Hinkley
EXTENSIVE monitoring of radiation levels on beaches near Hinkley Point nuclear power station has shown radiation levels are “within acceptable limits”, the Environment Agency revealed this week. Monitoring was stepped up last year after a member of the public took his own radiation readings at Kilve beach when his pet dog died after being exercised in the area.
Bridgwater Mercury 6th May 2006
Iran
Letter: It is time someone put this whole Iran issue in perspective, as the journal, Nature, did some weeks ago. For the enrichment of uranium, specialist ultra-centrifuges are needed. Iran has a few hundred, and claims it will have 3,000 by the end of the year. To produce low-grade enriched uranium, suitable for use in reactors, on an economical scale, a few tens of thousands are needed. And to produce weapons-grade uranium, a few hundred thousand are needed. So it will be some time before Iran becomes “dangerous”.
Scotsman 6th May 2006
New nukes
Letter: NOW that our major ally is considering bombing nuclear facilities with our help, nuclear installations has become a prime target for terrorist interest and we need to recall why nuclear power is not the solution to global warming.
Hexham Courant 5th May 2006
Letter: ! Am amazed at the statements from MP Peter Hain (Post, April 15) and the cross-party House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC). Mr Hain mistakenly believes a tidal Severn barrage would be an alternative source of power to nuclear stations.
South Wales Evening Post 5th May 2006
Terror
Although the world has been spared from a large-scale terror attack on a nuclear power plant, the danger is real and the consequences would be catastrophic, experts say.
World Peace Herald 5th May 2006
France
The board of Electricite de France, as expected, approved plans yesterday to build the Flamanville 3 third generation nuclear reactor and raised its estimate of the project’s cost to 3.3 bln eur from 3.0 bln, citing “current economic conditions.” Italian utility Enel will contribute 12.5 pct of the financing for the project and will get 12.5 pct of the power produced, EDF chief executive Pierre Gadonneix said in an interview with the daily Le Figaro.
Interactive Investor 5th May 2006
Trident
Letter from Rebecca Johnson: On October 1-3 this year, there will be a gathering at the Faslane nuclear submarine base near Glasgow for women who went to Greenham – and all who wish they had gone (and, of course, our sisters, mothers, daughters, nieces and granddaughters). We’ll be celebrating Greenham’s 25th anniversary by kicking off the year-long Faslane 365 blockade to draw attention to the illegality, insecurity and dangerous waste of resources inherent in nuclear weapons.
Guardian 5th May 2006
