UK « nuclear-news

Fire at UK nuclear weapons factory

Residents evacuated after fire at UK’s main nuclear weapons factory, Telegraph UK, 4 Aug 2010, Residents located near Britain’s main nuclear weapons factory were forced to evacuate after a fire broke out in one of the plant’s buildings. By Andrew Hough An investigation has been launched into what sparked the blaze at the Atomic Weapons Establishment in Aldermaston, Berks, which maintains the warheads for the UK’s Trident nuclear deterrent…….
Both Thames Valley Police and the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service declined to comment.

In December ministers sold off the Government’s last remaining one-third ownership to a Californian engineering company.

Residents evacuated after fire breaks out at UK’s nuclear weapons factory – Telegraph

August 5, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, radiation, radioactive, reactor | Leave a comment

UK’s Trident nuclear missile system – unnecessary and unaffordable

it is no longer necessary in the absence of the Cold War Soviet threat.

Trident – who’d buy it? | Greenpeace UK, 1 August 2010, Trident replacement is looking less likely today after Chancellor George Osborne told media that the Treasury weren’t willing to stump up for the project out of central funds….. Continue reading →

August 2, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | UK, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

British govt shutting down debate on nuclear test vegerans

A thousand vets and widows are suing the MoD for negligence, but the ministry says until the High Court rules on an appeal in the autumn it will not be able to answer any queries or take part in Parliamentary debates

The MoD wants to gag MPs over scandal of Britain’s nuclear test veterans mirror.co.uk, By Susie Boniface 1/08/2010, The MoD wants to gag MPs over the scandal of Britain’s nuclear test veterans. Continue reading →

August 2, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, UK | antinuclear, cancer, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Britain should scrap Trident nuclear missile system

VIDEO Video: MoD told to foot Trident update bill ITN NEWS

‘Scrap nuclear arsenal’ says Des Browne – mirror.co.uk, 30 July 2010, Britain should consider scrapping its nuclear arsenal to avoid huge cuts to the Army, Navy and RAF, former Defence Secretary Des Browne has urged.The Labour peer said Trident should be included in a review of the Ministry of Defence’s spending.

Lord Browne, who committed the UK to replacing Trident in 2007, said: “There is no way of examining the necessary trade-offs between nuclear and conventional capacity in this defence review if Trident is left out of the process.”

His comments came as Chancellor George Osborne slapped down new Defence Secretary Liam Fox over the £20billion Trident bill. Dr Fox says the Treasury should pay but Mr Osborne insists the cost must come from the MoD’s budget. ‘Scrap nuclear arsenal’ says Des Browne – mirror.co.uk

July 31, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | UK, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Delays threaten viability of UK nuclear power plans

Small Delays For UK Nuclear Could Have Wider Impact – WSJ.com. By Selina Williams, JULY 28, 2010, LONDON (Dow Jones)–Even small delays to licensing, planning and design approvals for new nuclear power stations in the U.K. could lead to much broader complications …, the head of U.K. utility Centrica PLC (CNA.LN) said Wednesday……… Before new nuclear can go ahead, government and industry have to agree on a carbon price floor to stimulate investment, complete reform of the electricity market, resolve planning issues and approvals, license the new reactor technology and agree a funding plan for decommissioning……

July 29, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, UK | antinuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin | Leave a comment

Report on UK’s use of depleted uranium weapons in Iraq

“The UK Uranium Weapons Network (UWN) announced today that it has submitted its report on British military use of depleted uranium (DU) ammunition in the 2003 Iraq War to the Chilcot Inquiry.

Latest documents advocating the ban of depleted uranium. By Jerry Mazza, Online Journal, 23 July 2010, “…… recent documents gathered from reliable government and non-government sources. …. Continue reading →

July 24, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | depleted uranium, UK, Uranium | Leave a comment

Video: UK’s use of depleted uranium weapons in Iraq

VIDEO
Reports emerge the UK used depleted uranium weapons in Iraq – RT Top Stories RT Top Stories, 24 July, 2010, 00:41Reports have emerged that the UK used depleted uranium weapons during the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. A UK defense official has reportedly admitted using highly controversial ammunition. Continue reading →

July 24, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | depleted uranium, Resources -audiovicual, UK, Uranium | cancer, depleted, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear weapons, uranium | Leave a comment

Another holdup to UK nuclear industry – should community opposition be ignored?

