PRESS RELEASE

Nuclear power: A dangerous distraction says CND

29 November 2005: for immediate release

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament today welcomed the government’s energy review. But it condemned the logic of government and industry, which appear to favour the least safe, unsustainable nuclear option. CND warned that if the review is to be successful it must include the real questions and issues we face in looking to a sustainable and clean solution to our environmental and energy needs. CND called Nuclear power ‘a dangerous distraction.’

Nuclear power is not the answer to climate change. It is neither carbon emission free nor would new power stations come on stream for at least ten years. It threatens the environment and people’s health. No safe solution has yet been devised to store its carcinogenic toxic radioactive waste, some of which is dangerous for thousands of years. It also leaves us vulnerable to the possibility of nuclear accidents or even terrorist attack.

A safe energy mix of renewable energy sources, cleaned up fossil fuels and energy efficiency measures – all of which are safe, effective and proven technologies- are available now. And it is not an impractical fantasy: Germany, a massively industrial power, is closing its nuclear power station and moving towards reliance on a non nuclear mix.

Kate Hudson, Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament said,

“A look at Britain’s energy mix is long over due and this energy review is to be welcomed. The question is why do government and industry seem to be opting for the least safe nuclear new build option? They are looking to an unsustainable, massively expense and dangerous option.

If the review is to be successful it must look at options for a safe, genuinely sustainable, global and green solution to our energy needs. Offering nuclear power as a magic solution to climate change is a dangerous distraction from addressing the fundamental issues about energy use, and safe and sustainable energy production.”

end

Notes to Editor:

For further information and interviews please contact Ruth Tanner CND's Press & Communications Officer on 0207 7002350 or 07968 420859
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is one of Europe’s biggest single-issue peace campaigns, with over 32,000 members in the UK. CND campaigns for the abolition of all nuclear weapons everywhere. www.cnduk.org

Nuclear Power : Why we say no to a new generation

Nuclear power is not the answer to climate change

Nuclear power is not carbon emission free! The whole nuclear cycle from uranium mining onwards produces more greenhouse gases than most renewable energy sources with up to 50% more emissions than wind power. Doubling nuclear power in the UK would only reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8% because the electricity sector accounts for a quarter to a third of all carbon emissions (transport and industry account for most of the rest).

Climate change is happening now. A new nuclear power station takes 10 years to build and longer to generate electricity. Wind farms can be up and running in less than a year.

It’s expensive. The nuclear industry is massively subsidised by the British public. Sizewell B, the UK’s most recent power station cost the taxpayer around £3.7billion just to install, and decomissioning the current ageing power stations will cost us an estimated £56billion.

It’s not sustainable. The reserves of Uranium ores used to generate nuclear power are going to run out. There is only 50 years worth of high uranium ores left in the world. There may be only 200 years left of all uranium ores including poor uranium ores which take more energy to mine and process and thus release more carbon emissions.

Nuclear Power is dirty and dangerous

Nuclear power threatens the environment and people’s health. It produces enormous amounts of carcinogenic toxic radioactive waste, some of which is dangerous for thousands of years. No safe solution has yet been devised to store it.

Uranium mining kills. Uranium mining is the first step in the nuclear power cycle; it has taken the lives of many miners all over the world causing environmental contamination, cancers and nuclear waste.

Nuclear accidents. The risk of terrible nuclear accidents like Chernobyl, Three Mile Island and Windscale (Sellafield) will plague a new generation of power stations as it did the first.

A terrorist target. Nuclear power carries with it the risk of nuclear terrorism. In this age of uncertainty dirty bombs and attacks on power stations are a terrifying threat.

The proliferation of nuclear weapons is inextricably linked to nuclear power by virtue of a shared need for enriched uranium, and through the generation of plutonium as a by-product of spent nuclear fuel. The two industries have been linked since the very beginning and a nuclear weapons free world requires a non-nuclear energy policy.

We need real action to save the planet now!

We need a safe, genuinely sustainable, global and green solution to our energy needs. A combination of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures which are safe, effective and proven technologies are available now. The government must live up to its Kyoto agreements and invest in sustainable clean solutions to climate change.

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