Irradiating Democracy
Yesterday saw the by-election for the welsh assembly seat on Ynys Mon (Angelsy) All the candidates except the Socialist Labour Party candidate are supporting the building of a new nuclear power station to replace the now defunct Wyfla B reactor. This includes Rhun ap Iowerth the Plaid Cymru candidate despite Plaid's supposed nuclear free wales policy. It is a sad testament to the state of democracy and the economy in Wales that our only chance of employment comes from nuclear energy for in Plaids case the only reason they support a new wyfla is due to the alleged amount of jobs it will create. Can there be no other way of creating jobs in Yns Mon or elsewhere than polluting the area for thousands of years? More worryingly is the way the nuclear industry has constructed a consensus among politicians that nuclear is safe and in the way it holds the economy to ransom. There are alternatives in renewable energy that would cost a fraction of the cost and bring many returns to the community. Construction of turbines and solar panels can provide plenty of jobs and a green collar economy will solve two problems at once: unemployment and climate change. Doubtless the winner of the poll will claim a mandate for more nuclear expansion but all they have done is embark on a dangerous distraction that will put back the quest for energy sustainability, something we will all live to regret.....
Update: Plaid won the seat-If they had stuck to their anti-nuclear policy we could all have celebrated!
For more information go to:http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/media/press-releases/community-benefits-nuclear-reactors-greenpeace-response-20130717 &
http://stop-wylfa.org/wp/
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