headed for Australia, New Zealand and finally Japan. Greenpeace's Pete Roche gives the background.

"On July 19th two ships left Barrow bound for Japan each carrying a quarter of a tonne of plutonium and seven tonnes of highly explosive ammunition and 1,000 tonnes of fuel oil. A recipe for disaster.

Greenpeace were there with the mv Greenpeace at Barrow docks to draw the attention of the world to this shipment. Unfortunately for our troubles, the mv Greenpeace was first banned from UK territorial waters, then one of our bank accounts in Amsterdam was frozen and BNFL still have various legal actions pending against Greenpeace.

This could be the first of about 80 shipments from Europe to Japan. It will represent a whole new threat to world peace and nuclear proliferation. A dangerous precedent for the future."
Pete Roche, Greenpeace