Germany’s anti-nuclear blockades show up anti- democratic nuclear decisions of Merkel govt

The delays and police efforts in clearing the blockades illustrate clearly to the German government and the nuclear industry that their actions to prolong nuclear energy in Germany are taken undemocratically – without the consent of the German people.

92 hours of protest against CASTOR transport sends clear message: nuclear is a dead end! Greenpeace International, by Laura K. – November 9, 2010 The CASTOR nuclear waste has now reached its final destination at an interim storage facility in Gorleben, Germany, after the longest journey ever in the history of this radioactive transport.

Over a period of approximately 92 hours and 26 minutes the nuclear transport faced more resistance and peaceful direct action from the local population and their supporters than ever before. The demand is clear: Germany has to confirm its commitment to a nuclear phase-out now…….
Greenpeace Germany took peaceful direct action alongside thousands of anti-nuclear demonstrators. These combined efforts blocked the radioactive transport at every opportunity. The delays and police efforts in clearing the blockades illustrate clearly to the German government and the nuclear industry that their actions to prolong nuclear energy in Germany are taken undemocratically – without the consent of the German people.

In fact, the decision reached in 2001 to phase out nuclear by the end of 2023 was a compromise and it received a wide consensus in German society. The current government has blown this consensus for the sake of extra profits for large utilities and the nuclear industry – and it is now facing the outcome of its short-sighted policy decision.
Even the German police were critical, a statement issued by the head of the German police union said that the aftermath of failed political decisions – like the lifetime extension of nuclear reactors in Germany – are often ‘carried on the backs of police officers’. In the same Rheinische Post article it was mentioned that some of the police officers who have spent the last 92 hours removing the blockades share the concerns of the anti-CASTOR protestors themselves…..

The world looks towards Germany to lead on renewable energy – and the German people have made their choice clear. Now it is up to their government to reflect that choice and re-instate the nuclear phase out. Other actors involved, or considering involvement, in the nuclear industry cannot ignore the unprecedented 92 hours of protest the CASTOR nuclear transport has sparked and the worldwide attention it has received.

This includes those who make dangerous nuclear projects possible by providing the massive financial support that is required. French-based banking group BNP Paribas is the worlds’ largest investor in nuclear energy projects….

92 hours of protest against CASTOR transport sends clear message: nuclear is a dead end! | Greenpeace International