Politics
Meg Hillier, 41, has been handed the job of shadowing energy secretary Chris Huhne. Ms Hillier was elected to parliament in 2005 having previously been Mayor of Hackney and also having stood on the London Assembly. As MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch, Ms Hillier has been involved in signing up the London council to the 10:10 carbon reduction pledge and been involved in discussions with the Olympic Development Authority for the construction of wind turbines on Hackney Marshes. It is thought that the energy brief is one close to the opposition leader’s heart, as Mr Miliband was the first to hold the post of energy secretary and oversaw the publication of the UK’s Renewable Energy Strategy in July 2009.
Lets Recycle 8th Oct 2010 more >>
Radwaste
Reproduced here is the full text of an article published in Geoscientist in 1997. The article describes the Nirex Inquiry into proposed “geological disposal of high level nuclear waste in West Cumbria” following years of research costing £400M. The conclusion: “The Planning Inspector’s comprehensive dismissal makes it hard to contemplate a return to this site, even ten years in the future. However this is a success of the British planning system, which enables “the reasonable man” to take a cool and balanced look at the problem, then simply say: “No, not here”.
Radiation Free Lakeland 8th October 2010 more >>
Radioactive waste leaks threatens vineyards and farming communities in the Champagne and Normandy regions, while the nuclear industry ignores French laws prohibiting dumping of foregn nuclear waste in France.
Times Educational Supplement 8th Oct 2010 more >>
Work is restarting to look at whether west Cumbria should take part in the search for a site for an underground repository for higher level radioactive waste. The West Cumbria Managing Radioactive Waste Safely Partnership last month stopped the work it was doing because the Government had not confirmed its funding for the current financial year. The funding arrangements have now been agreed, however, and the partnership is able to carry on with its planned work. The results of a basic geological study, which will show how much of Allerdale and Copeland, up to 5km offshore, would be unsuitable for a geological disposal facility, will be published at the partnership’s next meeting at the Greenhill Hotel near Wigton on Thursday, October 28.
Carlisle News & Star 8th Oct 2010 more >>
Sellafield
The Sellafield nuclear site at Cumbria will shed more than 1,500 jobs to cut costs, said the GMB union. According to the union, 570 workers at the site would be made voluntarily redundant by the end of the year, while 300 agency staff would be laid off. Another 650 vacancies at the plant would be left unfilled.
New Statesman 8th Oct 2010 more >>
STV 7th Oct 2010 more >>
Trident
Letter: Professor DeGroot’s article on the Strategic Defence and Security Review is excellent – it is ridiculous to have Trident submarines or even atomic weapons.
Scotsman 9th Oct 2010 more >>
A WORKSHY Tory defence secretary wants to order a new fleet of nuclear submarines and then get taxpayers to foot the bill, it emerged last night.
Daily Marsh 8th Oct 2010 more >>
At a summit due to take place in three weeks’ time, British ministers will discuss with their French counterparts a plan under which the two European Union nations would share nuclear testing facilities. The proposal would almost certainly involve technology from Britain’s 160 nuclear warheads being tested in a laboratory based in France.
Telegraph 9th Oct 2010 more >>
Submarines
Britain and France have always maintained completely separate nuclear deterrents. But that may be about to change. Negotiations are under way agreement whereby British nuclear warheads would be serviced by French scientists. If the talks succeed, a deal will be struck in early November.
FT 9th Oct 2010 more >>
South Africa
A new strategy for nuclear power is emerging in South Africa, including cooperation deals with China and South Korea.
World Nuclear News 8th Oct 2010 more >>
While Energy Minister Dipuo Peters has said that a fleet of six nuclear power stations is on the cards for South Africa, local umbrella group Coalition Against Nuclear Energy (Cane) believes that there are many unanswered questions pertaining to the use of nuclear energy as an answer to South Africa’s electricity crisis.
Engineering News 8th Oct 2010 more >>
Germany
The European commission has been urged to investigate a”secret pact” which will extend the lifespan of German nuclear powerstations. Rebecca Harms said it was possible the deal infringed EU competition law as she claimed it will favour Germany’s four biggest nuclearpower companies. The Greens presented the results of a legal assessment of the decision by the German government on the life extension of nuclear plants. Harms said the analysis “raises serious questionmarks” about the decision and the related pact concluded with four major energy utilities, notably on its compatibility with EU law on state aid and competition.
The Parliament 8th Oct 2010 more >>
