Dungeness
A HIGH Court decision to refuse an appeal against Lydd Airport’s expansion plans will increase the risk of a nuclear incident say protestors. One of the country’s top judges rejected claims that expansion of an airport at Lydd could pose the threat of a nuclear disaster in the south east. Mr Justice Ousley dismissed a two pronged challenge at London’s High Court to plans to expand the Lydd operation.
Rye and Battle Observer 23rd May 2014 read more »
Microgeneration
This week’s Micro Power News.
Microgenscotland.org.uk 23rd May 2014 read more »
Fossil Fuels
Lawyers acting for Five-Quarter, a Newcastle-based firm that wants to exploit gas in undersea coal seams, have threatened to sue an Ayrshire business analyst for “malicious falsehood”. Scottish peer Buccleuch has an 8% stake in the company, and has a director on its board. Mel Kelly wrote a 42-page report entitled Theft Of Austerity Britain’s Coal on what she sees as the danger of underground coal gasification. It criticises Five-Quarter, its directors and other firms, and has been circulated to politicians and the media. On May 8, she got an email from Newcastle law firm Muckle telling her to “cease and desist” distributing her report to avoid costly legal action. Such gagging has been termed a SLAPP – a strategic lawsuit against public participation. Muckle told Kelly to remove any reference to her report from any publications, and provide contact details for the report’s recipients, with confirmation in 48 hours that this would be done.
Sunday Herald 25th May 2014 read more »
Climate
Just days after US researchers identified geophysical reasons why West Antarctica’s glaciers are increasingly vulnerable to global warming, a partner team has pinpointed a related cause for alarm in Greenland. Many of the bedrock crevices and canyons down which the island’s glaciers flow have basements that are below sea level. This means that as warm Atlantic waters hit the glacier fronts, the glaciers themselves become more vulnerable to global warming and increasingly likely to melt at a faster rate.
Climate News Netwoek 24th May 2014 read more »