UK « nuclear-news

UK’s Lib Democrat leader wimping out on nuclear power

the Green Party leader, Caroline Lucas, said that he was putting too much trust in nuclear power….“He’s wrong about nuclear. It won’t deliver emissions cuts fast enough or big enough”. She dismissed his claims that there would be no public subsidies for nuclear power, suggesting that the nuclear industry’s failure to pay its full waste and decommissioning costs, is itself a subsidy.

Sceptical response to Huhne’s ‘green government’ pledge | Ekklesia, 21 Sep 2010 Environmental groups have given a sceptical response to comments made by the Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne at the Liberal Democrats’ party conference today (21 September).Huhne reiterated the coalition’s pledge to be the “greenest government ever”…….. Continue reading →

September 23, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK | antinuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, reactors | Leave a comment

UK govt report reveals safety problems with nuclear submarines

Exercise at nuclear submarine yard exposes serious safety failings BAE Systems to rerun mock accident after mistakes at Barrow dockyard that could have put lives at risk Rob Edwards guardian.co.uk, 22 September 2010 Continue reading →

September 23, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

UK’s new Trident nuclear missiles put on hold

Delegates at the Lib Dem conference voted unanimously for a motion calling on ministers to allow a full review of alternatives to the like-for-like replacement of Trident.

Lib Dems say Trident decision should be put on hold until after the next election | Mail Online, 23 Sept 10, Trident decision ‘could be put on hold until 2015’ as Lib Dems say judgment should be delayed until after the next election By Daniel Martin Continue reading →

September 23, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | UK, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Radioactive Dounreay fast breeder nuclear reactor site dangerous for over 300 years

the whole 150-acre Dounreay site is likely to remain closed to the public for almost 300 years after it is decommissioned because of continuing contamination.

Doomsday for Dounreay dome as site is too costly to develop – Herald Scotland David Ross, 17 Sep 2010“……… plans are being finalised to demolish the Dounreay’s nuclear reactor’s iconic golf- ball dome. Continue reading →

September 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | decommission reactor, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear decommissioning, nuclear technology, nuclear wastes, reactor | Leave a comment

Wales has natural advantage to develop 100% renewable energy

Wales ‘poised for £50 billion of renewable energy investment’, Low Carbon Economy9/15/2010 Wales could receive significant benefits from the development of the renewable energy industry, according to the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG).Speaking at an energy summit in Tredegar, first minister Carwyn Jones, said that the government would be working closely with industry to encourage the development of low carbon energy sources.

“The next 15 years could see some £50 billion plus of investment in energy projects in Wales,” Mr Jones said……By the year 2050 at the latest, the assembly government hopes to produce all electricity, heat and transport energy needs from renewable sources, which it claims can be achieved because of “Wales’ natural advantages”. Wales ‘poised for £50 billion of renewable energy investment’ – Low Carbon Economy

September 16, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | renewable, UK | climate change, energy efficiency, global warming, renewable energy, renewables, solar, wind | Leave a comment

UK likely to delay expensive new Trident nuclear missiles

Trident replacement could be delayed as David Cameron looks for savings Nicholas Watt, guardian.co.uk, Monday 13 September 2010David Cameron is examining plans to delay the replacement of Britain’s Trident nuclear deterrent to reduce the pressure on the public finances during the toughest spending round since the second world war, according to government sources……..

Trident replacement could be delayed as David Cameron looks for savings | Politics | The Guardian

September 14, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | UK, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Britain’s nuclear missile system is unaffordable

The government is under increasing pressure to reach a consensus over the Trident replacement programme, which is costing £1 million a day in research and development.

