At present there are a number of issues and projects which we are working upon.
These include noting the anniversary of the Widscale fire which took place on October 10th 1957. On that anniversary we will be announing the 2023 winners of the George Monbiet Nukiller Greenwash award.
While we will soon be printing an update to the Beware nukiller waste trains leaflet. This is the one which is handed out at the various stations they go though. It has been writen in such a way that it can very easily be monified to include your local information.
Current Issues List
While there are a lot of individuals focused upon the continuous disaster at Fukushima, and the situation with regards the nukiller reactors in the Ukraine, we do have to focus our attention upon the following crisis Issues.
They are as follows –
– The treat of New Build, which includes Bradwell, Hinkley, Sizewell, and Wylfa.
– The transport of High level Nukiller waste by DRS though our towns and cities.
– The road transport of Uranium Hex.
– Springfield.
– Capenhurst and Urenco.
– Drigg.
– Windscale / Sellafield.
– The proposed long term nukiller waste dumps in Cumbria and other locations.
– All the Radioactive waste which is and has been discharged into the sea.
– The movement of highly radioactive materials via Barrow Docks.
– Both the mining and processing Uranium.
While we need to keep showing the links between Nukiller Weapons and Nukiller Power.
How nukiller power is a major cause of global warming.
&
Campaign to stop more Astute Class Nukiller submarines being built at Barrow.
To do all of the above we need many more activists, and many more donations to help us continue with our campaigning work.
Short News Items
‘ Uranium spells out nuclear future’.
Of Particular note is the following: –
‘ — recently, political instability in Niger has also prompted a price increase in uranium. According to Reuters a military coup in Niger saw prices rise even though mining operations have continued in what is a top 10 uranium producer.’
&
‘ Uranium supply giant Kazatomprom also issued its second quarter trading update, noting that average realized price for the first half of 2023 was higher compared to the same period in 2022. ‘
‘ The Warrington-based firm’s client roster, which includes Urenco, Sellafield, and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, will complement Hydrock’s existing relationships in the sector. ‘
This issue of Countering Capenhurst follows on from the meeting we had with the DRS management in April, and covers some of the other campaigns which we support.
On May 16th three flasks were taken from Windsale / Sellafield to Crewe. Eight days later there were more flasks being moved along this route. Then on May 18th flasks were observed being moved from Torness to the DRS depot at Carlisle.
We have recently learnt that there are on average 8 flask movements to Windscale / Sellafield each week.
So here are just a few of the recent ones which we are aware about taking place.
– On June 3rd June 10, June 24th and July 1st
– To & from Heysham on May 25th , June 1st.
Last Four Flasks Photo
The cover of the August 2023 issue of Today’s Railways UK shows two DRS engines taking the last four flasks being taken from Hunterston to Windscale / Sellafield on November 9th 2021.
Waste Flask Concerns
At 17.50 on June 8th Four flasks were spotted being transported south just outside of Carlisle on the way to Sellafield / Windscale.
These flasks passed a Northern Rail passenger train which was going north at the time.
Upon arriving at Carlisle it was possible to have a word with the Northern Rail driver who confirmed that they are given no special instructions about just what to do should they encounter a DRS derailment, etc.
This confirms exactly what we have always suspected to be the case.
From another source it has be confirmed that eight waste flask trains travel along the West Coast [ Sellafield / Windscale ] each week.
World Ocean Day Event.
On June 8th we were in Whitehaven. This was to hand over following letter and petition opposing any further “investigations” into a deep nukiller dump under the Lake District Coast is to be delivered to the Marine Management Organisation.
Anyone who is interested in campaigning about what goes on along the west Cumbrian coast should examine the historic Godfrey edition ordinance survey maps.
After the meeting DRS offered to pay our travel expenses which we refused to take. This is so we can both be, and be seen to be, completley independent of them. Thus we will continue to maintain our independent critical stance.
We will now be going through the answers which we received to our various questions, and consider just how we will follow up on our campaign.
Flask Movements
Youtube Video clips.
One aspect of our work is to view various videos of nukiller flask movements. Here are a few from which you can clearly see some of the issues which concern us about what happens at both Bridgewater and Dungeness.
As many of you might know, DRS transport Castor Nukiller flasks between the Barrow docks and Windscale/Sellafield.
We know something about the various tests that have been made on the standard ones which are transported between Windscale / Sellafield the various Brexitland reactor sites.
What we don’t have is any information about the crash, heat resistance, and fall tests which the Castor flasks have been subjected to.
We need this information in order to do a comparison between the two flask types.
If any of you help us with any information on this, then we would be extremely grateful !
German Celebrations and Continuing Our Campaigning
Now that we can celebrate the closure of the last 3 working Nukiller reactors in Germany, it should not be forgotten that the radiative waste they generated is still a major problem which will take many centuries to clean up.
While we still have the ongoing waste issue at Drigg and Windscale / Sellafield and the used fuel rods being transported by DRS to campaign about,
Plus the campaigns to Stop New Build.
So it is a good time to remind activists in Germany that our struggles continue, and we can still use some help from them all.
Open consultations
As a part of our campaigning we do need to work at every level of society, and undertake a wide range of activities. That includes participation on various consultations.
Here are links to two current open open consultations.
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
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,”
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.’
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.
‘ 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.
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
This issue of Countering Capenhurst is an information update.
DRS
The Return of Thomas the Stank Engine – Part Two
On July 16th we went back to Crewe in order to communicate with those who attended the DRS open day event.
Despite the few of us who turned upon the day, we did manage to distribute just over two thousand leaflets. The DRS Website stated that Three and a half thousand people attended the event.
