Countering Capenhurst March 2023

This issue of Countering Capenhurst comes at a time when there are a number of ongoing changes which we need to focus upon, especially as new build seems to be back on the agenda, while a lot of crazy proposals are being made about just where to bury nukiller waste.

We are also very concerned about the current & future construction of Astute Class Nukiller submarines at Barrow, especially as it will produce yet more radioactive waste over the coming decades.

DRS

Flask Movements

On December 22nd two flasks were taken from Crewe to Sellafield, while on February 4th a single flask was taken from Sellafield via Barrow to Crewe.

Direct Rail Services open day to become biennial event

Direct Rail Services open day to become biennial event

Short News Items

Energoatom Agrees With Britain’s Urenco To Supply Enriched Uranium From 2026

‘ “On December 19, Energoatom President Petro Kotin and Urenco Chief Executive Officer Boris Schucht met online. They discussed the issue of increasing the supply of enriched uranium to Westinghouse for the production of nuclear fuel for Ukrainian nuclear power plants over 2024-2025 years. In addition, the heads of companies agreed on long-term cooperation in the supply of enriched uranium for Energoatom from 2026,”

https://ukranews.com/en/news/903189-energoatom-agrees-with-britain-s-urenco-to-supply-enriched-uranium-from-2026

Resources

EDF Energy ‘protests too much’ over impact of Windfall Tax on ageing reactors

‘ EDF has complained that the British Government’s windfall tax, introduced on 1 January, may mean an early end for operations at Hartlepool & Heysham 1, but the Nuclear Free Local Authorities believe that these could be ‘crocodile tears.’

EDF Energy ‘protests too much’ over impact of Windfall Tax on aging reactors

Following On

In the Shadow of Chernobyl, a Pack of Dogs Unlike Any Other Roams the Wasteland.

https://www.cnet.com/science/biology/in-the-shadow-of-chernobyl-a-pack-of-dogs-unlike-any-other-roams-the-wasteland/

Stop Hinkley – Newsletter January 2023

The latest issue of the Stop Hinkley newsletter contains a update upon the continuing problem of building of the Hinkley C plant, and the road movement of the nukiller flasks to Bridgewater for transporting to Windscale / Sellafield by DRS.

http://stophinkley.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2023Jan-Newsletter.pdf

London Mining Network

‘ London Mining Network (LMN) is an alliance of human rights, development, environmental and solidarity groups.

We work for

· human rights, including the rights of Indigenous Peoples and workers, and

· sustainable development (development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs) in communities around the world affected by the activities of mining companies based in or funded from London.’

On special interest is the campaigning work which LMN focuses upon is Uranium mining.

Home

Marking Fukushima Day

On Saturday March 11th we held an event outside of the Springfields plant.

While Kick Nuclear held a Vigil to mark the 12th anniversary of the Nukiller Disaster ar Fukushima.

The Springfields event was organised in conjunction with Radiation Free Lacklands, and attracted activists from .

The following statement was read outside of both the Japanese Embassy and Springfields plant.

Dear Supporters, Activists and Friends ,

This year is the 12th anniversary since the worst nuclear power accidents in the world happened at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on 11 th March 2011. 3 reactors are still melting down and radioactive wastewater is generated everyday. Over 1.3 million tonnes contaminated/treated water is going to be discharged into the Pacific from spring/summer this year.

On top of this unwelcome decision by Government/TEPCO, the Japanese government announced recently that they are changing the energy policy to encourage the restart of the idled nuclear power plants and build more new Small Module Reactors to secure the energy supply. This is very sad news for us who had been campaigning to promote more renewable source of energy.

Another terrible policy change by the Japanese government is the sudden increase of military budget from 1% of GDP to 2% during 2023 to 2027. The government is overriding the article 9 of Constitution.

We must stand in front of the Japanese Embassy and show our strong opposition to these changes in its policies.

In Peace and Solidarity,

Shigeo Kobayashi

Ann Kobayashi

David Polden

Ann Garrett

on behalf of Japanese Against Nuclear – UK and Kicknuclear

Fukushima Vigil Outside the UK’s Uranium Fuel Manufacturing Factory

Countering Capenhurst – June 2022

The Return of Thomas the Stank Engine

The next DRS [ Direct Rail Services ] open day will be on Saturday July 16th at Crewe.

