I am somehow less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein's brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops.
Stephen Jay Gould

 

Up And Atom - Spring 2006

The Nuclear Power Disaster

If the Government decides to back nuclear new build it will be a complete disaster, putting back desperately needed energy efficient measures by several decades.

Act Now!

It is important that we raise our voices in support of energy conservation and renewables. There is a public consultation underway for the forthcoming Energy Review so we have a few weeks to take action.

Use Your Influence

Pressure your M.P to object to the nuclear option in the Energy Review. Use your own words and either keep it simple or hit them with some hard facts. We have provided some info and a couple of links. A list of key M.P’s in this region are also listed. Eastern CND will always help.

Nuclear Power is not the Answer.

The Sustainable Development Commission, the Government’s own environmental watchdog, has just concluded that:

Even if the UK’s existing nuclear capacity was doubled, it would only give an 8% cut on CO2 emissions by 2035 (and nothing before 2010).

And the risks would be considerable:

  1. Long-term waste – no long term solutions are yet available, let alone acceptable to the general public; it is impossible to guarantee safety over the long-term disposal of waste.
  2. Cost – the economics of nuclear new-build are highly uncertain. There is little, if any, justification for public subsidy, but if estimated costs escalate, there’s a clear risk that the taxpayer will be have to pick up the tab. (We are already bailing the nuclear industry out to the tune of £66 billion).
  3. Inflexibility – nuclear would lock the UK into a centralised distribution system for the next 50 years, at exactly the time when opportunities for microgeneration and local distribution network are stronger than ever.
  4. Undermining energy efficiency – a new nuclear programme would give out the wrong signal to consumers and businesses, implying that a major technological fix is all that’s required, weakening the urgent action needed on energy efficiency.
  5. International security – if the UK brings forward a new nuclear power programme, we cannot deny other countries the same technology*.With lower safety standards, they run higher risks of accidents, radiation exposure, proliferation and terrorist attacks.

Solving the Energy Problem.

Energy Conservation.

Energy efficiency is the priority for a sustainable future. Without dramatic energy efficiency improvements no supply options are sustainable. There are two routes to efficiency::

  1. Renovation, refurbishment and higher energy conservation standards in housing and construction. This could reduce energy dependency to 40% of existing energy use. See Environmental Change Institute: www.40percent.org.uk
  2. A decentralised energy system, using renewables and combined heat and power will cut the huge amount of wastage that is lost through heat and transportation from massive power stations. Woking Borough Council has reduced emissions from its own buildings by an astonishing 77% through use of renewable technologies and its own local grid system.

see Greenpeace report: ‘Decentralising UK Energy’

Your M.P should respond to pressure. It might take more than one letter but your M.P is the most direct route to the centre of power.

The following M.Ps from our region are particularly significant:

  • Charles Clarke – Home Secretary (Lab, Norwich South) Cabinet members are the next most powerful group after the P.M.
  • Anthony Wright (Lab, Great Yarmouth)- sits on influential Trade & Industry Committee.
  • Norman Lamb (Lib Dem, North Norfolk) - LibDem spokesperson for Trade & Industry.
  • David Howarth (Lib Dem, Cambridge) -on Environmental Audit Committee.
  • David Amess (Con, Southend West) -was a major supporter of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act.
  • James Duddridge (Con, Rochford & Southend East) -on Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee.
  • Mark Francois (Con, Rayleigh) -Shadow Minister for the Treasury.
  • John Gummer (Con, Suffolk Coastal) -Sizewell B & nuclear trains in his constituency.
  • Bernard Jenkin (Con, Essex North) -Shadow Minister for Energy.
  • David Ruffley (Con, Bury St Edmunds) -on Treasury Committee.

Further Information www.newnuclearpowernothanks.org