George Washington and Tireless: the nuclear problem

The GOB has manifested that the Energy Plan, that the Balearic Government is in the process of passing, forbids the production of nuclear energy within the territorial field of the Balearics. The ecological organisation supports Greenpeace in the call for the antinuclear fleet against the presence of the aircraft carrier "George Washington" and asks the Mallorcan public to participate in the protest. They also asked the hoteliers and tourist industry in general to show its rejection of the presence of the nuclear aircraft carrier in the Bay of Palma.

Meanwhile, during the inauguration of the sewage plant in Santanyí - Cala Santanyí, the president of the Balearics, Francesc Antich, stated that he would send, from the Department of Environment, a letter to the Delegation of the Central Government to learn about the emergency plans that exist in the case of an escape from the nuclear reactors of the aircraft carrier, and to know the results of the analyses for radioactivity that may be carried out in the area.

It is also important to mention that the mayor of Inca and president of the Partido Popular in Mallorca, Pere Rotger, also stated his support for the Balearic Government (Progress Pact) in their protest for the anchoring of the aircraft carrier. However, the mayor of Palma, Joan Fageda, expressed his disgust at the Govern's decision and warned that in Tarragona, many advantages and facilities are offered to the American fleet.

Meanwhile, about twenty people called by Esquerra Unida (United Left) carried out a symbolic protect concentration on the Passeig Marítim in Palma against the presence of the aircraft carrier.

The arrival of the aircraft carrier and the protest action in Mallorca has accelerated the reaction against the presence of the British nuclear submarine in Gibraltar. So, we must mention the declarations of the President of the Central Government, published in the Times, that state that the most reasonable, logical and desirable would be that the submarine, "Tireless", that has its nuclear system broken down and has been in Gibraltar for several months, be taken to the United Kingdom. According to El País, the Spanish Foreign Minister, Josep Piqué, has qualified these statements saying that they were the statement of a natural wish and not an official request to the British Government. However, the general secretary of the PSOE, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero thinks that it is incomprehensible that the president of the Central Government has made these declarations to a British newspaper, especially as these have been contested by the Foreign Ministry.

Finally, we stress the Platform against the stay of Tireless in Gibraltar, met in Seville with the Andalucian Ombudsman and have presented a complaint against the Spanish and British governments.

Related news:
- Antinuclear fleet in the Bay of Palma
- The aircraft carrier "George Washington" in Palma (4/12/2000)

UPDATE (08/12/2000)

This morning, the antinuclear Fleet against the presence of the aircraft carrier "George Washington" has concentrated round the boat. The participants have expressed their protest with varied banners against nuclear energy.

The "George Washington" has abandoned the Bay of Palma before planned.

Date of publication: 07/12/2000

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