Pacific Pintail departing Takahama,
Japan, 4 July, 2002, en route
for Sellafield.
Stop the Plutonium Terror
An armed ship carrying enough plutonium to make 50 nuclear bombs is sailing around the world from Japan to Britain, threatening the health and security of millions of people world-wide.

An accident or terrorist attack on the ship could disperse the plutonium -- one of the most dangerous substances known, with a half-life of 24,000 years -- into the oceans and coasts, poisoning people and the environment.

There is no justification for this shipment. It is only occurring because British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL), which originally shipped the plutonium, in the form of plutonium -uranium mixed oxide material (MOX) to Japan in 1999, deliberately falsified vital quality control data during its manufacture. Japan has demanded its return as a condition of signing further MOX contracts with BNFL -- which could result in up to a 100 more shipments taking place over the next decade!

The nuclear industry's arrogance and irresponsibility in undertaking this transport, especially after the tragic events of September 11th, must be challenged. Greenpeace is campaigning to stop our seas becoming nuclear highways and for an end to the dangerous plutonium trade.