2017 : The Bastille Day is nuclear
July 14, 2017. (9h26 Paris time).
Unfortunately France and the United States of America have published a joint statement to name the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as a nuisance and a threat to World peace. (1)
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted on July 7, 2017 by 122 States with support of the United Nations. It was inspired by the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons initiated by France. It completes the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. The preamble mentions not only the catastrophic consequences of use of nuclear ammunition but also the risk of accidental triggering.
The Rio Tagus Stuck in Sète
French authorities are delaying a final decision concerning the Rio Tagus. At this time, they are contemplating exporting the old freighter under the regulations on transboundary movements of waste, but they do not respond to two essential questions.
Can the Rio Tagus be exempt from the application of European regulations on ship dismantling? Can the Rio Tagus be towed away in compliance with requirements on maritime safety and environmental protection?
For Robin des Bois, the answer to both questions is no.
Soon Kim will pick up the MOX in his binoculars
Within a few days, unless an accident occurs, the Pacific Egret will enter the North Korean missile influence area. The Pacific Egret carries 8 tons of MOX, a nuclear fuel made in France containing 8 to 10% of plutonium mixed with enriched uranium. This civil bomb left the French port of Cherbourg on July 5, 2017.
After having sailed down the Atlantic Ocean, passed off South Africa, crossed the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, the MOX is expected to be unloaded in the small private port of the Japanese nuclear power plant in Takahama, facing North Korea.
BBC Shanghai, a radioactive risk for Asia
October 2015. The BBC Shanghai, owned by Germany-based Briese Schiffahrts GmbH & Co KG, is making the headlines of the world’s maritime shipping news. She has been selected by the French nuclear operator AREVA to ship to Australia radioactive waste reprocessed in Normandy at the La Hague plant. However, the ship had a bad record regarding technical deficiencies as attested by the maritime authorities of all continents; she had been detained three times in Bilbao (Spain), Gladstone (Australia) and in March 2015 in Honolulu (Hawaii, United States). The international mobilization to demand the chartering of a safe ship will do nothing about it, the BBC Shanghai loads 25 tons of radioactive waste and leaves Cherbourg (France) on October 15 for Port Kembla near Sydney. Indonesia has denied her access to its waters. She arrived at Port Kembla on December 5 after a 25,000 km trip.
