Hello Folks!
How much money is being sunk on renewing the Trident nuclear submarine-based weapons system in the UK that could be spent on keeping renewable energy sources buoyant? Subsidies to the nuclear industry are huge, helped by backroom deals and lobbying from big business. Nuclear subs are pretty big themselves, submersed beneath murky financial waters. The government are spending £76 billion on replacing Trident, not exactly a drop in the ocean. In fact, this could work out as 120,000 newly-qualified nurses every year for the next 10 years, plus scrapping student top-up fees for the same period, plus introducing 60,000 newly-qualified teachers every year for the next twenty years. Alternatively, it could go towards doubling overseas aid to meet our UN Millennium Goals for the next 12 years, protecting 900 million acres of rainforest or enough climate change measures – energy efficient and renewables – to meet the UK’s 60% carbon emissions reduction target. Still, pouring the cash into a system that will wipe out thousands of people seems a much better investment.
After the Fukushima disaster on 11th March 2011, which was handled less than effectively by the Japanese government, the dangers of nuclear power were shown in stark relief. How can we continue to use it without greater safety precautions? Yes, it is cleaner than oil and coal, apart from the radioactive waste that takes thousands of years to disappear, but that’s ok, we can bury it offshore of poor countries, they won’t mind. I’m sure it’ll give them a nice, warm glow inside.
When there is such danger, it seems a little strange why nuclear power is pursued in favour of sustainable energy. Some electricity companies let you subscribe to special green packages that do not use nuclear power, but surely it would be more sensible if all power came from safe sources? Perhaps a part percentage might be wise just to top up the national grid in times of emergency where it won’t leak or damage the environment, but as a long term proposition, nuclear power is causing a few fallouts. Yet it appears that sustainable energy is still not very big in Japan.
After repeated attacks by Godzilla, a creature borne of radioactive nuclear waste, you’d think that the Japanese would have learnt their lesson, wouldn’t you? Maybe that’s why they’re getting revenge on large sea beasts by spending the money from charities supposed to restore the local economy into slaughtering whales? Who knows?
Perhaps there is something about trying to harness the mighty power of the atom that enraptures some scientists where wind and wave doesn’t quite have the explosive appeal? The British economy is way behind Germany and others, even though they could’ve been leading the field, had the government taken the initiative. When I last went to Germany there were wind farms everywhere, rather than NIMBYs and idiots like David Bellamy standing around saying that they welcome global warming with open arms.
The deadline for the closure of Britain’s current nuclear weapons system Trident is 2024. The tide must turn and we must prevent the perpetuation of nuclear energy, in favour of sustainable green energy sources.
Stay nuclear free!
Tom Read, Norwich Greenpeace Supporter
Comments