Terrorism Threats Reason Enough to Abandon Any New Nuclear Power Programme

The recent arrests of a suspected dirty bomb terrorist (1) and Al Qaeda agents threatening US and British warships in the Straits of Gibraltar highlight (2) the incalculable dangers of the nuclear industry said Friends of the Earth Cymru today.

The environmental campaigners are particularly concerned about any ideas in Government quarters to develop a new nuclear power programme in the UK despite its abundance of renewable energy resources. Such a nuclear programme could be copied by developing nations around the world escalating the possibilities and permutations for nuclear terrorism and warfare for decades, if not centuries, to come.

Other threats include the risks at nuclear facilities especially Sellafield but also to nuclear fuel and rad-waste shipments worldwide. An armed shipment of fuel rods is planned to be returned from Japan to the UK in August. The route would include the South East Asian seas where piracy is a real issue, then through the Irish Sea.

A new nuclear power programme has been muted by some politicians and scientists in the UK as a way of meeting Kyoto greenhouse gas reduction commitments to tackle global warming.

Neil Crumpton, energy spokesperson for Friends of the Earth Cymru said:

"The latest terrorist threats highlight the dangers posed by nuclear operations and facilities worldwide including power stations, reprocessing and storage sites such as Sellafield, and nuclear fuel and waste shipments. For security reasons alone we believe that the Government should drop any ideas for developing a new nuclear power station programme in England and Wales.

Nuclear power is in no way a safe solution to global warming. In complete contrast, renewable energy technologies are low-carbon, safe and clean. Renewables can provide security of energy supply without exposing the UK to unnecessary national security risks or spreading risks by becoming a bad and influential example to developing nations."

Notes

1) Arrest in Chicago, of Abdullah Al Mujahir on 8th May and detention in Morocco of three suspected Al Qaeda agents planning to sink US and British naval vessels in Gibraltar Strait.