Nuclear shipment poses risk: Greenpeace

Greenpeace says a shipment of nuclear fuel soon to sail close to Australia could
pose a risk in the event of an accident or terrorist attack.
French nuclear energy company Areva is shipping the fuel, containing uranium and
plutonium, from France bound for nuclear plants in Japan via the southwest Pacific,
the environmental lobby group says.
The two purpose-built ships carrying the fuel are armed with guns and protected by a
specially trained force.
Greenpeace said the ships would travel between Australia and New Zealand, about
200km from Australia.
Coastal communities would be in peril if there were a terrorist attack or an
accident, it said.
"An accident involving the ship while it is off Australia's coast could have a
catastrophic impact on the environment, and seriously affect our tourism and
fisheries industries," said Greenpeace spokesman Stephen Campbell.
Greenpeace says the nuclear fuel shipments pass by about once every three years.
This one has already left France and is due to arrive in Japan in May.
The group wants the Australian government to call for an end to the shipments.
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade rejected the suggestion.
"The shipment is of no danger to Australia," he said.
"This kind of shipment has been happening for many years without accident occurring."