Britain should avoid dangerous #nuclear distraction - News release from the Green Party.
Here in the Eastern Region we are on the verge of another reactor at #Sizewell, as well as one Bradwell, the technology is far from safe, with the waste generated being left for generations to come. Sadly, the Green Party is now the only political Party opposing nuclear power in this country. While public opinion here and across the world is swinging strongly against nuclear.
East of England Green Party Co-ordinator Rupert Read said, "Nuclear power is a toxic timebomb. It is the very opposite of green. It is crazy to be contemplating building new nuclear, while the situation at Fukushima in Japan is still spiralling out of control."
Green Party national Deputy Leader Adrian Ramsay, speaking in Norwich, has responded to the
government's announcement that up to eight new reactor sites have been
designated for development on behalf of the national Green Party.
Mr Ramsay said:
"While the Conservatives and LibDems often talk about being 'the greenest
government ever', the Coalition partners show their real priorities with
their policies. Reducing carbon emissions must be a top priority; this
fixation on nuclear will divert investment away from the real solution -
energy efficiency measures and renewable energy."
With the recent revelation that three of the four affected reactors at
Fukushima experienced full meltdown, and plants in America being put on
alert or shut down as a result of flooding alongside the Missouri River
[1], the risks involved with nuclear power are being illustrated all too
clearly. And the public is taking notice; Italian voters have
overwhelmingly rejected Silvio Berlusconi's plans to restart the
country's nuclear programme [2], and Germany has committed to closing
all of its plants by 2022 [3].
Mr Ramsay concluded:
"There are good reasons why countries across Europe are turning away from
nuclear power and yet the British government is taking us in the opposite
direction. Nuclear power creates a toxic legacy of waste and is bad value
for money. Investing the same amount in energy efficiency and renewable
energy would make much more difference more quickly in reducing carbon
emissions, making our energy supply more secure and creating skilled,
lasting jobs."
Notes
1. See
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/jun/22/nuclearpower-nuclear-waste
2. See
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/europe/referendum-results-kill-italys-nuclear-plans-as-berlusconis-future-uncertain/article2059123/ 95% of Italians voted NO to nuclear.
3. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13592208
government's announcement that up to eight new reactor sites have been
designated for development on behalf of the national Green Party.
Mr Ramsay said:
"While the Conservatives and LibDems often talk about being 'the greenest
government ever', the Coalition partners show their real priorities with
their policies. Reducing carbon emissions must be a top priority; this
fixation on nuclear will divert investment away from the real solution -
energy efficiency measures and renewable energy."
With the recent revelation that three of the four affected reactors at
Fukushima experienced full meltdown, and plants in America being put on
alert or shut down as a result of flooding alongside the Missouri River
[1], the risks involved with nuclear power are being illustrated all too
clearly. And the public is taking notice; Italian voters have
overwhelmingly rejected Silvio Berlusconi's plans to restart the
country's nuclear programme [2], and Germany has committed to closing
all of its plants by 2022 [3].
Mr Ramsay concluded:
"There are good reasons why countries across Europe are turning away from
nuclear power and yet the British government is taking us in the opposite
direction. Nuclear power creates a toxic legacy of waste and is bad value
for money. Investing the same amount in energy efficiency and renewable
energy would make much more difference more quickly in reducing carbon
emissions, making our energy supply more secure and creating skilled,
lasting jobs."
Notes
1. See
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/jun/22/nuclearpower-nuclear-waste
2. See
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/europe/referendum-results-kill-italys-nuclear-plans-as-berlusconis-future-uncertain/article2059123/ 95% of Italians voted NO to nuclear.
3. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13592208
posted by Rupert at
Saturday, June 25, 2011
4 Comments:
Sadly, the Green Party is now the only political Party opposing nuclear power in this country.
Which country would that be?
SNP challenge Labour on Nuclear power
Thankfully we have the Green Party.. And a lot of people in this country who don't want nuclear... But Italy managed a people led "No" despite the politicians and despite the press. We need a referendum too. How many people would it take to push for this through one of the campaigning organizations?
OPINION: Nuclear power requires perfection
Ordinary people are not nuclear experts. But they know some things that many experts prefer to forget. They know that even in the best-run enterprises, things go awry.
@ 25 June 2011 17:10 above
Well done SNP.
But the "Green Party" referred to is the Green Party of ENGLAND and WALES.
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