Date: Sun, 9 Mar 1997 17:33:33 X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.0 -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN Status: R (sorry for being so late, but I was in Gorleben last week ...) Feb 25, 1997 (Reuter) - Due to sabotages by suspected anti- nuclear activists several German trains were delayed. In begin March a nuclear waste transport shall be shipped by train to Gorleben, Germany. Feb 25, 1997 (UPI) - Last Friday the Unit 1 of the Comonwealth Edison Zion's nuclear power plant was accidently shut down as an operator inserted the control rods too far into the core, bur tried to restart the reactor by withdrawing them. ComEd has now temporarily reassigned four control room workers on duty. Feb 25, 1997 (NYT) - Russia has bought an IBM RS/6000 SP supercomputer for nuclear weapons tests simulation through an European middleman, Russian officials said. The computer, worth US$7 million, is ten times more effective than the computers now used, they said. If is doubted that also two supercomputers sold by silicon Graphics to Russia are used for nuclear test simulation. Feb 26, 1997 (Reuter) - During the visit of the German Federal Environment Minister Merkel in Luechow, near the nuclear waste dump at Gorleben, demonstrations against the planned shipment of six cascs with high-level nuclear waste took place. Tomatos and eggs were thrown towards Merkel as she said she could not call back the transport. Feb 26, 1997 (Reuter) - New Zealand's Foreign Minister Simon Upton criticized France, Japan and Britain for the transport of nuclear waste through the Tasman Sea on the Pacific Teal, but said he would not send an aircraft to watch the ship. Feb 27, 1997 (Reuter) - The U.S. gouvernment had discussed the shipment of nuclear waste to North Korea with Taiwan and had voiced concern, Charles Kartman, an acting assistant Secretary of State, said. The Clinton Administration would think a storage in Taiwan itself to be the appropriate solution. Feb 27, 1997 (Reuter) - There was no progress in sight to ban landmines or to stop production of nuclear weapons-grade material, participants of an international disarmament conference in Geneva said. Feb 27, 1997 (Reuter) - The German state would stand firm against anti-nuclear protestors who want to hinder the transport of high level nuclear waste to Gorleben, the federal Minister for Inner Affairs, Manfred Kanther, said. The supporters of these protests, such as members of the Green Party, would enforce violence, he said. Minister for Inner Affairs of Lower Saxony said the police action would cost his state about US$ 39 million and he urged this transport to be the last. Feb 27, 1997 (Reuter) - Taiwanese gouvernment on Thursday confirmed anew that it plans to go ahead with the transport of nuclear waste to North Korea despite U.S. concerns. Officials pointed out that the transport was breaking no international law and would pose neither any health nor military hazards. Feb 27, 1997 (Reuter) - After Indian prime Minister Deve Gowda had said India would allow forein ownership of nuclear power plants, on Thursday a gouvernment statement was issued, saying though no specific offers were asked, India would be open for offers and decide on a "case-by-case" basis. Feb 27, 1997 (CSM) - Internal documents which Ontario Hydro, Canada's biggest electric power company, was ordered to make public by court, discovered serious safety lacks, including reports about operators sleeping, playing computer games and ignoring warning lights. Ontario officials said the reviews would be two to three years old and the problems were solved. Feb 28, 1997 (Reuter) - About 400 people demonstrated in Neckarwestheim on Friday, as the trucks with three Castor- containers with nuclear waste left for Gorleben. The transport was escorted by helocopters, two water-cannons and a tank. The protests delayes the shipment briefly. Feb 28, 1997 (Reuter) - ABB Sweden said it will keep investing in nuclear energy despite a recent gouvernmental decision to close two nuclear reactors until 2001. Mar 2, 1997 (Reuter) - The Australian decision to ease restrictions on uranium mining could, together with a developing world market, lead to a rush in australian uranium production, participants of the international Uranium '97 conference said. Energy Resources of Australia Ltd plans to increase production at its Ranger site to about 5,000 tons uranium oxide annually (from now 3,500) with an expansion to 6,000 in 1999, when the Jabiluka site 20 miles noth of Ranger will be opened. Mar 2, 1997 (Reuter) - About 15,000 people gathered in the German city Lueneburg on Saturday to protest against the transport of nuclear waste to the interim storage at Gorleben. Two school halls were occupied by pupils to prevent them from being used by the policemen, 30,000 of which will guard the transport. Mar 2, 1997 (Reuter) - On Sunday protests against the shipment of nuclear waste to Gorleben, Germany, continued. In Walheim, from where the Castor-containers will leave, 2,000 people demonstrated. Near Gorleben about 10,000 went along the route the transport will take from the station to the site. The police arrested 13 people. Mar 3, 1997 (Reuter) - After the French Council of State ruled last week that the transformation of the Superphenix fast- breeder reactor into a research and demonstration prototype would require a new inquiry, the Green Party demanded to close the reactor. Mar 3, 1997 (Reuter) - German anti-nuclear activists delayed the transport of nuclear waste to Gorleben by digging holes under a railroad and cementing their arms inside on Monday. Other protestors erected burning blockades and tunneld under the road. Feb 28, 1997 (Reuter) - When C & G Video got back their video equipment which they had rented to Connecticut Yankee nuclear power station, it was radioactively contaminated. Northeast Utilities, operator of the station, is investigating the incident. Mar 4, 1997 (Reuter) - The train with the six Castor- containers with nuclear waste arrived in Danneberg, 20 km from the interim storage site near Gorleben. 5,000 protestors demonstrated at the station. The train had eight hours delay due to protests along the route. Mar 4, 1997 (Reuter) - The Taiwanese newspaper United Evening News reported the first batch of nuclear waste would be shipped to North Korea in July. On Tuesday three North Korean officials would have arrived in Taipei to work out a detailed plan. Mar 4, 1997 (Reuter) - In France the debate about the restart of Superphenix continues. The Industry Minister Franck Borotra wants to reopen the reactor immediately, while Environment Minister Corinne Lepage wants to let a reopening depend on a new inquiry. Mar 4, 1997 (Reuter) - Some hundred militant anti-nuclear protestors clashed with the police near Danneberg, not far from the site where the Castor-containers with nuclear waste will be shipped to. The militants threw fire bombs at the riot police and border troops. Around 8,000 people gathered in camps near the site to stop the transport. Mar 5, 1997 (Reuter) - The trucks with the Castor-containers left the station in Danneberg for the waste dump near Gorleben, after 5,000 protestors were removed from the street by the police, who used water cannons. Four protestors had chained themselves to a rope they had tied to trees on either side of the street. Mar 5, 1997 (Reuter) - The British Pacific Teal, carrying nuclear waste from france to Japan, will arrive at the port of Mutsu-Ogawara on March 18, Greenpeace said. Mar 5, 1997 (UPI) - The shipment of nuclear waste finally arrived at the interam waste storage in Gorleben, despite heavy protest of anti-nuclear activists. The biggest police action in Germany since world war II ist estimated to cost about US$60 million. About 30 policemen and more than 100 civilians were injured during the clashes.