Favourable report for Scotland’s renewable energy
Report backs Scottish renewables under independence, BBC News 6 Nov 11
A new bank report has backed Scotland’s renewable energy policies, just days after a major finance company warned businesses against investing in the renewables sector in Scotland. Citigroup had said the independence referendum process would create huge uncertainty when major decisions on green projects were needed.
But investment bank Altium Securities dismissed the warning. Energy Minister Fergus Ewing welcomed the Altium report….. In its report, Altium Securities said it “did not share recent competitor analysis that utilities developing renewable energy assets were exposed to stranded asset risk from an independent Scotland”.
It also argued Scotland had the potential to be the lowest-cost generator of wind energy in Europe due its “unique wind characteristics”….. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-15608107
UK government hypocrisy when it comes to nuclear waste dumping
Localism loses out in High Court decision, PS Public Service.co UK 03 November 2011 Campaigners from the village of Kings Cliffe near Peterborough have lost their High Court battle to overturn a decision by Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles to let radioactive waste be dumped at the nearby East Northants Resource Management Facility.
The case was seen as an example of how the government may speak of encouraging localism in one breath but in the next force communities to accept decisions that they have opposed through democratic means.
The Kings Cliffe Wastewatchers had protested at Pickles overturning local planning decisions on the low-level waste, allowing it to be dumped between now and August 2013. There were also fears that the waste disposal company Augean could go ahead with its plans to expand the site’s operation for hazardous and nuclear wastes until 2026.
Before the verdict, spokesperson Louise Bowen-West said: “We feel the [Pickles] decision is unlawful and must be stopped in order to set a precedent. I get the impression that the government thinks that because we’re a tiny community they can stamp all over us. But we plan to fight this all the way. Whatever the verdict in the case we will battle on to make sure this is stopped.”
The campaigners’ defence lawyer had said this was a “classic case of the developer obtaining, through this permission, a foot in the door for the extended landfill”. He added that the Pickles decision was unlawful and should be overturned.
UK judge rules in favour of nuclear waste dump, rejects local opposition
Kings Cliffe campaigners lose nuclear waste legal battle, The Peterborough Evening Telegraph., By Ken McErlain 3 November 2011 A decision to dump low-level nuclear waste by a village near Peterborough was upheld today
More than 50 people from Kings Cliffe travelled to the High Court in London hoping to overturn a Government decision to allow Augean to dump radioactive waste at its East Northants Resource Management Facility, in Stamford Road, King’s Cliffe.
But Deputy Judge Stewart QC upheld the decision to allow Augean to use half of the site for dumping waste up until August 2013. The judge also refused to give the campaigners permission to appeal.
Villagers had voiced fears about the environmental impact of the decision and were concerned that Augean would look to expand the site’s operation for hazardous and nuclear wastes until 2026 by using the other half of the site. Campaigners against the plans, who raised £30,000 to mount the legal challenge, said they are now considering their next move.
Campaigner Clare Langan, who travelled to London for the hearing, said: “We were very upset and disappointed to hear the verdict.“We will be meeting with our barristers in the coming weeks to see what options are available to us.”… http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/et-business/business-news/kings_cliffe_campaigners_lose_nuclear_waste_legal_battle_1_3212591
Wikileaks’ Julian Assange lost his appeal against extradition to Sweden
Assange Loses Appeal, New Matilda.com , By Paul Farrell, 3 Nov 11 The UK High Court has rejected all four grounds in Julian Assange’s appeal against extradition to Sweden. Paul Farrell reports from the media circus in London on the reasons for the decision Continue reading
UK Ministry of Defence doesn’t know what to do with outdated nuclear test site
Nuclear reactor test site may close, Google News, (UKPA) –3 Nov 11 A nuclear submarine reactor test site could be decommissioned after 2015, the Ministry of Defence has said. The Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment (NRTE) site at Dounreay, in Caithness, has historically been used for the development of new reactor core designs.
