New nukes
The Sustainable Development Commission said the nuclear option “won’t get us anywhere near tackling the UK’s energy and climate change crisis”. Its chairman called for more efficient homes and less wasted power. “The government has been so busy trying to make the case for nuclear power it risks overlooking the much bigger challenges facing the UK today,” Jonathan Porritt said.
BBC 30th June 2006
Letters: Tony Juniper says: The trade and industry secretary, Alistair Darling, is misleading the public by suggesting that the lights could go out unless new nuclear power plants are built (Report, June 28). Earlier this year the Sustainable Development Commission concluded that “it is indeed possible to meet the UK’s energy needs without nuclear power” and “there is no justification for bringing forward a new nuclear power programme at present”.
Henry Oliver of CPRE says: Alistair Darling shouldn’t talk rubbish about the planning system. In targeting “the problems of drawn-out planning inquiries”, Darling is parroting a familiar mantra of No 10 and the Treasury, one driven by their well-known dislike of the accountable way we make decisions. There are few facts, however, to support this obsession with planning delays. Between 1984 and 2002 fewer than a dozen public inquiries into national-scale construction projects lasted more than three months.
PT Sherwoos says: Alistair Darling is in favour of nuclear power because he claims that “if you want to be frightened about anything you want to be frightened about the impact of climate change”. Is he, by any chance, the same Alistair Darling who, as minister for transport, was in favour of the unrestricted growth of air travel?
Guardian 30th June 2006
THE public will have to support new power projects, including rebuilding nuclear plants, or face a “serious risk” that lights will go out, Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling has warned.
Blackpool Today 29th June 2006
The consultation period for the Government’s much talked about Energy Review closed in April and the response is due in the next few weeks. The media coverage of the review and statements from Tony Blair on this matter so far have not provided much hope for increasing amounts of anti-nuclear activists around the country.
North Devon Journal 29th June 2006
Nuclear Weapons
Britain could scale back its nuclear arsenal now that the Cold War is over, MPs concluded on Friday in a report that will set the tone for months of debate over the fate of the country’s nuclear weapons.
Reuters 30th June 2006
Independent 30th June 2006
There needs to be a “genuine and meaningful” public debate on whether the UK should keep its nuclear weapons, the Commons defence committee has said.
BBC 30th June 2006
The government must explain the purpose of a British nuclear deterrent, something it has failed to do so far, a cross-party committee of MPs says in a hard-hitting report on the future of the Trident missile system published today.
Guardian 30th June 2006
The Ministry of Defence will today come under fire from a parliamentary watchdog for refusing to take part in an inquiry into the future of Britain’s nuclear deterrent.
Herald 30th June 2006
MPs URGED the Government yesterday to consider scrapping the policy of having a nuclear ballistic missile submarine on patrol 24 hours a day to maintain a continuous independent deterrent.
Times 30th June 2006
The determination of Britain’s political elite to maintain the country as a nuclear-weapons state is rooted in a half-century of military planning to which the possibility of tactical and first use of nuclear weapons is central.
Open Democracy 29th June 2006
Comment from Kate Hudson: Parliament must decide.
Guardian 30th June 2006
Britain considered nuclear strikes on China in 1961 to defend Hong Kong, secret government documents have confirmed.
Ananova 30th June 2006
Scotsman 30th June 2006
Independent 30th June 2006
BBC 30th June 2006
Russia
Russia yesterday unveiled details of a plan to reorganize the country’s nuclear power plants, agencies, institutes and departments into a single state company modeled on the gas and oil giant, Gazprom, the New York Times reported.
AFX 29th June 2006
Iran
Iran insists it needs until August to assess an international offer of incentives to get it to halt its controversial nuclear programme.
BBC 30th June 2006
Times 30th June 2006
Emergency Planning
PEOPLE living in a small north Cumbrian village are now ready to cope with any disaster – natural or man-made. Crosby-on-Eden, which was badly hit by last year’s floods, now has an emergency plan, thought to be the first of its type in Cumbria. The plan contains advice on preparing for and dealing with scenarios including radiation leaks, plane crashes and flooding.
Cumberland News 30th June 2006
France
Anne Lauvergeon yesterday won her battle to stay on as chief executive at Areva and at the same time put paid to back-door attempts to force a break-up of the French state-owned nuclear group ahead of a merger with turbine manufacturer Alstom.
FT 30th June 2006
