[Press Release: April 11th, 2002]

DE BURCA CALLS ON TESCO TO SELL SELLAFIELD POSTCARDS

Wicklow Green Party councillor Deirdre de Burca has called on supermarket giant Tesco to stock the Sellafield postcards that are part of a national campaign to close the nuclear facility on Ireland's doorstep. One postcard has been given to every household in the country and others are available at 1 Euro each at post offices, banks, shops and other outlets. The postcards are addressed to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Prince Charles and Norman Askew, the head of British Nuclear Fuel's Ltd..

However Tesco has refused to stock the Sellafield postcards, saying that it "does not support pressure groups". Councillor de Burca has rejected this argument and has appealed to the management of Tesco to give concerned residents of Ireland the opportunity to express their feelings on this important issue. "Tesco stocks a wide range of products, newspapers and magazines containing all sorts of opinions and promotions and reflecting the views of many pressure groups", said councillor de Burca. "They are not being asked to promote the postcards, just to stock them and to give the citizens of this country the right to make up their own mind".

The existence of the Sellafield nuclear waste reprocessing facility a short distance from Ireland is one of the issues that most concerns Irish people - particularly those living along the East coast. "We do have a right to comment to the UK on this issue", said de Burca. "Concern about Sellafield has increased greatly since September 11th and the plant could quite realistically be the target of a terrorist attack", she added. "It is unacceptable that we must live with this risk and worry, not to mention to constant radioactive pollution of the Irish sea".

Councillor de Burca has urged anybody concerned about Tesco's refusal to stock the Sellafield postcards to call the supermarket's customer service line at 1850 744 844 and make their opinions known. Alternatively, Tesco's customer service can be reached by email at customer.services@tesco.ie .

For further information please contact Deirdre de Burca on 086 8061450 or email deburca@wicklowgreens.org.