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Plutonium freighter departs UK for Japan

The armed British nuclear transport ship, Pacific Pintail sailing into Takahama, Japan on 14 June 2002. Enlarge Image

Courts asked to halt plutonium transport

Greenpeace will seek a High Court Injunction in London at 10.30am Thursday to halt British Nuclear Fuels´ (BNFL´s) and Pacific Nuclear Transport´s (PNTL´s) planned shipment of plutonium from Japan to the UK.

Plutonium transport ship "Pacific Teal" leaves Barrow Lock. first destination Cherbourg. Enlarge Image

Plutonium freighter reaches Japan

When the armed British nuclear transport ship Pacific Pintail sailed into a Japanese port today, it was met by protests from local Japanese anti-nuclear activists and Greenpeace.

The BNFL Pacific Pintail breaching the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Federated States of Micronesia. Enlarge Image

Nuclear transports endanger Pacific States

Currently a highly dangerous nuclear cargo is being transported across the Pacific en route from Japan to the UK. The two armed ships carrying enough plutonium to make 50 nuclear bombs have completely disregarded several requests from Pacific Governments to remain outside their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ).

Greenpeace and Nuclear Free Seas Flotilla between Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands in the Tasman Sea wait for the two armed nuclear freighters The Pacific Pintail and Pacific Teal to deliver their protest message. Enlarge Image

Flotilla stops nuclear shipment in its tracks

For almost a week eleven small yachts have been heading across the Pacific to demonstrate the huge public opposition to the shipment of highly dangerous nuclear cargo that is being transported across the Pacific en route from Japan to the UK. Now they are in position on the route of the shipment. But the two armed nuclear freighters seem reluctant to face the full glare of publicity.

Aerial view of Rokkasho-mura reprocessing plant taken from Greenpeace sampling kite. Enlarge Image

New Japanese nuclear risk

Plutonium is the world's most deadly substance and an important ingredient of nuclear bombs. A new Japanese nuclear facility, soon to open, could produce as much as eight thousand kilograms of plutonium a year. But deficient safeguards at the plant mean enough plutonium to build several nuclear bombs could be stolen or diverted from the plant each year, a new Greenpeace report shows.

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