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“NO” to Germany as a “toilet for nuclear wastes”

They warned against Germany becoming a “nuclear toilet” or dumping ground for atomic waste.

Anti-nuclear protesters call Germany ‘nuclear toilet’ Deutsche Welle    by Joanna Impey 11.12.2010 Demonstrators have gathered in the north-eastern German town of Greifswald to protest against the government’s nuclear policy ahead of another transport of nuclear waste from German and French research facilities.

Around 2,000 demonstrators gathered in the German town of Greifswald on Saturday ahead of next week’s planned nuclear-waste transport to the nearby storage facility in Lubmin.

The protesters waved placards, chanted in unison and banged drums. They warned against Germany becoming a “nuclear toilet” or dumping ground for atomic waste.

Local bishop Hans-Juergen Abromeit told the crowd the storage of the waste was a breach of promise. He claimed that in the past year the interim storage facility promised it would only accept atomic waste from former East German nuclear power plants. The bishop said that the issue was shaking the credibility of politics.

The waste due to arrive next week comes from a facility in the southern German city of Karlsruhe and from the research vessel “Otto Hahn.”

Speaking to protesters from the local area as well as from Berlin and Lower Saxony, Abromeit demanded a more responsible energy policy from the government.

The bishop warned that the responsibility for nuclear policy should not be given over to market forces. He said it was impossible to be proud whilst Germany’s association with nuclear waste continues.

“[The waste] poses a massive threat to people, animals and the environment for hundreds of thousands of years,” Abromeit said.

Further protests planned

The nuclear waste transport is due to set off from the southern French research center Cadarache at the start of next week and should arrive in the German facility in Lubmin a few days later.

Anti-nuclear protesters call Germany ‘nuclear toilet’ | Germany | Deutsche Welle | 11.12.2010

December 13, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Germany, opposition to nuclear