However, the MoD said confidence in the technology and computational modelling meant “prototyping activities” were no longer needed. It is now considering what will become of the site after the current series of reactor core prototype tests are completed in 2015. Possibilities include decommissioning it or putting it into “care and maintenance”.
In a statement, the MoD said: “Options for the future of the site are currently being assessed; these range from placing the prototype facilities into care and maintenance while retaining the site’s strategic capabilities, to decommissioning the site and returning it to Nuclear Decommissioning Authority ownership…. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gIZLQQYe2lNLK4dKWPBN-LFRWCVQ?docId=N0428681320269334933A
Radiation caused illness in Britain’s nuclear veterans and their children
MoD survey shows three in four nuclear test veterans fear radiation has affected their health, Mirror, by Susie Boniface, 30/10/2011 A devastating new report shows that eight in 10 of Britain’s nuclear test veterans went on to develop multiple medical conditions.
Asked if they believe their health had been affected by being at a nuclear test site, 28 per cent said they were certain it had, 23 per cent thought it had and 24 per cent said it may have done – a total of 75 per cent. Only eight per cent said it definitely had not.
The study, the first MoD funded-research since 1993, vindicates 10 years of campaigning by the Sunday Mirror which has highlighted the crippling legacy of ill health veterans have suffered. Many have developed cancers and rare medical complaints.
Studies have shown they have six times the national rate of leukaemia and 10 times the rate of birth defects among their children. It was only after massive pressure from the veterans and this newspaper that the last government finally agreed to fund a £412,000 study into their health.
SPENDING SLASHED The Coalition slashed the spend to £75,000 but 633 veterans still came forward to answer questions developed by two doctors with the British Nuclear Test Veterans’ Association.
The survey shows only 18 per cent of those polled are in “good health” and of those with a serious condition, only 16 per cent thought it was because of other than radiation. Veterans made a series of demands in the study, including a medical centre, better access to service medical records and a detailed genetic study of their descendants.
But experts did not look at the illnesses of vets’ children and grandchildren, saying the evidence was “of too variable a quality”. Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/10/30/mod-survey-shows-three-in-four-nuclear-test-veterans-fear-radiation-has-affected-their-health-115875-23524038/#ixzz1cOe5PLWA
The danger of dismantling nuclear submarines in a city
It is the magnitude of the consequences of a nuclear accident that make it unacceptable to locate such a facility in the middle of a city of 250,000 people….
Devonport is not immune from accidents. There have been nine radioactive leaks since 1997. The impact of a significant accident in the dockyard would be devastating. It would not remain confined behind its walls but would affect a much wider area.
Should N-subs be dismantled in city? Plymouth Herald, October 28, 2011 ONE of the most controversial proposals to affect Plymouth in generations is set to be thrust firmly into the public domain from today.
The Ministry of Defence has today begun a 16-week consultation exercise exploring the options for dismantling decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines. The consultation aims to find a permanent home for The Submarine Dismantling Project (SDP) – either in Plymouth, or Scotland. Continue reading
More radioactive particles found on Scottish beach
The foreshore at Dalgety Bay was closed after tests carried out over the weekend of October 8 and 9 found high levels of radiation.
Since then, workers from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) have been searching the area for more particles. Over the weekend, they found a total of 60 particles.
The amount of radioactive material found has been higher than the agency were expecting and it is all being taken to a laboratory to be examined….
Sepa is due to meet with the Scottish Government and MoD to discuss the long term plan for Dalgety Bay later this month.
UK Coroner to fully investigate radiation murder of Alexander Litvinenko
Marina Litvinenko, Mr. Litvinenko’s widow, said the inquiry would include “an investigation into the involvement of the Russian state in his murder, which is exactly what I want.”
