Scotland
AN INDEPENDENT Scotland without nuclear power would be forced to rely on England to “keep the lights on”, the UK’s energy minister warned last night. Mike O’Brien accused the First Minister, Alex Salmond, of “ducking” the nuclear issue and taking a “punt” on hopes that renewable energy would meet Scotland’s future energy needs.
Scotland on Sunday 23rd Nov 2008 more >>
New Nukes
THE government will launch the auction of land set aside for new nuclear-power stations within two weeks, setting into motion a process that is expected to be hotly contested by Europe’s biggest energy companies. RWE and E.ON of Germany, Swedish giant Vattenfall and Scottish Power owner Iberdrola are all expected to choose investment banks to advise them on the bidding shortly. The auction is expected to net several hundred million pounds for the shareholder executive which represents the government’s holding in the sites. Scottish & Southern is expected to seek a partnership with one of the more established nuclear players.
Sunday Times 23rd Nov 2008 more >>
Nuclear Waste
CUMBRIA County Council has been accused of “negating democracy” by denying councillors a vote on whether Cumbria should take the first step towards having a radioactive waste repository. Cumbria County Council’s cabinet is expected to put forward Copeland as a potential site. But when the full council met yesterday, many councillors were furious that the decision, expected next month, was being taken without them having a vote.
Whitehaven News 21st Nov 2008 more >>
Iran
Mounting fears that the United States will do nothing to prevent Iran becoming a nuclear power will be outlined by Ehud Olmert, Israel’s prime minister, when he meets President George W Bush in Washington tomorrow. Israel is concerned that Bush will pass the Iranian hot potato to Barack Obama, the president-elect, while the last chance of destroying Tehran’s nuclear bomb-making programme may be passing.
Sunday Times 23rd Nov 2008 more >>
Syria
Syria said Friday a building bombed by Israeli planes last year was not a covert nuclear reactor, as Washington stuck to its allegations. “We are talking about military bases, we are talking about military activities,” Ibrahim Othman, the head of Syria’s Atomic Energy Commission, told reporters after IAEA inspectors briefed members about their first visit to the site in June.
Middle East Online 22nd Nov 2008 more >>
Disarmament
Kate Hudson: While we’ve all been cheering for Barack Obama and looking forward to a better world, it looks like business as usual from our own government on nuclear weapons. Obama’s campaign was notable for his commitment to progress on nuclear disarmament. In fact, American opinion has shifted dramatically on the question of nukes. Former cold warriors such as Henry Kissinger and George Shultz are among recent high profile converts to the disarmament cause. Of course, any real progress will be dependent on improved relations with Russia, which means resolving the current tensions around the US missile defence system, but that may yet be possible.
Guardian 22nd Nov 2008 more >>
Trident
The US government has accelerated its programme to replace Trident nuclear missiles to help the UK, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.
Sunday Herald 23rd Nov 2008 more >>
Coal
Britain is poised to expand its coal mining industry, despite fears that the move will lead to a rise in climate change emissions and harm communities and the environment. Freedom of information requests and council records show that in the past 18 months 14 companies have applied to dig nearly 60 million tonnes of coal from 58 new or enlarged opencast mines. At least six coal-fired power stations are planned. If all the applications are approved, the fastest expansion of UK coal mining in 40 years could see southern Scotland and Northumberland become two of the most heavily mined regions in Europe.
Observer 23rd Nov 2008 more >>
Alternatives
The man who compared fear of global warming to a “Stone Age religion”, and poured scorn on renewable energy – Boris Johnson – has decided that he wants to make the capital “the world’s leading city in delivering carbon reductions and capturing the benefits of the new energy economy”. He will stress that the financial crisis provides a crucial opportunity for developing environmentally friendly businesses, and a “green new deal”. Householders will be able to save money by conserving energy and reducing their carbon footprints. Mr Johnson will promise “substantially increased investment” in small-scale exploitation of solar, wind and other forms of renewable energy in homes and communities, and “minimum-hassle, minimum-cost energy efficiency programmes” to insulate homes, offices and other buildings.
Independent on Sunday 23rd Nov 2008 more >>
