AGS Press Release
Nuclear Power - Still No ThanksPlans for a new nuclear reactor casts doubts on the government's environmental committment
Issued Friday 30 May 2008
For immediate release
The National Committee of the Alliance for Green Socialism is concerned and disturbed that the New Labour Government is taking us down the Nuclear Road again. the news from Hinkley Point Somerset where a French firm EDF has purchased land that was earmarked for a wind farm from Your Energy to have 1 or 2 1,600MW Nuclear Reactors highlights a hidden agenda behind New Labour’s supposed commitment to renewable energy That must be resisted.
It needs to be noted that a nuclear reactor has never been successfully operated and wholly paid for by a private commercial organisation. In recent times the government invested £3 billion to stop the financial collapse of British Energy. The unreliability of nuclear production means that costs will be a burden on the British public for years to come.
Nuclear power is not only costly but dangerous and a continuing threat to the environment. In April 2005 the Thorp reprocessing plant leaked 20 tonnes of Uranium and 160kg of Plutonium and has not operated since. The UK has a massive burden of radioactive debris and it’s estimated that it will cost £160 billion to dismantle and move into long term storage.
Green Socialists recognise now is the time for the government to embark on a renewable energy programme which embraces decentralisation, microgeneration and energy efficiency. The use of Smart Meters will involve the public in saving energy and lower the cost. Italy has had a national run out of smart meters why cannot we? Micro- technologies such as solar photovoltaics, small wind turbines, and micro–CHP enable people to turn their homes into generators that allows the owner to sell power back to the grid
In Burnham –on-sea in Somerset near Hinkley Point nuclear power station, the risk of cervical and kidney cancer is around six times the national average, Leukaemia rates are four times and breast cancer twice the national average.
The AGS calls on the government not to go down the nuclear road but to act in the welfare and interests of its people making alternative energy sources its priority by legislation and financial support.
Eddie Adams
Press Officer for the Alliance for Green Socialism
Enquiries to: Mike Davies, 07811 384888
email: enquiries@greensocialist.org.uk
web: http://www.greensocialist.org.uk
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