PR:International guests invited to join the anti-nuclear CASTOR protests in Germany

Media Release – for immediate publication Thursday November 17, 2011

Anti-nuclear resistance across borders

International guests invited to join the anti-nuclear CASTOR protests in Germany
Döbeln/Germany Interested people outside Germany are invited by anti-nuclear activists of the Nuclear Heritage Network to join the Castor protests in Germany starting next week. "Castor" is a synonym for shipments of high level radioactive waste. The resistance against these transports to the interim repository in Gorleben, Lower Saxony, are unique worldwide. Activists and other interested people are invited to experience the protests, to join the actions and to get inspired for anti-nuclear activities back at home.

"Radiation doesn't respect borders between countries, the nuclear industry operates globally, and thus, the anti-nuclear resistance also has to be internationally," says Falk Beyer, campaigner with the Nuclear Heritage Network. "We kindly invite activists, interested citizens and the international media to join the CASTOR protests in Germany! In return, German activists will participate in actions in other countries. We are focusing on mobilizing internationally to support local anti-nuclear groups phasing out atomic power. Our combined power will challenge the nuclear industry!"

During one week actions against the CASTOR shipment and against the continuation of operation of several atomic facilities in Germany take place in a concentrated form. Mass actions have been announced starting November 23rd to blockade the transport of the dangerous material. Tenthousands of protesters are expected to participate in the 2011 actions.

In cooperation with the local organization "BI Umweltschutz Lüchow-Dannenberg" activists with the Nuclear Heritage Network organize the participation of international guests in the Castor protests. An English website provides important information and gives an overview about proposed actions and events: http://castor2011.nuclear-heritage.net

A huge variety of direct actions, blockades, public as well as not announced activities will take place in the area which is well known for the support by local farmers, citizens and organizations in the Castor protests. Thus, hundreds of tractors and other agricultural vehicles will be involved to rallies and blockades, thousands of people will join sit-in blockades on tracks and roads or participate in the publicly announced actions to make the last 40 km tracks of the transport route being used exclusively by the CASTOR shipment impassable for the radioactive cargo. In the past a number of climbing actions, lock-on blockades, concrete pyramids and other constructions with people locked-on inside as well as other barricades were blockading the routes of the CASTOR shipment.

The CASTOR protests actually do not only intend to delay and send back the shipment to the plutonium factory in La Hague, France, but also to challenge the nuclear industry to immediately shut-down all atomic plants. These protests are a main focal point of the German anti-nuclear movement. The actions basically are resolute and backed by the residents of the region of the interim storage site Gorleben.

The CASTOR shipment starts November 24th at the loading station in Valognes, France, towards Germany. It is supposed to cross the French-German border November 25th around noon. Due to a big manifestation close to the Dannenberg loading station the shipment has to pass, the transport is supposed to reach the place only November 27th and to be shipped by special trucks some 20 km on roads to the interim repository in Gorleben November 28th. In the past the protests successfully delayed the transport schedule by hours or days.

The Nuclear Heritage Network is an international informal network of anti-nuclear activists. It aims to support anti-nuclear activists worldwide. Thus, it provides means of communication, multilingual information materials on local groups' atomic topics and organizes international network gatherings. The Nuclear Heritage Network is not represented by anyone, it makes no common statements and has no central decision making. Instead, it provides the framework for improving anti-nuclear activities and allows its activists to build cooperation projects with each other on their own using the resources provided.

Dear editor! You are warmly invite you to report on the international CASTOR protests in Germany, to send your reporters and to spread the word about our invitation to activists to join the actions. We are available for interviews, and willing to provide photos and background information to you. You reach us by email to [mailto:mediaATnuclear-heritage.net media AT nuclear-heritage.net], and from November 22 we will provide a mobile info phone number in the "Contacts" section on our website http://castor2011.nuclear-heritage.net.

-- Nuclear Heritage Network Ortsteil Mannsdorf Am Bärental 6 D-04720 Döbeln GERMANY

WebSite: http://nuclear-heritage.net E-Mail: [mailto:contactATnuclear-heritage.net contact AT nuclear-heritage.net]

Phone: +49 3431 5894177

This media release has been provided by the "Nuclear Heritage Network". It is an international network of anti-nuclear activists. This informal alliance supports the worldwide anti-nuclear work. The Nuclear Heritage Network is no label, has no standard opinion and no representatives. All activists of the network speak for themselves or for the groups they represent.