The Nuclear debate

After our excellent debate at the Green Party Conference comes another timely reminder of the dangers of nuclear power with an explosion at the French power station at Marcoule this coincides with the imminent publication of the Weightman report into the implications for the UK nuclear industry of the Fukushima disaster. CND considers that it is a timely reminder that the industry is not only subject to the threat of natural disaster but also human and mechanical error in the processof normal operation. In his interim report in May, Chief Nuclear Inspector Dr Weightman asserted that'The extreme natural events that preceded the accident at Fukushima - the magnitude9 earthquake and subsequent huge tsunami - are not credible in the UKBut what has taken place at Marcoule shows that the extreme conditions that prevailed in Fukushima are not a precondition for nuclear accidents and potential disasters. Neither is a nuclear reactor a requirement - there is no reactor on site at Marcoule- but the explosion of an oven at the site clearly demonstrates the major hazards associated with nuclear waste. Indeed a number of such accidents have already affectedthe UK nuclear industry this year.
Kate Hudson, CND General Secretary, stated:

"Today's explosion is a further wake up call to the government - should they needone following the Fukushima disaster - there is no situation in which they can guarantee the safety of nuclear power or nuclear waste. The coalition government has sought to play down public concern with nuclear power following the Fukushima disaster, asserting that an earthquake or tsunami is 'notcredible in the UK.'
But they are not the only potential risks when it comes to nuclear power. The normal process of nuclear power production is dangerous on a daily basis. Earlier this year a leaked document showed that at least 3 incidents at nuclear facilities at Sellafield, Torness and Hartlepool, had to be reported to ministers in the UK in the first quarter of the year alone . How many more incidents will there be before the government reconsiders?
Marcoule clearly highlights the ongoing dangers of nuclear waste and the irresponsibility of creating any more. We already have a large legacy of dangerously radioactive nuclear waste. Recent estimates indicate that the UK has over 5 million cubic metres of it. Some of this will remain toxic for hundreds of thousands of years and there is still no long-term solution about what to do with it .

We call on the government to listen to increasing public concerns, look to the examplesof Germany and Italy, and abandon its plans for new nuclear power stations and the accompanying production of vast additional quantities of nuclear waste. Nuclear power and nuclear waste present an ever-present danger. Now is the time for the government to pursue a non-nuclear energy policy.'

One of the outcomes of our debate is that Prof Neil Hyatt - one of the speakers - has invited interested people who were at the debate to sit in on his lectures about managing nuclear waste (which will have to be done whether or not there is a new generation of reactors) if you are interested get in touch with Jillian Creasy.