Cumbria
THE Bishop of Carlisle James Newcome has reiterated his support for the nuclear industry at a special meeting in Carlisle Cathedral. The open meeting had been organised by The Environment Group of Churches Together following requests from Radiation Free Lakeland who had expressed concerns at the recently-installed Bishop’s pro-nuclear stance. Having listened to the speakers the Bishop chose to reiterate his strong support for nuclear new build declaring: “I’ve heard nothing to change my mind that nuclear is the way forward.” Afterwards Marianne Birkby, for Radiation Free Lakeland, said: “Our hope was that the Bishop would listen to the arguments and then take time to reflect on what was said with perhaps a further meeting. “The kaibosh was put on any possible open mindedness by the Bishop’s strong reiteration of his support for nuclear. In that she said: “It was interesting to hear Paul Spare describe the view of Supporters of Nuclear Energy that nuclear power ‘poses no harm to the public’ that ‘only modest deaths’ have arisen and nuclear energy is ‘as important as food and water to our society.’ “Shaun Burnie of Greenpeace described the ongoing devastation caused by Chernobyl and how the “truth has been distorted” about this and the numbers of deaths/radiation linked illnesses.
Get Noticed Online 8th Feb 2010 more >>
JAMIE Reed has defended the way he supports Sellafield as an MP and accused critics of using ‘dirty politics’ against him. Copeland’s MP hit back strongly after being criticised himself for “entertaining” nuclear and other organisations at Westminster. Mr Reed told The Whitehaven News that he had held meetings in the best interests of his constituency and had done so without any financial or material gain.
Whitehaven News 10th Feb 2010 more >>
Oldbury
Submission to the NPS Consultation from Green Councillor Philip Booth
Ruscombe Green 10th Feb 2010 more >>
Emergency Planning
BRITAIN’S health and safety obsession was taken to ridiculous new lengths yesterday as it emerged officials fear councils could be hit with personal injury claims following a nuclear disaster. A landmark report into how the country would cope after a major nuclear incident warns local authorities against turning contaminated paving slabs over in case people trip up. Health Protection Agency (HPA) scientists issued hundreds of measures including mass evacuation and demolition of affected cities. But despite describing how chaos would ensue as livestock is slaughtered and bottled water is delivered under armed guard, the report warns that councils would still face being sued by personal injury lawyers.
Express 11th Feb 2010 more >>
Low Level Waste
COUNCILLORS will visit the site of a former opencast mine before making a decision on controversial plans to turn it into a waste repository. Endecom UK wants to build a low-level radioactive waste dump at Keekle Head. Copeland’s planning panel agreed last week to a joint site visit with county councillors. Members of Allerdale Borough Council and Frizington and Arlecdon Parish Council have also been invited to attend the visit, although it may not take place until April due a backlog of visits county councillors have to make due to the recent bad weather.
Whitehaven News 10th Feb 2010 more >>
Waste Transport
A TRAIN driver has lost his job – after 36 years in which he took freight to a nuclear site – because he was colour blind. Robert Law, 55, once collected Tony Blair and Nelson Mandela from a high-powered meeting. And he drove freight trains carrying hazardous goods to a nuclear plant. All that time, he had trouble telling colours apart with potentially fatal consequences.
Daily Record 10th Feb 2010 more >>
Germany
It is an old and passionate debate in Germany and it simply will not go away. Can the country afford to stick to its current legal obligation to phase out its nuclear reactors after 32 years of service without risking a serious blackout? Or should it extend, as others are doing, the operational life of its nuclear reactors that provide about a quarter of the country’s electricity? If so, the question is by how much longer? According to all the latest public opinion polls, a majority of Germans – about 60 per cent – remains fiercely hostile to nuclear power and continues to favour the current phase-out legislation passed by the former coalition of Social Democrats and Greens.
FT 10th Feb 2010 more >>
Italy
The Italian cabinet has approved the criteria for the selection and authorisation of nuclear sites, as well for the compensation of local communities and the plants’ decommissioning. But opposition against these plans is growing. The latest criteria are laid out in a legislative decree, a procedure under which parliament authorises the government to directly pass legislation following guidelines parliament has set. But the decree has not been passed by any regional governments, most of which oppose the introduction of nuclear sites on their territory. The government bypassed the regions on grounds of urgency but will still seek to hear their views in a unified conference.
Argus Media 10th Feb 2010 more >>
Iran
Nuclear technicians in Iran have begin enriching uranium stocks to a significantly higher level. Scientists have injected 55 pounds of 3.5 per cent enriched uranium hexafluoride gas into a cascade of centrifuges at a laboratory in Natanz. The machines are expected to produce about 5.5 pounds of 20 per cent enriched uranium every month. State TV said United Nations nuclear inspectors already overseeing enrichment to low levels are being allowed to stay on site to monitor the process. The move prompted Barack Obama to warn of a “significant regime of sanctions”. Speaking at a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room, he said the sanctions process is moving along quickly, but he gave no specific timeline.
ITN 10th Feb 2010 more >>
Israel has called for immediate and crippling sanctions.
Metro 10th Feb 2010 more >>
Wind vs Nuclear
According to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), ‘the world’s wind power capacity grew by 31% in 2009 adding 37.5 gigawatts to bring total installations up to 157.9 gigawatts’. Only one nuclear power station went online in 2009 and not one did in 2008. It has been 22 years since nuclear power was able to make the contribution wind did last year. It’s an unbelievably poor performance from a struggling nuclear industry even when you take into account the many problems and dangers building new reactors entails.
Greenpeace Nuclear Reaction 9th Feb 2010 more >>
Peak Oil
Jeremy Leggett: In the years approaching the credit crunch, whistleblowers were limited to a few insightful economists and financial journalists. Now whistles are blowing again about another grave threat to the global economy and the security of nations. They warn of an oil crunch: an unexpected crash in global production such that supply can no longer meet demand, even if China and India throttle back. This time the warning is not limited to a prescient few individuals. Major British companies, led by Virgin, Scottish and Southern and Stagecoach, are flagging the danger, in today’s report from the UK industry taskforce on peak oil and energy security . So too are the CEOs of oil companies themselves, in the case of Total and Petrobras, and growing numbers of other senior oil industry figures, usually recently retired. Even the International Energy Agency is sounding the alert, in a coded sort of way.
Guardian 10th Feb 2010 more >>
Independent 11th Jan 2010 more >>
Telegraph 11th Jan 2010 more >>
Telegraph 11th Jan 2010 more >>
Disarmament
Last April in Prague, President Barack Obama gave a speech that many have interpreted as a commitment to significant nuclear disarmament. Now, however, the White House is requesting one of the larger increases in warhead spending history. If its request is fully funded, warhead spending would rise 10 percent in a single year, with further increases promised for the future. So how is the president’s budget compatible with his disarmament vision? The answer is simple: There is no evidence that Obama has, or ever had, any such vision. He said nothing to that effect in Prague.
Bulletin of Atomic Scientists 4th Feb 2010 more >>
Aldermaston
Plans for a new facility to store enriched uranium at Britain’s nuclear weapons “factory” in West Berkshire have been approved by councillors. The Pegasus development at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Aldermaston, near Thatcham, would include offices and access roads. Nearly 1,500 people objected to the Ministry of Defence bid, but only one councillor voted against the plans.
BBC 10th Feb 2010 more >>
