PR:International criticism concerning the trade of stocks from nuclear companies is defamed by the CCI

Press Release 03.08.2009

The Frankfurt (Main) Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CCI) shows insensibility and a lack of professionalism in handling critics:

International criticism concerning the trade of stocks from nuclear companies is defamed by the CCI
Frankfurt (Main) Environmental organizations and activists from the international ”Nuclear Heritage Network” of anti-nuclear activists are outraged by the way the Frankfurt (Main) Chamber of Industry and Commerce handles critics of their trading in nuclear stocks. As the alliance of activists from more than 10 countries learned recently, the CCI defamed an action at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange that took place on this years first trading day, January, 2nd 2009 – the CCI pressed charges against an activist.

In conjunction with an international seminar, attended by anti-nuclear activists from France, Finland, Bulgaria, Russia and Germany, the trade of stocks from nuclear companies and the encouragement of this dangerous and potentially hazardous technology was criticized. Activists uncoiled a banner more than 10 meters long in front of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange stating: ”Nuclear Stocks = Time-Bomb”. Additionally, a symbolic ”nuclear time-bomb” was handed to a representative from the stock exchange. The activists demanded an immediate stop in trading with dangerous shares and an end of all nuclear projects worldwide. The gathering was properly filed in advance and received solidary support from merchants that handed out free drinks to the activists.

On the spot the stock exchange showed professionalism and easily accepted the present – a nuclear time-bomb constructed from cardboard. However, it became known that a month and a half later a criminal proceeding against one of the activists was triggered by the CCI as owner of the stock market grounds. She is faced with charges of trespassing for trying to climb the buildings facade without permission. Although the contended incident happened after the end of the demonstration, anti-nuclear activists from all over the world express their solidarity with the concerned person.

”The CCI in cooperation with the Frankfurt police obviously tries to criminalize an unwanted activist. While on the spot a representative from the stock exchange exposed professionalism and openness towards criticism, pressure is now applied on political critics on the crook. The CCI took more than a month to realize that it felt compromised in its rights”, is what Falk Beyer, an activist from the ”Nuclear Heritage Network” states. ”It is obvious, that this is an attempt to overload a critic with criminal charges to stop his/her political activism. However, it is not the activist who is criminal, but the nuclear industry endangering and even destroying the lifes of countless people with its greed for profit and power. Criminal are those institutions that profit from the trade in stocks from nuclear companies. And criminal is the police in repeatedly applying measures against anti-nuclear activists that have been clearly judged as unlawful.”

Several preliminary proceedings have been launched against the French climbing activist in the past months. The charges and handling of others involved suggest that the motive on the side of the police is not the prosecution of alleged offenses, but rather to muzzle an obnoxious activist. Regularly, she is being denied legal representation and an interpreter during proceedings.

”Through the pressing of charges, the CCI shows that it lacks sensibility and professionalism in handling legitimate criticism. Instead of dealing with the criticism of nuclear trade at the stock exchange, the CCI goes on the offensive against critics”, says Beyer. ”The Frankfurt Stock Exchange, the shareholders and organizations trading there, as well as the CCI that went to action in this case are jointly responsible for thousands of victims to so called 'low level radiation' from the ongoing operation of nuclear facilities, responsible for thousands of victims from nuclear accidents, responsible for uncounted victims of the polluting and unhealthy mining of Uranium and the associated deprivation of indigenous people, and furthermore responsible for the radiant heritage of the nuclear industry.”

For further information, please contact:
 * Falk Beyer, activist of the "Nuclear Heritage Network": +44-7624-194877
 * Cécile Lecomte, attacked activist: +49-163-7342462
 * Andrey Ozharovskiy, participant of the action from Russia: +7-905-5771240
 * Bernhard Riepl, Austria/Czech Republic: +42-0775383750

-- Nuclear Heritage Network http://nuclear-heritage.net

[mailto:contactATnuclear-heritage.net contact AT nuclear-heritage.net]