From: Greenpeace via Jym Dyer <jym@mica.berkeley.edu>
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive,alt.activism,sci.energy,talk.environment
Subject: NEWS: Danger of Plutonium in Tokyo Bay Stressed
Followup-To: sci.energy,talk.environment
Date: 17 Nov 1992 00:03:57 GMT
Organization: The Naughty Peahen Party Line
NNTP-Posting-Host: remarque.berkeley.edu

[Greenpeace Press Release from Environet -- Redistribute Freely]
[This is obviously an English translation.]

      GREENPEACE STRESSES DANGER OF PLUTONIUM IN TOKYO BAY

SV Rainbow Warrior, the flagship of Greenpeace, has arrived at
Harumi pier in Tokyo port to protest the Plutonium shipment from
France to Japan.

1. The Report of the Russian Far East and Okhotsk Tour

1.1 Russian Far East

After the Plutonium campaign in Hawaii where Rainbow Warrior
received the letter from Mr. Abercrombie, the member of
Congress, Rainbow Warrior arrived at Hakodate on 28 September
for the logistics, and left for Vladivostok on 2 October.  In
Russian Far East, Rainbow Warrior did the campaigns on Nuclear,
Forest.  And then came back to Otaru, Hokkaido on 29 Oct.

1.2 Okhotsk Tour for the monitoring of the fishing boats

Then she left for Okhotsk Sea and monitored the fishing boats
in the high seas area and found out more than 40 fishing boats.

2. The Danger of the Plutonium Shipment in Tokyo Bay

2.1  "Odaiba  Wharf"

It is not announced where the plutonium containers will be
unloaded in Japan. But in 1984 when Seishin-maru transported
the plutonium, the cantainers were unloaded at Odaiba Wharf
near Harumi here.  So Odaiba Wharf is the most likely place
to be unloaded this time as well.

2.2. Unloading of the nuclear materials in Mid-Tokyo

If the pu cargo will be unloaded at Oadaiba Wharf or other place
in Tokyo port, Akatsuki Maru came in with 1 ton plutonium to the
top of the Tokyo bay, and the trucks with pu containers will run
through the high-dense population city. Tomorrow 16 Nov, the
nuclear fuel freighter "Cape Charls" will arrive at Ooi pier
near Odaiba Wharf. Ooi peir is another place where the pu unload
might be carried out.

Odaiba Wharf and Ooi Pier is only 6 km far from Ginza, one the
centers of Tokyo. If any accident such as fire will happen here,
radioactive wind can cover Tokyo.

2.3 Dangerous ship transportation in Tokyo Bay

The transportation in Tokyo bay is very frequent.  287,620 ships
passed Uraga Chanell, the narrow entrance of the Tokyo bay, a
year in 1989, 287 ships per day. (White Paper of Maritime Safety
Agency, 1990) The ships which carried the dangrous stuff passed
2062 times(ibid.)

In 1974, LNG tanker Yuyo Maru No.10 collided with the freighter
Pacific Ares in Tokyo bay and the subsequent fire with repeated
deflagrations and burning aboard Yuyo Maru No.10.  Intense fires
lasted until the vessel was internationally sunk nearly three
weeks after the initial incident.

2.4. Pu and Fisheries

If Pu will be released in Tokyo bay, it will be harmful for the
ocean ecosystem in Tokyo bay and fisheries.

3. About the Collision Between Solo and Shikishima

Maritime Safety Agency announced that it is Solo's fault to
collide with Shikishima which kept the direction and speed.
But this statement is totally wrong.  Shikishima repeated the
dagerous navigation before the collision and neglected the
warning of Solo.  Greenpeace Japan will hold a press conference
tomorrow especially on this issue. The details will be explained
in the press conference.

4. Schedule

MON  16 Nov     15:00 Some of GPJ staff and Rainbow Warrior  crew
                      will visit Science and Technology Agency to
                      hand out the protesting letter
TUE  17 Nov     14:00 Press Conference re: Collision between Solo
                      and Shikishima at Bunkyo Josei Center
                      (see map)
THU  19 Nov     Departure