Jordanian activists call for abolishing nuclear program

Dozens of Jordanians staged a sit-in Sunday, calling for abolishing Jordan's nuclear program. At a sit-in near the Prime Ministry's headquarters, protestors called for protecting the environment, chanting: "Yes for the alternative energy and no for the nuclear reactor." Voicing rejection of the project, they said the nuclear reactor will negatively affect the health of Jordanians, especially in Mafraq governorate where the proposed reactor is expected to be created. They also called on the government to dissolve the country's atomic energy commission. The energy-poor Jordan, which is planning to build several nuclear reactors for power generation, imports about 96 percent of its energy needs annually. The proposed site for the country's first nuclear reactor is located in Mafraq. However, studies are still underway on the location. Jordan so far has signed nuclear cooperation agreements with several countries such as France, Turkey, South Korea, China, Canada, Russia, the UK, Spain, Argentina, Japan, Romania and Italy.