Russian opposition party Yabloko has sent several dozen protestors into central Moscow in defiance of a planned nuclear waste dumping arriving from Germany.
Arriving today, the protestors have begun to vocalise a growing discontentment with the approval of the transfer of the toxic waste. Banners and signs have been unrolled to demonstrate their sentiments. Slogans included “Nuclear Waste? No Thanks!”. The majority of the protests are taking place outside of the Germany embassy located near the centre of the city.
In a scheduled transport arriving from Germany, a total of 951 nuclear fuel rods are designated to arrive for processing in Russia. According to the state government, the fuel rods will be processed upon arrival from east Germany.
While demonstrating, one protestor, wearing a gas mask, handed a letter over to the German government via the consulate general. According to the Yabloko party head Sergey Mitrokhin, the waste will be sent over sometime in 2011 and be stored at a closed off property in the Ural mountains. At present, the waste is in a temporary holding facility in Germany.
The real issue stems from Germany’s complete lack of nuclear waste storage facilities. The resulting dilemma is that Germany must export all of its nuclear waste or risk not disposing of it properly and harming the environment and others living in the area.
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