nuclear-news

Cumbria Wildlife Trust dodges the issue of Nuclear Developments

January 5, 2013

Those with an interest in wildlife will be aware that the nuclear industry from Kirksanton to Kakadu is no lover of the natural world. There are wildlife officers on the Sellafield site but they are there to make sure the wildlife is culled (the freezers on site hold many species of Cumbrian birds – waiting to be dumped as nuclear waste). Cumbria Wildlife Trust continues to receive money courtesy of the nuclear industry, Studsvik the radioactive scrap metal dealer at Lillyhall is a silver member. Meanwhile Cumbria Wildlife Trust continues to dodge the biggest issue facing Cumbria’s wildlife – that of the proposed new nuclear build at Sellafield: ‘Moorcide,’ and the proposed nuclear dump, deeper than scafell is high, under a huge swathe of Lakeland.

The following are an exchange of letters in the local press….

I am a long time member and support much of the excellent work the Trust has done. A flagship campaign into 2013 is the push for recognised Marine Conservation Zones. This is a really important campaign but I cannot support MCZs which allow for nuclear developments.

In Cumbria this is especially important with the prospect of government plans for both new nuclear build and the national geological nuclear dump.

Has CWT opposed the plan for new build at Sellafield? A new nuclear plant would require huge amounts of water (both sea and fresh) and would dangerously raise the temperature of the Irish Sea around Sellafield. The proposed new nuclear plant would burn the fuel for longer producing hotter wastes and according to the Environment Agency would require a desalination plant to provide unlimited fresh water. A desalination plant (salt water intake) would disturb substantial radioactive silts on the Irish Sea bed and the intake pipes for huge amounts of sea water per second would damage significant fish stocks.

Has CWT opposed the plan for a geological dump? The government plan is for the radioactivity to percolate out sooner or later to the Irish Sea.

As a wildlife enthusiast I cannot support Marine Conservation Zones which would allow for these nuclear developments. CWT opposed the plan for new build at Kirksanton, the same objections re water use, sea temperature rise and damage to sea life, apply at Sellafield. Will Cumbria Wildlife Trust ensure that Cumbria is safe for the next 50 years and oppose nuclear developments?

Marianne BIRKBY

Wildlife artist and founder of Radiation Free Lakeland

Reply from Cumbria Wildlife Trust

Reply from Cumbria Wildlife Trust to Marianne Birkby – Nuclear Developments – dodging the issue

http://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/in-good-company.html

h/t mariannewildart

http://mariannewildart.wordpress.com/2013/01/05/cumbria-wildlife-trust-dodges-the-issue-of-nuclear-developments/

January 6, 2013 - Posted by arclight2011 | Uncategorized