27th November 2005

The Stroud District Green party sponsored Cafe Discussions on Friday 25th November attracted some 30 people. The evening began with three short presentations: the case for and against nuclear and then a look at Oldbury nuclear power station which is 16 miles from Stroud. The talks were followed by lively and wide ranging discussions.

Philip Booth, the Gloucestershire Green party's Press Officer and one of the evenings speakers said: "Already Government and industry are implying that nuclear is common sense and anything else is 'alternative' to it. This cafe evening was an opportunity to look more closely at some of the forest of 'facts' that are presented; both sides are guilty of this and it can make it hard for anyone to get a true picture, but the deeper you look the more compelling the arguments against nuclear become; it is dangerous, polluting and expensive. Clean and Green is the way forward."

Philip Booth added: "A full report of the debate can be found under reports at: www.glosgreenparty.org.uk"


The evening in brief

Chris Brain, one of the organisers of the event started by outlining the case for nuclear energy. He said: "One of the challenges to understanding this is that the argument by the nuclear industry either involves unsubstantiated, slightly patronising simplistic arguments or it is very complex, huge, detailed reports. In short there seem to be three key arguments in favour: nuclear will reduce CO2 emissions, it will ensure security of supply and then there are the technical arguments about cost, waste, safety and benefits to the economy."

Chris was followed by Dave Cockcroft, a local Green who replaced Jim Duffy from the Stop Hinkley group who was due to speak, but was in bed with flu. Dave effectively challenged the arguments put forward showing that a cleaner, greener way would be entirely possible and more cost effective, more likely to ensure security of supply and considerably more effective at tackling climate change.

Philip Booth, the Green party's local press officer, spoke last about the Oldbury nuclear power station. He covered in brief some of the issues and concerns that have been raised by Greens over the last four years; in particular the graphite depletion of the reactor core that many experts believe is so bad that it means the plant should close.


Way forward

Philip Booth added: "We are hoping to put together a cross-party coalition of groups and individuals who want to see Green technologies like Micro-generation being used rather than dangerous, dirty nuclear. If anyone is interested in joining please contact us."

The Cafe Discussion organisers are hoping to put on a larger event in the Spring with local representatives of the nuclear industry and renewable industries, both of whom have expressed a strong interest. The next cafe discussion will be Friday 27th January.