As in previous years we will be outside the DRS depot to leaflet the event from 10.30. onwards.

Short News Items

UKRAINIAN “ENERGOATOM” MAY INCREASE PURCHASES OF URANIUM

Energoatom Refuses To Purchase Uranium Concentrate In Russia, Plans To Increase Its Supplies From UK URENCO

Small nuclear reactors produce ’35x more waste’ than big plants.

Stop Seismic Testing

We have joined with others to oppose the proposed Objection to Seismic Blasting in the Irish Sea to test the geology for a deep geological nuclear facility for heat generating nuclear wastes.seismic testing of the coast of Cumbria.

Objection to Seismic Blasting in the Irish Sea to test the geology for a deep geological nuclear facility for heat generating nuclear wastes.

Nothing to Celebrate

The following statement will be read outside of the URENCO Capenhurst site at 14.00. on Wednesday March 4th 2020.

Nothing to Celebrate.

It is now 50 years since the Treaty of Almalo was signed.

That’s 50 years since URENCO was founded.

That’s 50 years of URENCO enriching Uranium.

That’s 50 years of URENCO taking park of the nukiller fuel cycle,which starts with uranium mining and ends with the creation of vast amounts of radioactive waste.

That’s 50 years of playing a part in the production of extreme energy, causing radioactive pollution, and doing untold damage to the environment.

That is Nothing to celebrate.

We grieve for all those who have been, are currently, and will suffer as a result of the work of URENCO, and at the Capenhurst plant.

We call for the end of uranium mining, uranium enrichment, and the immediate closure of all nukiller powet plants.

We call for URENCO to play a part in cleaning up the radioactive mess which it has caused.

We call for the creation of world in future generations no longer have to suffer the ill effects extreme energy such as nukiller power.

Future celebrations

We will Celebrate when the Capenhurst URENCO plant is Closed Down.

We will celebrate the 50th anniversary of that closure.

We will celebrate the closure of all nukiller power plant.

In the meanwhile we will continue campaigning for the creation of a world without any form of radioactive energy production.

Chester CND

Close Capenhurst Campaign

CND Cymru

Greenpeace [ London ]

Japanese Against Nuclear [ JAN ]

Kick Nuclear

Nuclear Trains Action Group

Radiation Free Lakelands

Rochdale and Littleborough Peace Group

On The 62nd Anniversary Of The Windscale Fire.

Public Statement to be read outside of the Gates of the Springfield Plant on the 62nd anniversary of the Windscale Fire.

October 10th 2019

We are gathered here today to lament the Windscale fire which occurred exactly 62 years ago,

The fire was one of the greatest nukiller disasters on British soil.

We remember that the uranium fuel rods which burnt in the fire were manufactured within the Springfield plant.

We remember how the use of Uranium at Windscale and its highly radioactive waste products will continue to be highly dangerous to all life for many centuries to come.

We remember all those people who have suffered ill health as the result of Uranium mining, and its use over the years.

We remember all those are suffering now and in to the future, as the result of the activities which go on in the Springfield plant.

We demand the immediate halt to the production of Uranium fuel and closure of all atomic power plants.

Signed by

Close Capenhurst Campaign

Kick Nuclear

Nuclear Waste Trains Action Group

PAWB – People Against Wylfa-B

Radiation Free Lakeland

SWAN – South West Against Nuclear

On behalf of all Humanity.

The Last Used Highly Radioactive Fuel Rods Sent From Wylfra To Sellafield.

Close Capenhurst Campaign Statement

Concerning the last radioactive fuel rods transported by rail from Wylfra.

While we welcome the end of highly radioactive used fuel rods being transported from Wylfra via Chester and Crewe to Sellafield.

We are still concerned about all the other nukiller fuel rods which are transported by DRS [Direct Rail Services ] to Sellafield via nearby Crewe.

We will continue to campaign upon this issue, together with the movement of Uranium Hexafluoride [ Hex ] to and from Capenhurst by road.

While continuing to support the demand of PAWB – People Against Wylfa-B that No New Atomic Power Plant be built on Anglesey .

Countering Capenhurst – Summer 2018

Statement by Dr Paul Dorfman

There is no question but there are very real concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding Capenhurst’s activities the adequacy of nuclear safeguards at Capenhurst Environmental and public health risks associated with Capenhurst’s routine operations as well as incidents and accidents Capenhursts management of uranium hexafluoride.

