New Environment Minister

Post by **clv101** » 05 May 2006, 23:47

It seems we have a new Environment Minister after Margaret Beckett's promotion. I believe Beckett was well known for her objection to nuclear power. How does her replacement David Miliband compare on this issue?

He voted with the party on these:
http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/policy.php?id=852

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 11 May 2006, 21:22

I doubt whether this was either Beckett or Milliband's doing but it's rather nice. Click on the Watch Animation, bottom right.

Post by **clv101** » 12 May 2006, 08:20

David Miliband was interviewed at 7:35AM on BBC Radio4 Today. In the 6 minute conversation he twice described nuclear as a zero carbon choice and said he wasn't anti-nuclear. Apparently Beckett?s number 2 (or 3) in the department was also strongly opposed to nuclear and he's gone as well, replaced with someone who once said nuclear was a 'no brainer'.

Post by **clv101** » 13 May 2006, 00:41

Here's the BBC write up of the morning interview:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4764933.stm

Post by **clv101** » 14 May 2006, 10:36

Revealed: minister's links to nuclear lobby
DAVID MILIBAND, the new environment secretary, is embroiled in a sleaze row this weekend over his links to a nuclear industry lobbyist.

The lobbyist ? Alan Donnelly ? chairs the minister?s local constituency party. He also helped to pay for the refurbishment of Miliband?s constituency party headquarters in Newcastle. The cabinet minister has appeared at events organised by the lobbyist.

Last week Tony Blair announced that Miliband would be central to the government?s decision on whether to build a new generation of nuclear reactors. Miliband has already hinted that unlike Margaret Beckett, his predecessor, he supports nuclear power.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... _1,00.html

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 14 May 2006, 11:55

Documents show that Sovereign Strategy paid ?2,000 for building works at a terraced house in South Shields, Tyneside, which serves as headquarters of the local Labour party and contains Miliband?s constituency office.

and much more.

Wow, that Sonday Times article is a must read.

Post by **clv101** » 15 May 2006, 11:29

This is letter I sent to Miliband on Friday:

Dear David Miliband

Re: Nuclear Power

I am most disappointed with your comments on BBC Radio 4 Today this morning (12/05/06). In your interview at 07:35 you twice in the space of six minutes described nuclear power as a ?zero CO2? option. This is totally untrue.

In the paper "Nuclear Power : the energy balance" by J.W. Storm and P. Smith (2005)[1] the authors calculate that with high quality ores, the CO2 produced by the full nuclear life cycle is about one half to one third of an equivalent sized gas-fired power station.

For low quality ores (less than 0.02% of U3O8 per tonne of ore), the CO2 produced by the full nuclear life cycle is equal to that produced by the equivalent gas-fired power station.

It also clear that future ores will be of lower concentration than those used today as the global uranium resource is depleted.

The nuclear debate is complicated enough already without people in high profile positions adding additional and unnecessary confusion with falsehoods like this.

I urge you not to continue with this line of argument in the future. It only promotes misunderstanding amongst the uninformed and discredits you and your office in the eyes the informed.

Please find enclosed a photo essay[2] illustrating some of the sources of CO2 in the nuclear life cycle.

Regards,

[1] http://www.stormsmith.nl/
[2] http://home.austarnet.com.au/davekimble ... ar.CO2.htm

Hopefully the photos will make him/his office think.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 15 May 2006, 14:11

Dave Kimble's picture essay is the best nuclear energy primer I've seen. I do hope Milliband reads it as he is clearly in need of a primer.

Why did the French balance that nuclear power station on the top of a cliff? Didn't they learn about coastal erosion when they were at school?

snow hope · Post by **snow hope** » 15 May 2006, 17:24

biffvernon wrote:Dave Kimble's picture essay is the best nuclear energy primer I've seen. I do hope Milliband reads it as he is clearly in need of a primer.

Why did the French balance that nuclear power station on the top of a cliff? Didn't they learn about coastal erosion when they were at school?

That picture essay has certainly opened my eyes regarding nuclear energy. I think I need to do some thinking....