UK nuclear industry: energy minister orders “re-consultation” Industrial Fuels and Power, July 16th, 2010 by Charles Hendry, the UK’s energy minister, has ordered a reassessment of the national policy statements governing the planning permission system responsible for large infrastructure developments. The review is a response to concerns that in their current form, the rules could mean that opposition from local communities to new nuclear build could be ignored.….

UK nuclear industry: energy minister orders “re-consultation” | Industrial Fuels and Power

July 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

UK govt using “cooked books” to discredit nuclear veterans

accusing them of “misusing” science in their study and branding their conclusions as “deficient”.

New Zealand nuclear study at odds with British, This Is Derbyshire, 16 July 2010, Former Armed Forces Minister Kevan Jones told the House of Commons last December that studies had ruled out a link between veterans’ cancer and the nuclear tests.. Continue reading →

July 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, UK | antinuclear, cancer, nuclear, nuclear wastes, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

UK’s Trident nuclear weapons – expensive, unnecessary

“Describing this as a ‘value for money’ review is nonsense – the fundamental question is whether Britain needs a cold war weapons system decades after that conflict ended.

(UK) Nuclear weapon review ‘nonsense’ Morning Star, 14 July 2010, by Will Stone Anti Nuclear campaigners have branded the government’s proposed “value-for-money” review of the multibillion-pound renewal of Trident as nonsense. Continue reading →

July 15, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | UK, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

British govt sent compensation to Australia, but not to British nuclear veterans

Veterans are betrayed by double standards, This Is Derbyshire, 14 July 2010, A document discreetly entitled The Australian Treaty Series 1993 No.40 hides a huge untold human story of military service, international diplomacy and, some say, betrayal. Continue reading →

July 15, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, UK | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, cancer, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

UK govt ignoring public opposition to new Trident nuclear weapons

all the indications are that the will of the people – even including Daily Mail readers this time – is to be ignored yet again. Trident replacement has been excluded from the Strategic Defence Review, which would have forced debate on its actual military value. Instead, a ‘value for money review’ has been hastily cobbled together to give a fig-leaf of legitimacy to the decision to proceed with business as usual.

(UK) So just who does want to replace Trident? Greenpeace UK, by jossc on 13 July 2010. A YouGov poll released today reaffirms what we already knew: a clear majority people simply don’t support government plans to build a ‘like for like’ replacement for the Trident nuclear deterrent.The poll, undertaken on behalf of think tank Chatham House, found that only 29 per cent of the public backed the government’s Trident plans. Amongst opinion formers the level of support fell to a paltry 22 per cent. Continue reading →

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

Atomic veterans die as UK govt uses delaying tractics on compensation

A legal battle is now ensuing while the Ministry of Defence attempts to avoid paying out to the veterans, who are thought to be dying at the rate of three a month.

Newspaper in compensation bid for nuclear veterans, Holdthefrontpage.co.uk 12 July 2010, by Helen LambourneA regional daily newspaper has launched a campaign calling for compensation for veterans of nuclear testing.The Derby Telegraph is urging the Ministry of Defence to compensate those affected by the tests, which took place during the Cold War. Continue reading →

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

Nuclear test veterans die as the law delays

it has been estimated that hundreds of veterans would have passed away and the legal costs will have risen to more than £30 million.

(UK) Test vets may be forced to wait another four years, Burton News , by ROB SMYTH, 9 July 2010, NUCLEAR test veterans may have to wait more than four years for their case to be heard, even if an appeal by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) fails……….. Continue reading →

July 10, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Legal, UK | antinuclear, cancer, nuclear weapons, radiation, reactors | 1 Comment

UK govt to let local councils sell renewable energy?

local authorities will be able to sell electricity from renewables – generating revenue to help local services and keep council tax down.“

Councils may gain power to sell green energy | ZDNet UK, By Tom Espiner, 8 July, 2010 The government wants to overturn a ban which prevents councils selling renewable energy to the grid, energy minister Chris Huhne announced on Wednesday.The Local Government ACT 1976, which currently prevents councils from selling electrcity, will be amended, said Huhne in a statement.”It’s ridiculous that the 1976 Local Government Act prevents councils from selling electricity from local wind turbines, or from anaerobic digestion,” said Huhne. “I want to see this repealed and by the end of the year I hope local authorities will be able to sell electricity from renewables – generating revenue to help local services and keep council tax down.”

Councils may gain power to sell green energy | ZDNet UK

July 9, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | renewable, UK | climate change, energy efficiency, global warming, renewable energy, renewables, solar, wind | Leave a comment