Fukushima Contrasts

If anyone wants to know just what the ONR [ Office for Nuclear Regulation ] has to say about the ongoing disaster at Fukushima, then they should read the following: –

Fukushima and the UK nuclear industry

That report was penned in 2011, and they have added nothing to it since then.

In contrast Kick Nuclear has been producing the regular Fukushima Updates.

The latest of which is to be found here.

More on Uranium exports to Russia.

Radiation Free Lakeland published this very useful article on the sale of Uranium products to Russia.

The Beautiful Game?  

EXPORT OF URANIUM PRODUCTS TO RUSSIA FROM PRESTON “IS IMPORTANT” to the UK.

As we keep saying: –

These sales raise many very worrying concerns, while the details of these exports are surrounded in secrecy.

DRS Open Day – July 2018- A summary report

July 21st was the 5th time that we have gone to a DRS Open Day event.

This year, despite our not being able to get more activists to turn up on the day, we did never the less managed to hand out some 2,500 leaflets in just under four hours.

While inside the depot there was a nukiller waste train wagon on display.

You can view them upon just some of the youtube videos of the event here, here, & here.

What strikes us about this is that DRS are now aiming to normalise seeing these waste flasks.

Next year we will be at the DRS Open Day at Carlisle, where we will be organising a protest in the company of our fellow activists from Radiation Free Lakelands.

Anniversaries & Forthcoming Events

August 4th – St Bees, Cumbria.

Radiation Free Lakeland [ RFL ] has sent an urgent to Sellafield, asking them to monitor and retrieve radioactive particles from St bees beach ahead of the Cumbria Wildlife Trust ‘Beached Art’ day on Sunday August 4^th.

Sellafield have treated this straightforward request under Freedom of Information rules which means that there will not be a reply for at least a month, and even then they might have to pay for the request to be answered.

The request has been sparked by a citizen science project carried out by Radiation Free Lakeland volunteers in collaboration with nuclear science undergraduates at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the US.‘

In the absence of any warnings from the authorities, RFL will once again be at the beach at St Bees to leaflet and warn people about the very real possibility of their children (or pregnant mothers) ingesting radioactive cesium, americium and plutonium.

August 6th – Hiroshima Day.

August 9th – Nagasaki Day.

October 10th – Springfields

We will be back at the Springfields plant to mark 61 years since the Windscale Fire.

July 2019

The next DRS Open Day will take place at their depot at Carlisle.

We will be back to leaflet the event in the company of our fellow activists from Radiation Free Lakeland.

Thomas the Stank Engine

Thomas the Stank Engine got his name because he hauls DRS [Direct Rail Services] train wagons, which contain very stinky, very dirty, and very nasty nukiller waste.

Come Join us as we tell the tale of Thomas and his mates!

Distribute this information outside any of the railway stations which Thomas passes through.

Lobbying for independent radiation monitoring in the North West.

Radiation Free Lakeland are lobbying for independent radiation monitoring in the North West. This used to be carried out by Radiation Monitoring in Lancashire – RADMIL – which was disbanded a few years ago due to council cuts.

A draft letter which you can send to the Chief Scientist at Lancashire County Scientific Services can be found upon the Radiation Free Lakeland website.

http://mariannewildart.wordpress.com/2014/09/07/independent-radiation-monitoring-in-nw-what/

An open letter to the staff and management of the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

Fukushima Day – March 11th 2014

An open letter to the staff and management of the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

We are here to mark Fukushima day, and to register our concerns about the nukiller industry.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation’s mission statement of aims include:-
‘in securing nuclear safety and security in the UK and influencing global safety and security standards.’

– Yet there in no such thing as a safe atomic reactor.

The continuing disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima clearly illustrate just how dangerous these plants can be.

– It is no use working to make the reactors safe, while there is no safe way to deal with the long lasting radioactive which they produce.

– Rising see levels which will endanger & engulf the plants within the next 35 – 50 years.

That is many years before plants like Bradwell, Sizewell, Heysham, & Dungeness have been decommissioned. The resent storms around the coasts of Britain cleanly illustrate just what will happen in the very near future.

We urge you all to consider these long term issues and work to change their aims of the Office for Nuclear Regulation to become that of safely closing down all nukiller plants.