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[Press Release: September 3rd, 2002] DE BURCA WELCOMES GREENPEACE RAINBOW WARRIOR SHIP TO IRELAND AS PART OF ANTI-NUCLEAR PROTEST!GREEN PARTY COUNCILLOR, DEIRDRE DE BURCA, WELCOMED THE ARRIVAL OF THE GREENPEACE SHIP "THE RAINBOW WARRIOR" TO IRELAND LAST SUNDAY. THE GREENPEACE SHIP WILL FORM PART OF A FLOTILLA OF PROTEST AT THE PASSAGE OF TWO BRITISH MERCHANT SHIPS CARRYING 255 KG OF WEAPONS-USABLE PLUTONIUM THROUGH THE IRISH SEA DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.COUNCILLOR DE BURCA, ALONG WITH HER COLLEAGUE AND GREEN PARTY MEP, NUALA AHERN, ATTENDED A RECEPTION ON SUNDAY MORNING IN THE POOLBEG SAILING CLUB AT EAST WALL IN DUBLIN. THE PURPOSE OF THE RECEPTION WAS TO WELCOME THE RAINBOW WARRIOR TO IRELAND AND TO HIGHLIGHT THE CONCERN OF THE IRISH PEOPLE AT THE PASSAGE OF THESE NUCLEAR SHIPMENTS THROUGH THE IRISH SEA. COUNCILLOR DE BURCA ALSO TRAVELLED IN THE FLOTILLA OF APPROXIMATELY TWENTY IRISH BOATS WHICH ACCOMPANIED THE RAINBOW WARRIOR ACROSS DUBLIN BAY ON SUNDAY TO HIGHLIGHT THE CAMPAIGN OF PROTEST. "THESE BRITISH SHIPS SET SAIL FROM JAPAN TO THE UK ON JULY 4TH 2002" SAYS COUNCILLOR DE BURCA. "THEY ARE CARRYING 255 KG OF PLUTONIUM- ENOUGH FOR 50 NUCLEAR BOMBS -TO BRITAIN, A DANGEROUS 30,000 KILOMETRE JOURNEY. THE PLUTONIUM IS BEING RETURNED BECAUSE BRITISH NUCLEAR FUELS LIMITED FALSIFIED SAFETY DOCUMENTS CONCERNING IT'S PRODUCTION AND JAPAN THEN DEMANDED ITS RETURN TO BRITAIN" SHE ADDS. COUNCILLOR DE BURCA POINTS OUT THAT MORE THAN 80 COUNTRIES ALONG THE ROUTE HAVE PROTESTED AGAINST THE PASSAGE OF THESE SHIPS WHICH ARE TRAVELLING THROUGH SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST TREACHEROUS SEAS AND CLOSE TO HIGHLY POPULATED COASTLINES. SHE CLAIMS THAT SINCE SEPTEMBER 11TH PLUTONIUM SHIPMENTS ARE A VERY LIKELY TERRORIST TARGET, AND THAT CARGOES FULL OF HIGHLY TOXIC, RADIOACTIVE PLUTONIUM ARE VIRTUAL FLOATING TARGETS ON OUR SEAS. "WE HAVE TO PUT AN END TO THIS MADNESS" SAYS DE BURCA. "THE IRISH PEOPLE CANNOT CONTINUE TO TOLERATE THE TRANSPORT OF THESE DEADLY FUELS UP AND DOWN THE IRISH SEA. THERE IS A NUCLEAR ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THESE SHIPMENTS ARE PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN PLUTONIUM THAT IS RISKING THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE.PLUTONIUM IS A CANCER-CAUSING, MAN-MADE SUBSTANCE WHICH REMAINS RADIOACTIVE FOR OVER ONE QUARTER OF A MILLION YEARS. IT IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE THAT COMPANIES SUCH AS BNFL SEEK TO MAKE PROFIT FROM THIS TOXIC TRADE". For further information please contact Deirdre de Burca on 086 8061450 or email deburca@wicklowgreens.org. |