New Nukes
A PUBLIC consultation about plans for a new generation of nuclear power stations has been criticised for breaching industry guidelines. The Market Research Standards Board (MRSB) said some of the material given to focus groups as part of the consultation – carried out by Opinion Leader Research – was “inaccurately or misleadingly presented or was imbalanced.”
East Anglian Daily Times 20th Oct 2008 more >>
Britain’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is battling to recruit up to 50 inspectors to cope with its existing workload in the nuclear industry and the vital assessment of the reactors being put forward to meet government plans for a new generation of nuclear power stations. HSE said its nuclear arm had some 160 inspectors but needed another 30 to bring it up to full complement to meet the workload on existing nuclear sites. It also needs a further 20 inspectors for the teams working on the generic design assessments of the next generation of nuclear reactors.
Guardian 20th Oct 2008 more >>
Radhealth
A RENOWNED scientist urged Cumbrians to take action over nuclear power plants during a special meeting in Kendal. Dr Ian Fairlie gave a talk to the South Lakeland Friends of the Earth discussing the links between radiation from nuclear power plants and childhood leukaemia. He outlined some of the possible risks from the nuclear facilities at Heysham and Sellafield.
Westmorland Gazette 17th October 2008 more >>
Proliferation
Former Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans and former Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi co-chaired the first meetings of the International Commission on Nuclear Nonproliferation, which also includes former senior diplomats from Russia, France, Pakistan, the United States, China and six other countries. The commission was announced by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on a visit to Japan in June. He said at the time its purpose would be to restore and strengthen fragmenting support for the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which dates back to 1968 but has not been signed by nuclear powers India, Pakistan or Israel. The group aims to influence a review of the treaty that is due in 2010.
Telegraph 20th Oct 2008 more >>
Korea
The US fears that North Korea could endanger a multilateral deal on denuclearisation by not resolving a dispute with Tokyo over Japanese citizens abducted by the Stalinist regime. Washington removed North Korea from a US terrorism list last week after Pyongyang agreed to allow international inspectors access to verify claims about its nuclear programme.
FT 20th Oct 2008 more >>
Trident etc
Darling signalled jobs would be created by the construction of two aircraft carriers and the replacement of the Trident nuclear deterrent, as well as projects such as the £16bn Crossrail and the 2012 Olympic Games, both in London. Medical buildings, social housing and leisure centres might also be built more quickly to boost a construction sector hit by a collapse in the building of houses and commercial buildings. Last week Ed Miliband, the minister in charge of the newly-created energy and climate change department, indicated he would look at ways to create jobs in green technologies such as home insulation.
Guardian 20th Oct 2008 more >>
Climate
Climate change is happening much faster than the world’s best scientists predicted and will wreak havoc unless action is taken on a global scale.
Telegraph 20th Oct 2008 more >>
