Bellona nuclear digest. July 2024
A survey of events in the field of nuclear and radiation safety relating to Russia and Ukraine.
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Publish date: November 19, 2003
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Ecodefense announced actions would take place in as many as 20 large cities. On November 25th, environmental activists across Russia will stage protests against the import of nuclear waste. Actions will also be focused on informing voters about parliamentarians’ positions on the nuclear waste import issue. Two weeks ahead of the December 7th elections to the State Duma, lower house of the Russian Parliament. Russian environmental groups will organise protests, rallies, actions and performances aimed at informing voters across country on the candidates positions on nuclear waste issue. In 2001, the Russian Parliament approved legislation allowing the nuclear industry to import high-level radioactive waste (spent nuclear fuel). At the same time, nearly 90% of citizens expressed their opposition to the new legislation, holding hundreds of actions all across the country.
The parliament ignored mass public opinion. More than 50 environmental groups are campaigning to inform citizens on the position of members of parliament on various environmental issues. Nuclear waste is the priority issue. The campaign is targeted at building of strong civil society by forcing parliamentarians to be more responsible. The Russian nuclear industry has announced it will import over 20,000 tonnes of nuclear waste from across the world for long-term storage in the hope of earning nearly $20 billion for new reactor construction and spent fuel reprocessing. At the same time, for the past several years the nuclear industry has been under strong public pressure, and cannot find new customers for its spent fuel services. “The new elections are coming, and we have to remind voters which Duma members voted in favour of the import of nuclear waste. Through effective public pressure we have to force the new parliament to disapprove the nuclear waste legislation as amoral and anti-democratic”, Ecodefense said.
A survey of events in the field of nuclear and radiation safety relating to Russia and Ukraine.
Transport on the Northern Sea Route is not sustainable, and Kirkenes must not become a potential hub for transport along the Siberian coast. Bellona believes this is an important message Norway should deliver in connection with the Prime Minister's visit to China. In an open letter to Jonas Gahr Støre, Bellona asks the Prime Minister to make it clear that the Chinese must stop shipping traffic through the Northeast Passage.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has published a new report on its efforts to ensure nuclear safety and security during the conflict in Ukraine, with the agency’s director-general warning that the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station remains “precarious and very fragile.”
In this news digest, we monitor events that impact the environment in the Russian Arctic. Our focus lies in identifying the factors that contribute to pollution and climate change.