Monday, 18 December, 2006

Greenpeace Australia

Sydney, Australia — A secretive and controversial transportation of spent nuclear fuel was escorted by a police convoy through suburban Sydney streets at 12.30am this morning. This latest nuclear waste shipment highlights serious national security concerns and casts a dark shadow on the Howard government's push for nuclear power expansion as a solution to climate change.
Greenpeace activists in 3 inflatable boats exposed the transfer of 10 shipping containers holding nuclear waste casks, onto the "Seabird" cargo ship at Brotherson's Wharf at Botany Bay, and protested peacefully against the shipment.

Greenpeace Head of Campaigns, Stephen Campbell said that if the government continues on it's current trajectory to push for a nuclear future as a solution to climate change, Australians can expect an escalation of unsafe nuclear transports, effectively creating a 'nuclear highway' through communities and the region.

"In an age of terrorism and fears about nuclear proliferation, these nuclear waste shipments are a magnet for terrorist activity. Spent fuel rods can be combined with explosives to make 'dirty' nuclear bombs," he said.

Nuclear power is no solution to climate change. A recent report commissioned by the Federal government concluded that even if Australia were to build 25 nuclear reactors by 2050, it would only cut Australia's emissions by between 8-18% on a business as usual basis. In comparison energy efficiency and renewable energy like solar, wind and geothermal could cut Australia's emissions by 30% by 2020.

"Nuclear power is too dangerous, costly and dirty to be an answer to climate change," said Mr Campbell. "The dangers of toxic radioactive waste and weapons proliferation have only become worse. Quick, available, clean solutions like energy savings and renewable energy investment are Australia's future."