New Nukes
A POLL by the Institute of Directors (IoD) shows 85% of business leaders support new nuclear power stations. The findings were in response to Ofgem’s proposals for sustainable future energy options. The IoD said: “Energy security has to be at the top of the agenda for the next Parliament.”
Liverpool Daily Post 12th Apr 2010 more >>
Proliferation
Leaders from more than 40 countries will tomorrow back Barack Obama’s plans to prevent the theft of nuclear material from vulnerable stockpiles around the world. At a nuclear security summit in Washington they will be expected to pledge concrete action to help protect an estimated 1,600 tonnes of weapons-grade uranium (highly enriched uranium – HEU) and 500 tonnes of plutonium stored in over 1,000 sites in 40 countries under widely varying degrees of security. Just 25kg (55lb) of HEU or nearly 8kg of plutonium is required to make a bomb. There have been 15 confirmed cases of weapons-grade material being smuggled in the last 17 years.
Guardian 12th Apr 2010 more >>
Barack Obama, the US President, has warned that nuclear terrorism is the gravest threat to global security as he calls for action to keep nuclear-grade material out of the hands of extremists.
Telegraph 12th Apr 2010 more >>
BBC 12th Apr 2010 more >>
Independent 12th Apr 2010 more >>
Fresh from his success in signing a new strategic arms reduction treaty with the Russians in Prague, US President Barack Obama is hosting a nuclear security summit in Washington DC. With some 47 countries in attendance it will be one of the largest gatherings of its kind in the US capital since the late 1940s.
BBC 12th Apr 2010 more >>
President Barack Obama has warned that Al-Qaeda would not hesitate to use a nuclear weapon against the United States, before hosting a global summit aimed at thwarting such a nightmare scenario.
Yahoo 12th Apr 2010 more >>
Reuters 11th Apr 2010 more >>
The common aim is to contain the twin menace of nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism, which Obama has identified as the principal threats to his country and to global security. The NPR and Start have both underwhelmed arms control purists, but have generally been welcomed as positive steps towards disarmament given the political environment Obama is operating in. The Nuclear Security Summit is likely to trigger the same mixed emotions. The copies of the summit’s final communique and workplan that I’ve seen inevitably read like the lowest common denominator documents they are.
Guardian Blog 11th Apr 2010 more >>
Iran
Iran has said it will complain to the UN over its exclusion from Washington’s revised nuclear policy, while the US has claimed Iran does not yet have nuclear capacity.
Sky News 11th Apr 2010 more >>
Morning Star 11th Apr 2010 more >>
Disarmament
Peace activists have been out in force on a march against the threat of nuclear war and the possession of nuclear weapons. The Flame of Hope was carried from Worthing to Littlehampton by campaigners from Brighton, Worthing and Crawley.
Brighton Argus 11th Apr 2010 more >>
Peak Oil
The US military has warned that surplus oil production capacity could disappear within two years and there could be serious shortages by 2015 with a significant economic and political impact. The energy crisis outlined in a Joint Operating Environment report from the US Joint Forces Command, comes as the price of petrol in Britain reaches record levels and the cost of crude is predicted to soon top $100 a barrel.
Guardian 12th Apr 2010 more >>
Renewables
A BATTERY recycling scheme devised by some of the world’s biggest carmakers could slash the cost of green motoring. Nissan and General Motors are working on plans to sell used batteries from their electric vehicles to wind-farm operators. The old batteries would store power generated by wind turbines at off-peak times, when it is not required by the national grid. The batteries could also be used for emergency power supplies. Finding a second use for them, once they are no longer strong enough to power a car, could alter the economics of electric motoring. The lithium-ion batteries include rare materials and are expensive to make. They are so costly that most of the big car companies do not intend to sell them with the car, but to lease them under a separate agreement.
Sunday Times 11th Apr 2010 more >>
Freddy Shepherd, the controversial former owner of Newcastle United Football Club, could be about to make another fortune if Tyneside becomes the manufacturing centre of the coming boom in offshore wind farms. Thousands of turbines are set to be erected in the North Sea as Britain gears up to become the global leader of the offshore wind industry, generating up to quarter of the nation’s electricity supply.
Times 12th Apr 2010 more >>
Engineering tycoon Jim McColl is seeking to build two new factories in Scotland that would make components for the offshore wind industry and create many hundreds of jobs. David Brown Gear Systems, a subsidiary of Glasgow-based Clyde Blowers, of which Mr McColl is chief executive, is “gathering intelligence” with a view to building factories to supply the markets on the east and west coasts of the UK with the gear boxes required for wind turbines. With the company already close to opening a plant in China that will supply that market with similar products, the Scottish plans come in parallel with a £2.5 million joint venture between David Brown and US-based Clipper Windpower Marine to develop a 10MW gearbox for Clipper’s forthcoming Project Britannia prototype turbine.
Sunday Herald 11th Apr 2010 more >>