Scrapping Trident up for debate again, gulfnews, By Patrick Hennessy and Sean Rayment, The Telegraph Group Limited, London 2010 * September 13, 2010 The future of Britain’s Trident nuclear missile system is again under threat as ministers draw up detailed plans for spending cuts, The Sunday Telegraph understands. Continue reading →

September 13, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK | antinuclear, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

UK’s Ministry of Defence stalling on compensation, as nuclear veterans die

A veteran of the nuclear bomb tests in the South Pacific today told how he fears he may not live long enough to see the Government apologise for sending them there. SGClub.com Friendly Singapore Forums, 11 Sept 10, Kieran Boomer, 74, is one of hundreds of veterans of the tests on Christmas Island in the 1950s fighting for an apology and compensation. Continue reading →

September 13, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Legal, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Christina anti-nuclear activists face gaol in UK

these men and women of the faith know something most of the world has forgotten: that nuclear weapons are as menacing as ever to all God’s creatures, great and small.

Aging Plowshares Anti-Nuke Activists Face Years in Prison | TakePart, Adam Trunell, 10 sept 10, – “…….This past week in England, a priest and two activists were arrested after they cut through a perimeter fence at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Berkshire, then knelt and prayed on the restricted grounds. Ranging in age from 43 to 63 years old, the protestors were indicted and charged as the Plowshares Movement observes its 30th year of nonviolent activism against the world’s most dangerous weapon. Continue reading →

September 10, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Religion and ethics, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Urgent need for UK govt action on renewable energy

to secure the necessary infrastructure investment – which is estimated at up to £150bn – the Government must move quickly to finalise the regulatory arrangements for transmission of electricity from offshore wind farms to the onshore grid.

Lord Turner: ‘We must act now to meet energy targets’. By Sarah Arnott, 10 September 2010 The Independent Lord Turner, the chairman of the independent Committee on Climate Change (CCC), is calling for a “step change” in government policy if Britain is to meet its 2020 renewable energy targets. Continue reading →

September 10, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | renewable, UK | climate change, energy efficiency, global warming, renewable energy, renewables, wind | Leave a comment

UK govt’s secret research into dead nuclear test veterans

The UK Government is battling a High Court compensation bid by 1,000 veterans and widows for health problems.

The Ministry of Defense insists almost none was exposed to dangerous levels of radiation and the high rates of cancer, death and birth defects are a coincidence.

Nuke test veterans health files to be probed after they die, mirror.co.uk, By Susie Boniface 5/09/2010 Scientists keep tabs in secret A nuclear test veteran has discovered the Government has ordered secret research into his health – after he dies. Continue reading →

September 6, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive | 1 Comment

British govt gags debate: delaying tactics as nuclear veterans die

More than 1,000 former servicemen and their families are fighting to win £20million compensation from the Ministry of Defence after being made ‘guinea pigs’ for postwar nuclear tests in the South Pacific and Australia….On average, three survivors are dying each week.

MPs gagged over atom bomb test veterans: 1,000 former servicemen fighting £20m compensation battle, Daily Mail UK, By Ian Drury 31st August 2010 The Commons Speaker is under fire after MPs were barred from asking questions about the treatment of Britain’s nuclear test veterans……… MPs and veterans have accused Mr Bercow’s officials of stifling freedom of speech to avoid embarrassing the Government. Continue reading →

September 1, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Safety lapses at UK’s Trident nuclear weapons facility

Health and safety practices at the UK’s main nuclear weapons base are under intense scrutiny just weeks before it is expected to be granted permission for a multibillion-pound facility to conduct a new generation of radioactive tests.

Nuclear arsenals under scrutiny for safety lapses, fires and flood Group calls for planners to think twice about a major new facility at Trident warhead base at Aldermaston in Berkshire Jamie Doward The Observer, Sunday 22 August 2010 Continue reading →

August 31, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear technology, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, Trident | Leave a comment

Cold war replay as nuclear boys play with their underwater toys

Russian subs stalk Trident in echo of Cold War – Telegraph UK, 28 Aug 2010, Russian submarines are hunting down British Vanguard boats in a return to Cold War tactics not seen for 25 years, Navy chiefs have warned. By Thomas Harding, 27 Aug 2010 Continue reading →

August 28, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | UK, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear wastes, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Britain can’t really afford its billions pounds nuclear missile system

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Treasury are in a spat over who should foot the 20 billion pound ($31 billion) bill to renew the Trident submarine-based nuclear missile system.