Britain Agrees to New Inquiry Into Poisoning Death of a Former K.G.B. Officer NYT, By ALAN COWELL October 14, 2011 LONDON — A coroner has agreed to open a full inquest into the radiation poisoning of the former K.G.B. officer Alexander V. Litvinenko, potentially bringing the case before a British legal forum for the first time, opening new seams of information about his death and possibly stirring new tensions with Moscow. Continue reading
20 years on, radioactive debris still found on Scottish shore
Radioactive lockdown on the shores of Fife, News Scotsman.com13 October 2011 A SECTION of Scottish coastline has been cordoned off after scientists found a radioactive object ten times more contaminated than any found there before.
Particles were first found on the shoreline of Dalgety Bay more than 20 years ago and the contamination has been linked to childhood cancer. Continue reading
Nuclear terrorism in London – the murder of Alexander Litvinenko
Alexander Litvinenko murder was ‘London nuclear terror’, BBC News 13 Oct 11 The murder of Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko was “an act of nuclear terrorism on the streets of London”, a coroner has heard.Mr Litvinenko died in 2006 after he was apparently poisoned with the radioactive substance polonium-210. Ben Emmerson QC said 700 people had to be tested for radioactive poisoning.St Pancras coroner Dr Andrew Reid is holding a pre-inquest review where he will decide whether he or a top judge should hear the inquest into the death.
‘Grave suspicion’ Mr Emmerson, representing Mr Litvinenko’s family, said a number of locations were closed for several months as health agencies tried to contain the risk of contamination. He told the hearing at St Pancras coroner’s court in London that the case gave rise to the “grave suspicion” that Mr Litvinenko’s death was the result of state-directed execution by Russia.
British authorities had abandoned the search for truth in order to maintain trade relations with the Russian government, he added. The prime suspect for Mr Litvinenko’s death is ex-KGB officer Andrei Lugovoi who was represented in court. His legal team says he denies any involvement.The family of former Russian spy Mr Litvinenko has called for a senior High Court judge to be appointed to conduct the inquest. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15293395
UK’s climate change secretary, Chris Huhne two faced on nuclear power
Huhne noted the UK has enough high-level nuclear waste to fill “three Olympic-sized swimming pools, and enough intermediate waste to fill a supertanker”. Because of the errors of the past, his department was spending £2bn a year “cleaning up” the “mess” of nuclear waste which he said would rise two thirds next year.
Chris Huhne: UK’s nuclear policy is most expensive postwar failure Climate change secretary, under pressure from fellow Lib Dems over nuclear power, says UK must learn from past mistakes Guardian Uk 13 Oct 11, The climate change secretary, Chris Huhne, has described the UK’s nuclear policy as the “most expensive failure of postwar British policy-making” in a “crowded and highly-contested field”.
Huhne set out five tests for how power plants would be adopted in a cautious new regime, but is under pressure from his party to ensure any new-builds do not receive public subsidy – something the coalition has pledged it will not allow…..
The energy secretary’s speech was emphatically critical of the industry in the UK, Continue reading
UK Royal Society calls for a plan for long term disposal of nuclear wastes
Group wants long-term nuclear plans, Belfast Telegraph 13 Oct 11, The Government must establish long-term plans for a new generation of nuclear power plants so future generations are not left dealing with its legacy, experts have urged. Continue reading
In 2011, UK’s record growth in renewable energy
UK Reports Record Level of Renewable Energy, October 10th, 2011 by Jenson Brayshaw According to new reports, the second quarter of 2011 has seen green energy contribute to about 9.6 percent of the UK’s total electricity supply. This is a huge rise on 2010 levels. This news was reported by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Continue reading
Radioactive danger on Scotland’s Fife beach
Revealed: the radiation risk on Fife beach, HERALD SCOTLAND, ROB EDWARDS , 9 Oct 2011 Young children exposed to radioactive pollution from old military planes at a popular Scottish coastal resort face a “significant” risk of getting cancer later in life, according to a new health study by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa).
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of the week– Nuclear Reactor Information Task Force
14 May – online event From Bombs to Data Centres: the Face of Nuclear Colonialism
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