3 December 2007
Conference Announcement
UK and Irish Councils plan campaign against new nuclear stations
UK and Irish Councils will meet in Dublin this Friday (7 December) to plan the next stage in their campaign to oppose new nuclear power station development.
Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council will jointly host the 9th Annual UK and Irish Local Authorities Conference on Nuclear Hazards at the Central Hotel in Dublin. The event is organised by the Nuclear Free Local Authorities(1) and will attract over 50 local authority delegates from across Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.
Key conference themes include:
• the resurgence of the nuclear lobby in
Europe
• the UK Government proposals for new nuclear stations
• the alternative strategies for meeting energy needs and tackling
climate change
• the barriers to new nuclear development in continental Europe
and the UK
The Nuclear Prospects: Europe and UK conference will be opened by Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Energy, Communications and Natural Resources. Professor Tom Burke, founder Director of E3G and Chairman of the Independent Review of Environmental Governance in Northern Ireland, will report on the prospects for new nuclear build in Europe. Former Brussels based Greenpeace International campaigner, Mark Johnston, will report on reactor construction now underway in Finland.
Energy economist, Professor Stephen Thomas, University of Greenwich, will set out the prospects for private investment in new UK nuclear stations, and whether Government subsidy will be needed. Pete Roche, policy adviser to Nuclear Free Local Authorities (Scotland), will explain why the UK government is now urgently attempting to 'solve' the radioactive waste dilemma in order to increase public acceptance of new nuclear stations.
Press and media are invited to attend this conference. Eamon Ryan delivers
his opening address at 10.10am
For further information on conference content please contact Pete Roche
on + 44 (0)7821 378 210
For information on conference arrangements please contact Rebecca Bromley
on +44 (0)161 234 3244 or after Tuesday 4 December contact her on +44 (0)7771
930196
END
1. Nuclear Free Local Authorities is a network of 80 councils across, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Ireland campaigning to reduce nuclear hazards and increase public and environmental protection.