Iran
The slow-motion referral of Iran to the United Nations Security Council has moved on a step, with last week’s report by the UN nuclear watchdog that it is unable to judge where Tehran’s opaque nuclear programme is heading. The International Atomic Energy Agency was able, however, to confirm Iran’s recent claim that it had made a breakthrough in the enrichment of uranium. That is a step towards mastering the technology needed to make a nuclear bomb, even though the Islamic Republic insists its intentions are entirely peaceful.
FT 1st May 2006
New nukes
Letter: Can you specify who the “leading Green politicians” are who support nuclear power (editorial, 22 April)? Certainly it is not the only Green politicians in Scotland, with a capital “G”, the Scottish Green Party MSPs. If you mean politicians from other parties who describe themselves as “green”, then perhaps you should be clear about who they might be. Your editorial implies Green MSPs, and that is incorrect.
Scotsman 1st May 2006
Nuclear Waste
Dilemma rears its ugly head. Editorial. It seems no one can agree on the best way to deal with nuclear waste. Industry experts believe it should be stored deep underground to minimise the risk of terrorist attacks. Meanwhile, environmentalists insist we should not be burying the problem as the waste can remain highly toxic for tens of thousands of years. While this argument rages, the problem of where to site nuclear dumps has also reared its head. If the industry gets its way, those sites will be in areas with high concentrations of granite to limit the risk of radioactive leaks. And there are fears that some of the North’s most picturesque areas – including the Lake District and the Cheviot Hills – will be high on the list of potential dumping grounds.
Sunday Sun (Newcastle) 30th April 2006