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Anti-nuclear groups excluded from meeting

plunk | 29.05.2012 12:39 | Anti-Nuclear | Energy Crisis | Cambridge

Groups and individuals who were know to have anti-nuclear views were excluded from a 'community engagement' event organised by Suffolk Coastal and Suffolk County councils. This left people attending with a one side of the arguement about economic impacts of nuclear new build presented by EdF.

You can protest over here
You can protest over here

No we think we will stay here
No we think we will stay here


Despite making it clear to the organising body that we wished to question the economic impact of the possible new build at Sizewell C&D we were excluded from the event. Groups that were exluded include, Sizewell Camp, Shut Down Sizewell and Communities Against Nuclear Expansion.
The council did agree to let us 'protest' outside and designated a special area to stand - on the other side of the road away from the entrance.
We just told them that we were not moving from the entrance and managed to leaflet most of those attending
Sizewell Camp has produced a report which is available at  http://stopnuclearpoweruk.net/sites/default/files/The%20local%20Impact%20of%20sizewell%20C%20and%20D%20on%20employment%20and%20the%20economy.pdf
The main points of this report are:

• At present it is not clear if Sizewell C&D or any other nuclear power station will be built in the UK. People are being encouraged to prepare for jobs that may never exist.
• EDF has claimed that '25,000 new jobs' will be created through the new build at sizewell. This figure is based on temporary jobs of only one years duration, and represents an equivalent of only 580 permanent jobs.
• Once the power station is operating, it is calculated that 900 permanent jobs will be created, leading to an overall figure of 1,480 jobs. This equates to an increase of just over 2% in employment in the Suffolk coastal district council area over a 15 year period
• This increase is small compared to the growth that an equivalent investment in renewable and other local industries would bring to the area- investment which would lead to a steady increase in permanent jobs rather than a 'boom and bust' increase in temporary work.
• The short employment period for construction workers at the site means that it would be unsuitable for young people wishing to develop a career in this industry sector. They would have to relocate to find further construction projects.
• Nuclear plants are currently being built at Flamanville and Olkiluoto for edf. These are supposed to be flagship projects, however severe concerns about workplace rights and health and safety have arisen at both sites. Reports suggest that workers have been paid below the minimum wage, and there have been three deaths in five months at Flamanville.

plunk
- e-mail: plunk@hushmail.com


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