Carolina Peace - Citizens Against Plutonium, Charleston

Citizens Against Plutonium, Charleston

Written by Administrator

Thursday, 17 June 2004

Contact: Sarah Shapero Contact: Merrill Chapman
843-723-5203 H (843) 881-9352
C (843) 200-1977

Flotilla Launched to Protest Plutonium Shipment

Following the decision by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to authorize the transport of 330 pounds of weapons-grade plutonium via the Charleston Naval Weapons Station to France,a group of concerned citizens (in USA and France) have announced the formation of a peace flotilla to protest this and all plutonium shipments.

The transport is part of a plan to put MOX (mixed oxide) fuel into commercial use, which is an expensive, ineffective and dangerous way to recycle nuclear waste by separating out weapons-grade plutonium and converting it into MOX fuel to be used again in a nuclear reactor. Plutonium is one of the most dangerous substances known, with a half-life of 24,000 years, and no plutonium transport can be made absolutely safe.

Ciitizens in Charleston, SC and citizens of Cherbourg, France are mobilizing a Nuclear-Free Atlantic Flotilla to make the public aware when the shipment occurs, which is expected to be in September.

WHO: The Nuclear Free Atlantic Flotilla, with support from Citizens Against Plutonium

WHAT: Press conference on formation of the Nuclear Free Atlantic Flotilla

WHEN: Monday, June 21, 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: Shem Creek, first dock, behind Mt. Pleasant Seafood

In 2001, a flotilla of small sailing vessels set out from Australia and New Zealand into the Tasman Sea to peacefully protest the transport of MOX. This protest helped strengthen the resolve of people in Japan who managed to block the loading of MOX. To date not a single light bulb is lit up in Japan by MOX. The Nuclear Free Irish Sea Flotilla has been successful in preventing MOX plutonium fuel transports, and now the Nuclear-Free Atlantic flotilla plans to join in the tradition of peaceful protest.

For video clip and information on plutonium transport in France:
http://www.greenpeace.org/multimedia/download/1/428875/0/transport.swf

For more information, check http://www.noplutonium.org/

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