[NukeNet] UK: Energy protesters blockade nuclear power station

[Mike Ewall]

Energy protesters blockade nuclear power station

David Ward
Wednesday August 30, 2006
The Guardian

Activists yesterday blockaded the front and rear entrances of a 
nuclear power station in Hartlepool, Teesside, to protest at the 
government's recently proclaimed support for a new boost for nuclear 
energy. About 20 arrived at 8am as a shift was starting work, draped 
a banner reading "No More" on a fence, locked themselves to 
welded-together tubes, and lay down on access roads.

Earlier this year the government said nuclear power could make a 
"significant contribution" to future energy needs. The Hartlepool 
action is part of a campaign to highlight the drawbacks of 
traditional sources of power and to stress the need for a global 
reduction in energy use and the development of renewable sources.

The protesters are based at a 10-day camp set up by the action group 
Reclaim Power a mile from the giant coal-fired Drax power station at 
Selby, North Yorkshire. Drax, the largest plant of its kind in 
Europe, generates 7% of Britain's electricity. But Reclaim Power 
claims it is also the single biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in 
the UK, pumping out 20.8m tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

Tomorrow, those camped in what has been dubbed "megawatt valley" - 
site of Eggborough and Ferrybridge power stations as well as Drax - 
will march on the power station and attempt to close it by direct 
action. One of the protesters at Hartlepool, Kathryn Tulip, said: 
"People have entered this site on foot but no vehicles or heavy 
equipment has gone in. We had expected cutting crews to have come out 
to us by now but no one has turned up yet. We hope we'll be back for 
the big day at Drax."

She added that the group wanted to tell British Energy, the 
government and the public that they did not want a new generation of 
nuclear power stations: "Hartlepool is due to be decommissioned in 
2014 but it is likely that this could be the site for another nuclear 
station if the industry has its way. The government's recent energy 
review says that nuclear power is the answer to climate change. But 
nuclear power is not fossil fuel-free and we have to reduce our 
consumption of power." At the camp in the shadow of the Drax towers, 
Emma Pegg, 29, from Leeds, said: "We are already feeling the 
destructive effects of a climate which is in crisis. I urge people to 
come to the camp, learn more about climate change and ways to live 
sustainably. And perhaps even to help shut down Drax."

A spokesman for British Energy said of the Hartlepool protest: 
"British Energy respects and recognises people's right to protest 
about what is a vital issue for all of us and have no objection to 
peaceful and lawful demonstration. Our prime concern is to safeguard 
our staff, the power station and the protesters themselves."