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PRESS RELEASE: Anti-nuclear campaigners blockade EDF's Hinkley Point nuclear power plant

Stop Nuclear Power Network | 04.10.2010 07:17 | Climate Chaos | Ecology | Energy Crisis

Since 7am this morning, anti-nuclear campaigners from different anti-nuclear groups which are part of the Stop Nuclear Power Network [1] are blockading the access road to EDF's Hinkley Point nuclear power station in protest against EDF's plans for nuclear new build and what they are calling a flawed consultation.

Dressed in badger costumes, and locked on across the only access road to Hinkley Point nuclear power station, the activists protest against a flawed EDF consultation for a new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, which ends today. "This EDF-led consultation is a con" says Mell, a teacher from Suffolk "While it is good to involve the local community, the main question - whether a new nuclear power station should be built or not - is not part of the consultation. What kind of democracy is this if the most important question - whether we want to expose ourselves and coming generations to nuclear danger and radioactive waste - is not part of the consultation?".


Even before EDF has secured planning permission for Hinkley Point C, the company wants to begin with 'enabling works', which has upset the local community. Nikki, a Bridgwater Mum said: "From this autumn on, EDF wants to dynamite and bulldoze 435 acre of green fields - habitats for badgers, bats, and other wildlife, and in close proximity to Bridgwater Bay, which is a sanctuary for thousands of waders, ducks, and other sea birds. It is a joke to think this land could be restored - as EDF claims - should Hinkley C not be built."[2]


"To resist EDF's plans for nuclear expansion, not only here at Hinkley Point, but also at Sizewell, Bradwell, Hartlepool, and Heysham, we call for a boycott of EDF [3]. EDF might try to greenwash itself, but however hard they try, EDF still stands for nuclear power, and here in Hinkley Point also for Eagerly Destroying Fields. As consumers, we have the power to make our opinion known by boycotting EDF, but also by taking nonviolent direct action. If EDF wants to nuke the climate and the planet, the nonviolent resistance is not just an option, but a duty - at Sizewell, and here at Hinkley Point" [4], says Nicola Deane from Suffolk.


Notes for journalists
[1] The Stop Nuclear Power Network is a UK-based non-hierarchical grassroots network of groups and individuals taking action against nuclear power and its expansion and supporting sustainable alternatives. We encourage and seek to facilitate nonviolent direct action, as well as more conventional forms of campaigning. For more information see  http://stopnuclearpoweruk.net
[2] See Stop Hinkley's press release from 13 August 2010: EdF to dynamite and bulldoze Hinkley 44 acre greenfield site,  http://stophinkley.org/PressReleases/pr100813.htm
[3] For more information on the campaign to boycott EDF, see  http://boycottedf.org.uk
[4] Some of the activists involved in today's blockade also blockaded Sizewell nuclear power station in Suffolk on 22 February 2010. See  http://stopnuclearpower.blogspot.com/2010/02/local-democracy-dumped-sizewell-nuclear.html
[5] Recently leaked documents of EDF show that the reactor technology chosen for Hinkley Point C is all but safe, and that a Chernobyl style catastrophe is possible. See Réseau "Sortir du nucléaire": EXCLUSIVE: Confidential EDF documents show serious accident risks with the EPR reactor, 30 September 2010,  http://www.sortirdunucleaire.org/index.php?menu=english&sousmenu=presse&page=index#

Stop Nuclear Power Network
- e-mail: network@stopnuclearpoweruk.net
- Homepage: http://stopnuclearpoweruk.net

Comments

Hide the following 5 comments

more of this sort of thing...

04.10.2010 11:42


Stop Nuclear Power network gathering Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th October, Bristol.
 http://stopnuclearpower.blogspot.com/2010/09/stop-nuclear-power-network-national.html

Come along, meet people, make plans, take action.

Well done for todays action folks.

Waylon Smithers


Nuclear power will be useful to displace fossil fuels

04.10.2010 12:47

Big coal power stations need to be closed as soon as possible. Nuclear power will do this.

It is likely Longannet coal power station in Scotland and Drax coal power station in England will remain open much longer then would be if existing Nuclear power stations are not replaced with new Nuclear power stations.
Diversity of energy supplies that reduce climate change are required.

Links to views in support of Nuclear.

 http://atomicinsights.blogspot.com/

 http://www.ecolo.org/

 http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/

 http://neinuclearnotes.blogspot.com/

 http://energyfromthorium.com/

Pro Nuke


nuclear is not the answer...

04.10.2010 14:49

"Big coal power stations need to be closed as soon as possible. Nuclear power will do this."

No nuclear power station anywhere in the world has ever been built on time, with out public money or within budget.

Flamonville in France and Olkiluoto in Finland are brilliant examples of what is being suggested as our climate change and energy security savior. Don't take my word for it, research it yourselves...

Nuclear is status quo, business as usual.

"Diversity of energy supplies that reduce climate change are required."

New nuclear isn't diversifying its like for like.
Diversity is decentralising our electricity grid to accomadate a diverse energy mix. Then using less energy and use energy more efficiently.

No need for new nuclear, don't believe the green wash.

Did anyone mention nuclear waste? No, then let's go back to bed.

Monty Burns


London to Plymouth walk will visit Hinkley soon

05.10.2010 05:29

Great job! Badgers of the world rise up! I set off on a month-long 'zero carbon' walk for a nuclear-free future, from London to Plynouth, via Bristol last Saturday (2nd October). I will be paying Hinkley Point a visit. I am currently in Reading and will call in at the AWE Aldermaston nuclear bomb factory later today, which has just been given the green light for another warhead research facility, 'Project Hydrus'. I plan to arrive in Plymouth in time for the Trident Ploughshares Devonport Big Blockade on Monday 1st November:  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/09/463911.html

Walk blog:  http://nuclearfreefootsteps.blogspot.com
Twitter updates:  http://twitter.com/vd2012

dv
mail e-mail: vd2012-imc@yahoo.co.uk
- Homepage: http://nuclearfreefootsteps.com


@Pro Nuke

07.10.2010 04:03

Try looking at the new Zero Carbon Britain report, which offers nuclear-free zero carbon scenarios, or the work of people like Neil Crumpton, formerly of Friends of the Earth and now of Bellona UK, e.g. the article at the top of page 3 of the Stop Nuclear Power Network broadsheet, titled "There are alternatives':
 http://andreasspeck.info/files/NuclearPeoplePower-Supplement.pdf

See also:

No Need For Nuclear:  http://www.noneedfornuclear.org.uk
Is nuclear needed?
 http://www.noneedfornuclear.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=63

Energy Fair:  http://www.energyfair.org.uk

dv
mail e-mail: vd2012-imc [at] yahoo.co.uk
- Homepage: http://stopnuclearpoweruk.net