Union debate in London today on nuclear power role in sustainable energy policy

11 January 2010

Meeting the challenges of climate change while meeting the UK's energy needs is the most vital debate in our nation today says GMB

Peter Kane, GMB senior workplace representative for Sellafield nuclear power plant in Cumbria will take part in a trade union organized debate in London this evening on the contribution that nuclear power can make to a lower carbon energy future. He will be joined in the debate by Tristram Denton from the Nuclear Industry Association and both will be arguing the case for nuclear power. Also taking part in the debate will by Chris Baugh, assistant general secretary for the PCS union and Ben Ayliffe, senior energy and climate campaigner for Greenpeace will be arguing the case against nuclear power.

The debate will take place this evening as follows:

from 7:30pm

Monday 11th January

at Public and Commercial Services Union offices

160 Falcon Rd,

Clapham Junction,

London SW11 2LN

The invitation to GMB to the debate has come from Battersea and Wandsworth Trades Union Council (BWTUC). They are hosting the debate in an attempt to find the answer to the question about the role of nuclear power in meeting the challenges of climate change.

Nadine Houghton organizer for BWTUC said "The government has committed itself to the development of nuclear power stations across the UK arguing that nuclear power is the answer to the current problems of climate change and unemployment.

But is it really the case that nuclear power is the best solution to these problems for both workers and environmentalists? BWTUC's Red/Green Alliance will be hosting the Great Nuclear Power Debate in an attempt to find the answer to this question."

Gary Smith GMB national secretary for energy said "GMB is more than happy to engage in a serious debate about this most important issue and welcomes more grassroots participation in this subject. Determining how to meet the challenges of climate change while meeting the UK's energy needs is the most vital debate in our nation today.

GMB commends to the green movement the views of James Lovelock the scientist and respected environmentalist when he said ‘‘only one immediately available source does not cause global warming and that is nuclear energy. We have stayed in ignorance for many reasons. I find it sad and ironic that the UK which leads the world in the quality of its Earth and climate scientists rejects their warnings and advice and prefers to listen to the Greens. But I am a Green and I entreat my friends in the movement to drop their wrongheaded objection to nuclear energy.

We have no time to experiment with visionary energy sources; civilisation is in imminent danger and has to use nuclear-the one safe, available, energy source-now or suffer the pain soon to be inflicted by our outraged planet."