Politics decides nuclear waste site
Greenpeace activists in Dannenberg, close to Gorleben.
Greenpeace presented yesterday a document of government files on the Internet revealing that the site of nuclear waste disposal at Gorleben, Germany, was chosen for political reasons (in a few weeks…) in the 70s without analyzing the geological implications. "Geological criteria for a repository in salt rock played a minor role in all studies ", said Greenpeace nuclear expert Mathias Edler. The story has appeared today in major German newspapers. Despite the findings, the German government is till deciding whether the site will be used. Again, politics will have the last word...
Photo Credit: © Fred Dott / Greenpeace
Nuclear disagreements
Whilst some countries push for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, others are developing new bombs. This is one of the conclusions taken from of the summit on nuclear security, which took place Monday and Tuesday in Washington.
The US, the UK, France, Russia and China are signed up to the Non-Proliferation Treaty but India and Pakistan (thought to have 30 to 60 nuclear warheads) have not signed it. In addition to that experts believe North Korea, which withdrew from the treaty in 2003 (after they were accused by the U.S of starting an illegal enriched uranium program) has produced enough plutonium for six to eight bombs.
Vladimir Chuprov, a Greenpeace energy expert, added: "There are a lot of radioactive sources used in the healthcare industry, in the gas and oil industry and old submarine engines, hundreds of which are scattered now along Russia's Artic shore. There are thousands of sources of radioactivity like this which can be used to make a dirty bomb."
You can see a video of what was said here.
Greenpeace's camp burns down, but hopes are high
Fire Damage at Climate Defenders Camp in Indonesia
Photo Credit © Rian Anggoro / Greenpeace
Greenpeace protest camp in Indonesia was destroyed this weekend by a 'suspicious' fire. Syamsudin, a 67-year-old resident of Teluk Meranti village who serves as the caretaker of the camp said, as reported on in The Jakarta Globe, that "when the camp was on fire I noticed that the camp had already been torn apart. The Greenpeace banner had already been ripped all over." Despite this tragic event, Greenpeace will continue to fight for the protection of rainforests in the Kampar peninsula.
"The fire which has partially destroyed the camp is a set back but we are now more committed than ever to helping the local community fight the destruction of the Kampar. We are redoubling our efforts to save Indonesia’s environment and make sure that the forests and peatlands of Kampar Peninsular Forests are fully protected," said Bustar Maitar, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Forest Campaign Team Leader.
Despite the camp being badly damaged, no-one was injured.
Find more details (with video) here.
.