September 7th

Dear Foreign Secretary,

On your visit to Japan, we would like to convey our deepest concern and opposition to any attempts, by you, or representatives of your government, to encourage and secure new contracts for the reprocessing, and supply to Japan of plutonium MOX fuel.

As a politician who understands the environmental, human health, and proliferation dangers of reprocessing, including Japan, we know that you could play an important role in reducing the dangers of Japan's current large plutonium program, while also preventing the situation from getting any worse.

We would remind you of your important contribution over the years in vehement opposition to reprocessing of nuclear waste spent fuel at Sellafield. Specifically, in May 1978 when the UK Parliament was debating and deciding on plans for the construction of the THORP reprocessing plant at Windscale - later to become Sellafield. Two issues amongst many that you highlighted stand out today as being accurate about the future consequences if Japan was permitted to sign contracts with BNFL, (British Nuclear Fuels Limited).

Specifically, you stated, on the issue of environmental impact of reprocessing, you question whether it will make less of an impact on human health, since Windscale is located on the Irish Sea coast,

"It is suggested that the most significant difference between Windscale and American plants is that Windscale is situated on the coast and that because of that enormous difference and the great convenience of putting discharges into the sea we can thereby increase Windscale's discharges by a factor of 100,000 and in other cases by orders of magnitude ? Is it suggested that that makes such a difference ?" May 15, 1978, Hansard, Column 142.

You were right to question the arguments put forward by BNFL and their political supporters at the time, on the environmental impact of reprocessing discharges. Reprocessing of nuclear waste at the Sellafield site has significantly contaminated the surrounding region, and the wider European environment with high levels of radiation. Reprocessing involves the dissolving of nuclear spent fuel in acid, and the eventual separation of uranium, plutonium and other wastes. Due to the large volume increase in nuclear waste, especially of liquids and gas, BNFL have opted to discharge into the ocean and atmosphere rather than store the waste, which would be more costly. Due to these discharges, which as you know are strongly opposed by governments and ordinary citizens throughout Europe, areas around Sellafield, including fields, riverbeds, and nearby villages, have been turned into nuclear disaster zones.

Research conducted in 1998 revealed concentrations of plutonium and cesium, two of the most hazardous radio-isotopes, higher in a 30-milezone around Sellafield than the nuclear exclusion zone around the Chernobyl reactor site in the Ukraine.(1) This is a direct result of BNFL's reprocessing operations.

The second important point you made against reprocessing, and specifically against Japan obtaining plutonium was on the inherent proliferation dangers. Specifically, after you cited a U.S. Central Intelligence Report on Japan's future nuclear weapons potential, you stated to the House of Commons,

"I cannot conceive of greater global permissiveness than precisely the type of contract we are seeking to promulgate with the Japanese which will give them a much greater store of plutonium than they could ever acquire through the reprocessing plant they possess at present" (15th May 1978 Column 145, Parliamentary Record, Hansard).

In fact as a result of your then understanding of the facts on the relationship between commercial plutonium reprocessing and the proliferation of nuclear weapons, you stated,

"... it is precisely because when we are put to the test we look like succumbing to commercial pressures rather than standing by strategic policy which might assist in achieving a halt to global nuclear proliferation that I am deeply concerned about this contract, and that is why I shall be joining those who will be voting for the withdrawal of the order".(May 15th, 140-146, Parliamentary Record, Hansard)

It now appears that in fact the present UK government, and the foreign policy that you draft, and implement, that you have indeed bowed to the very commercial pressures you warned against. The current shipment of weapons-usable plutonium from the UK and France to Japan is, we know, fanning the flames of nuclear proliferation in this region and is a direct threat to peace and stability in North-east Asia. In addition, BNFL, aided and supported by your Embassy in Seoul, is seeking to secure contracts to supply weapons-usable plutonium MOX to South Korea in defiance of U.S. policy which we believe will further exacerbate growing proliferation tensions in this region.

We as Japanese NGO's representing a widespread opinion of citizens throughout the country, including from the Prefectures with nuclear plants under contract to BNFL for reprocessing and possible future plutonium fuel MOX supply, believe we have a moral responsibility to deal with our own waste. We have already made a significant and regretful contribution into turning Sellafield, the surrounding countryside and the Irish Sea into one of the most radioactive environments on the planet, the last thing Britain and the environment of northern Europe needs is more Japanese nuclear waste. And the last thing that Japan and North-east Asia need is more shipments of direct-use weapons plutonium.

We appeal to you to openly oppose the further reprocessing of Japanese nuclear waste, to block new reprocessing contracts, and to stop the signing of new plutonium fuel MOX contracts. In addition, a decision to open the new, Sellafield MOX plant will only further lead to environmental, human health and nuclear proliferation dangers. We call on you to urgently review UK Government foreign policy, remembering your past record and not what you are told by BNFL, Japanese government and industry officials, and your embassy staff in Tokyo. (That includes staff located in this Embassy who work directly for BNFL.

We feel sure that you will eventually see sense on this matter, and return to being a strategically thinking statesman, and not a plutonium salesman.

Stop Nuclear Waste Campaign - Japan

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Senate Motion

With regard the current shipment of highly radioactive mixed oxide fuel (MOX) that will travel past Australia's southern coast through the Tasman Sea, on route to Japan, the Senate notes:

• that this may be the first of many such shipments of highly radioactive nuclear fuel or waste which may take this route;

• that there is no prior notification as to the route these shipments take;

• that there is a lack of an adequate liability and compensation regime in the event of an accident involving such shipments;

• the strong concern of New Zealand and other South Pacific countries regarding these shipments throught the Tasman Sea and the South Pacific.

The Senate deplores

• the Australian Government's effective endorsement of these highly radioactive shipments and its active discouragement of South Pacific countries from pursuing this issue;

and calls on the Australian Government to

• revoke its endorsement of shipments of highly radioactive nuclear material through the Tasman Sea and South Pacific;

• initiate a comprehensive and open scientific study of the potential environmental risks of these shipments;

• press the Governments of Japan, France and the UK to enter into negotiations with potentially affected countries to establish an effective system of prior notification and a comprehensive liability regime to cover shipments of highly radioactive material; and

• join with New Zealand and other South Pacific countries in registering strong concern about these shipments at the Thirtieth South Pacific Forum to be held in Palau in October.

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For lots more on the BNFL plutonium shipments see: www.greenpeace.org. Under "Campaign Events" select "Nuclear." This links to maps, press releases, statements, photos, and more.

Greenpeace Contacts:

Pete Roche, Campaigner, Greenpeace UK
Pete.Roche@uk.greenpeace.org
Direct Line +44 171 865 8229; Fax: +44 171 865 8202

Shaun Burnie - Greenpeace International in Seoul: 011 9041 1188 (mobile)
in Japan: 81 3 5351 5400, or mobile 81 90 2253 7306
Noriko Oyama - Press desk, Greenpeace Japan, Tokyo

Tricia Allen/Damon Moglen, Greenpeace New Zealand: 09-630-6317

Greenpeace UK media officer Caroline Chisholm:
(0408) 268 024 or (0413) 740 450