New Nukes
Greenpeace is threatening to take legal action against E.ON and other nuclear companies for rushing ahead with plans to build new reactors before they have got the proper consents. The move has been triggered by reports that preparatory bore holes for new reactors will start to be drilled for E.ON on 3 August at Oldbury in Gloucestershire. EDF is said to be considering similar work. A Greenpeace spokesman said its lawyers were reviewing a situation which made a mockery of a whole raft of hurdles that were meant to be overcome before the government starts official licensing in 2013.
Guardian 27th July 2009 more >>
Sir Jonathon Porritt, the government’s adviser on Sustainable Development, has delivered a damning critique of government failures on the economy, the environment and social justice. He said civil servants at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills they had consistently obstructed attempts to improve energy efficiency.
BBC 27th July 2009 more >>
Nuclear Safety
A woman sparked an alert when she went into Suffolk’s fire service headquarters with a test tube she said contained uranium oxide. Firefighters put on air-tight suits and breathing apparatus to take the tube from the woman so it could be locked away in a secure place. Experts from Sizewell nuclear power plant tested the substance and said it had a low level of radioactivity.
BBC 25th July 2009 more >>
North Korea
North Korea has said that it is open to new dialogue to defuse tensions over its nuclear weapons program in what appeared to be a call for direct talks with the United States.
Telegraph 27th July 2009 more >>
Iran
Mrs Clinton said that Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon was “futile”. “What we want to do is to send a message to whoever is making these decisions that, if you’re pursuing nuclear weapons for the purpose of intimidating, of projecting your power, we are not going to let that happen,” she said.
Times 27th July 2009 more >>
Daily Mail 26th July 2009 more >>
Middle East Online 26th July 2009 more >>
India
India has launched its first nuclear-powered submarine, becoming only the sixth country in the world to do so.
BBC 26th July 2009 more >>
Renewables
The government will today demonstrate its willingness to exert influence over Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group by announcing £1bn of lending to wind farm developers whose schemes have been becalmed by a lack of cash. The initiative comes as Greenpeace unveils new figures showing that local councils run by the Conservative party block more than three times as many wind farms as they approve. Labour-controlled councils meanwhile approved marginally more projects than they turned down between December 2005 and November 2008, according to the campaign group.
Guardian 27th July 2009 more >>
