nuclear-news

Protest passage of nuke waste

Lawyer: Protest passage of nuke waste

By Tetch Torres
INQUIRER.net
03/09/2009

MANILA, Philippines — A lawyer has urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to place the Philippines among the countries that are protesting the shipment of radioactive waste, supposedly enough to make 225 nuclear bombs, which is intended for reprocessing in Japan.

Harry Roque of the Center for International Law (CenterLaw) said the shipment of Mixed-Oxide (Mox) fuel has been denied passage by Latin American countries because of the risks it present.

The only remaining route the shipment can take is from France to South Africa, across the Tasman Sea between New Zealand and Australia, and the waters of South Pacific nations, including the Philippines, Roque said.

But the lawyer pointed out that several countries along this route, including Australia, are protesting the shipment.

“It is imperative…that the Philippines, together with other countries where the shipment would pass, should protest this shipment,” Roque said.

During a conference on Maritime Security in France, Roque said a member of the State Council, Edwige Belliard, made it clear that France feels it is under no obligation to clean up in case there anything goes wrong with the Mox shipment.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20090309-193126/Lawyer-Protest-passage-of-nuke-waste

March 9, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Philippines, safety