Welcome change

BRITAIN and China have finally
joined the international ban on
dumping nuclear wastes at sea. The
two countries, Russia, Belgium and
France had abstained when the
London Convention - a worldwide
treaty on sea pollution - was adopted by, 72 nations in November 1993.
Belgium and France later indicated
their acceptance of the ban, but
Russia insists it needs to keep dumping until 1996.

The convention, which came into
effect February 22, prohibits the discarding of low and intermediate level
radioactive waste. The ban is directed mainly at waste to be generated by
decommissioning nuclear submarines and reactors and also envisages phasing out industrial dumping and incineration at sea.