European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 6, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday january 6, 1993 r world the stars and stripes Page 3 bundled up against the cold Yoehle Shl Utamura and her 3-year-old daughter Yule join the demonstration against the shipment of plutonium aboard the Akatsuka Maru. At right the freighter carrying 1.7 tons of plutonium ii rom France docks amid heavy Security at total a port about 70 Miles Northeast of Tokyo. In n Tokai Japan apr a freighter earning 1.7 tons of plutonium docked in this town tuesday ending a two month voyage but not the International outcry Over the seaborne delivery of the deadly material and Japan a plans to stockpile it for nuclear Energy. T the Akatsuka Maru reached Tokai 70 Miles Northeast of Tokyo from Cherbourg France just after Dawn. It was flanked by scores of escort vessels. About 600 anti nuclear activists outnumbered by some 1,000 police officers later marched through the narrow streets of the fanning Village to protest the shipment which they think puts the entire world at risk. A they carried red and White banners with slogans including a Stop  Many protesters As is the custom in Eastern Asia wore White surgical masks to avoid embarrassing their families. Plutonium is so toxic that a microscopic speck can cause cancer. Critics of the shipment and of Japan s plans to make a practice of sending spent plutonium abroad for reprocessing fear an Accident or terrorist attack could result in a radioactive release. Detractors also fear that Japan s commitment to developing the fast breeder reactor which produces More plutonium than it consumes will contribute to nuclear proliferation. Plutonium is a key ingredient of nuclear  also is concern that other asian nations including China and South Korea might follow Japan a Lead and Start importing plutonium. Tokyo a ambitious nuclear program is strictly Energy oriented aiming to Lessen Japan s dependence on imported Oil. But neighbors mindful of japanese aggression in the first Naif of the Century Are nonetheless wary. North Korea itself subject to suspicions that it is developing nuclear weapons denounced the plutonium shipment As a scheme of a japanese militarists dreaming of nuclear  a Towo University student who marched through Lokai also condemned Japan a newfound ability to join the nuclear dub. A the government is gradually increasing its capability to make nuclear weapons a Yuji Shtraim said. A that Means Japan would be a military  Japan is alone among major Industrial nations in continuing with plans to rely on the fast breeder reactor to generate electricity. The potential hazards and High Cost have caused other nations including the United states to abandon fast breeder programs. Even France which relies on nuclear Power to meet most of its Energy needs has abandoned the fast breeder reactor. The plutonium that arrived tuesday will be stored Tor at least three years because technical problems have delayed until october 1995 the full scale operation of monju a prototype fast breeder reactor in Western Japan. Officials in charge of Japan s nuclear policy argue that fast breeder reactors will offer a re source Barren nation its Only Hope for a stable renewable Energy Supply. Japan imports almost All its Petroleum from the Middle East. Its 41 reactors now Supply 27 percent of its electricity a figure expected to increase to 43 percent by 2010. Because of the controversy surrounding the shipment Japan kept the nonstop route from France a secret. But Media and activists tailing the ship said it travelled past the Southern tip of Africa and South of Australia before heading to Japan. Nations along possible routes demanded that the ship steer Clear of their Waters. Officials said it would take until this afternoon to unload the plutonium from the freighter which is docked inside the nuclear facility that will convert the plutonium into fuel rods and store it. Plutonium ship reaches destination Akatsuka Maru arrives in Japan from France with t .7 tons of plutonium for fast breeder reactors. Akatsuka Maru formerly Pacific Crane International transporters of. Irradiated nuclear fuel two thirds of which is owned by British nuclear fuels Ltd. And the remainder it jointly held by French and japanese Nudora interests. One of six ships constructed by Pacific. Nuclear transport limited to carry irradiated nuclear fuel Between Japan France and Britain. This double bottomed ship travels 24.000 nautical Miles 81 Days at sea without refuelling. The five cargo holds can carry 20 casks of nuclear fuel. Departs from Cherbourg France nov. 7,1992 i a route of plutonium shipment source Greenpeace a we j. Gastello woman gets Canada defense Job As voting nears Ottawa apr prime minister 3rian Mulroney announced Cabinet Dinges monday that included the Jiam no of a woman As defense minister but hopped Short of the wholesale shuffling that might be expected before an election. The government reaches five years in office this november. An election must be held then or before. Mulroney has said he does not intend to resign. But polls indicate that he remains the lightning Rod for political discontent in Canada and that his party would be better off with another Leader. Mulroney last changed his Obi net in april 1991. _ / under mondays changes 10 ministers were shuffled. He said the changes were made to reduce the size of the Cabinet from 39 to 35 and to prepare for policy initiatives to be outlined next month. Kim Campbell will become Canada s a first female defense minister. Campbell who has been mentioned As a possible Mulroney successor is a former professor of soviet studies Mulroney also accepted the resignations of five ministers. Out of the Cabinet Are Marcel Masse Jake Epp Robert de Cotret Gerald merrithew a All ministers in Mulroney s original 1984 Cabinet a and William Winegard. They have said they wont run in the next election. A newcomer is Pierre Vincent who becomes minister of consumer and corporate affairs. A a there will be another structural shuffle before the election Quot Mulroney said. Campbell took the defense and veterans affairs jobs vacated by Masse and merrithew. Pierre Blais moved to Justice from consumer and corporate affairs he also acquired membership on several key committees of the Cabinet where Fine Points of policy Are worked out. Blais is co chairman of the conservatives re election Campaign. Joe Clark kept the constitutional affairs portfolio. Clark has said he a considering leaving politics until he does hell have a new role a running the Cabinet committee that will oversee a revamping of social  moves include a Bill Mcknight went to Energy. He left the agriculture department to Charlie Mayer who merged the Job with his old one As minister for grains and Oil seeds. A associate defense minister Mary Collins became minister of state for West Ern diversification and continues As minister responsible for the status of women a Monique Landry replaced de Cotret As Secretary of state. A Monique Vezina replaced Landry As minister of state for external relations and retained the title As minister for  a Tom Hockin added the science ministry to the Small business portfolio he already had. A Pauline Browes became minister of state for employment and immigration after being minister of state for environment. Except leaders they at  a Bara Mcdougall environment minister Jean Charest communications minister Perrin Beatty and employment minister Bernard Valcourt. It. Except for Campbell All potential the snip aspirants stayed in their jobs icy Are external affairs minister bar