Apr 2 Amsterdam. Greenpeace says it plans a campaign highlighting the dangers of nuclear reactors, to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the world's worst nuclear accident at Chernobyl. On Apr 26 1986 a fire and explosion at Chernobyl's 4th reactor sent radioactive contamination over Europe and polluted vast tracts of the Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia. Greenpeace says it will seek to pressure govts ahead of the G7 meeting on nuclear security in Moscow on Apr 19-20.
Apr 10 Vienna. Cash-strapped Ukraine says it can't afford to shut down the stricken Chernobyl power stn without massive aid from the internat'l comm'y. PM Yevgeny Marchuk said his country needs internat'l aid to help cope with the economic consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Marchuk said the concrete sarcophagus laid down to smother the threat of further radiation leaks is in poor condition. Experts believe another accident at Chernobyl remains a possibility and say that strengthening the sarcophagus around reactor no. 4 is a priority.
Apr 10 Vienna. The Chernobyl 10th anniversary conf in Vienna started with a moment of silence for the past and future victims of the world's largest nuclear accident. Scientists at the conf have been asking if the use of nuclear energy is still responsible. Delegates say 15 other reactors of the Chernobyl design are still in use in E Europe and making them safe will cost $bns.