If anyone is interested in them, then we do have some of the current Thomas the Stank Engine leaflets which can be used at other events.
Out next task will be to draft a leaflet which focuses upon some of the route that the waste flasks are carried along, and the specific dangers that they posse.
DRS Open Day Videos.
Every time there is a DRS Open day event it is followed by many train spotter Youtube videos.
Here are just two examples of what they look like.
&
There is also the following which looks like it copies DRS propaganda.
There is also a half page colour photograph of the event in the August issue of the Railway Magazine. This is an aerial view which shows something of the scale of the event.
Short News Items
More Power to Millom: NFLA backs new protest group opposed to nuclear waste dump
This well researched book gives a good oversight of the Nukiller disasters, and very many near disasters, which have happened over the years.
It covers both Nukiller Weapons and Nukiller Power.
Website Updates
We have recently been updating what is included upon the CCC website.
The most important change is that we now have the following:-
Forthcoming Protests and Events.
This replaces the ongoing lists which have been included within Countering Capenhurst.
Previous Protests
This lists all of our previous events and protests.
We have also updated the description of our work in the About page.
All of these changes should make our website less clunky to navigate.
At various towns.
During the last couple of years it has been very difficult to organise any events, or distribute any leaflets at the various places which are immediately effected by the nukiller industry.
Thus we look forward to being more proactive again.
But we still need to have more activists within the following towns: –
Chester, Ellesmere Port, Preston, Runcorn, Warrington, and Wigan.
Financial help.
Unlike many large or membership organisations, all of our work is finances my a small number of donations.
Neither do we employ any campaign workers.
So all of our income goes directly in to the work we are engaged upon.
We are currently working upon putting together our campaign budget in order to produce a financial appeal.
This will be published within the next couple of months.
In the Meanwhile.
We are appealing for money so that we can get out to hold more events, and cover our ongoing expenses.
– Environmental Working Group (AKU) Gronau – SOFA (Immediate Nuclear Abandonment) Münster – Federal Association of Citizens’ Initiatives for Environmental Protection (BBU)
Gronau/Münster, 9 March 2022
Urenco cancels Russia contract for uranium waste
– Reaction to protests and EU sanctions
But: Uranium for Ukraine continues despite war Urenco is supplier of enriched uranium
In reaction to the protests of anti-nuclear initiatives and environmental associations and in view of tightened EU sanctions, the Gronau-based uranium enricher Urenco informed the Westfälische Nachrichten yesterday that it had terminated its contract with the Russian nuclear industry. This means that uranium waste will now no longer be exported from Gronau to Russia. As this has so far been the main route for the disposal of waste residues from the Gronau uranium enrichment plant, Urenco spokesman Chris Breuer spoke of “considerable consequences” for his company. German, Russian and Dutch anti-nuclear initiatives had protested foryears against the irresponsible uranium waste exports. Urenco has now announced an earlier commissioning of the uranium oxide uranium waste storage hall in Gronau, built in 2014.
“We of course welcome the overdue stop of the Russian business at Urenco. But it is very sad that it took a Russian war of aggression in Ukraine to get the Gronau uranium enricher to act. We continue to demand a general stop of uranium exports – enriched uranium has no future for a peaceful and renewableenergy world and dramatically aggravates military conflicts,” says Matthias Eickhoff of Aktionsbündnis Münsterland gegen Atomanlagen.
Very worrying, therefore, is yesterday’s announcement by Urenco that it will continue to provide “assistance” to the supplied nuclear power plants in Ukraine. How this is supposed to be possible in the midst of war, Russian attacks and military occupation is completely unclear. Urenco must completely rethink its own business policy – nuclear power is not the solution, but part of the problem. That is why anti-nuclear and peace initiatives are also demanding the shutdown of the Gronau uranium plant.
For several years, the German-Dutch-British uranium enricher Urenco has been supplying Ukraine with enriched uranium. This is then processed into fuel elements by the US company Westinghouse in Västeras, Sweden, and sent from there to Ukraine. The most recent export licenses for enriched uranium from Gronau to the Swedish fuel element factory were issued on 1 February 2022 and 2 December 2021, according to the export list of the Federal Environment Ministry.
Short News Items
Desert Island Risks
Anyone who knows anything about Sizewell, or has studied the OS map of the area, knows that it will become an island as a result of global warming and rising tides. So the proposal to build new reactors at the site can only be described as totally irresponsible in so many ways.
Environment Agency’s outrageous fee hike ‘pours cold water’ on future small hydro schemes in England
Mistaken Plans
On March 24th URENCO took part in a meeting with the UK government and the following nukiller power companies: – Aviva Investors, Balfour Beatty, Bechtel Group, EDF Energy, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, L&G, Mace, (UK) NuclearAdvanced Manufacturing Research Centre, Nuclear Power Jacobs, NuScale, Rolls-Royce, Rothesay Life, and Westinghouse Electric.
The subject of this gathering was how to accelerate nukiller energy projects.
DRS Haul 1,000 tonnes of waste to Drigg
‘The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority trumpet their latest “success” – the dumping of more than 1000 tonnes of steel drums filled with nuclear wast at the “Low Level Waste Repository in Drigg, Cumbria – from the redundant Magnox site at Winfrith, Dorset.”
DRS Updates
Flask Movements
On March 3rd a single flask was taken from Crewe to Sizewell and back again.
This was one of the yearly movements which rail companies use in order to maintain an allocated railway route.
CCC Finances and Future Activities
We now have reached a stage in our campaigning at which there is an increasing amount of work which needs to be done over the next year or so.
This work is still falling upon a very small number of activists, especially in Cumbria and the Nukiller North West.
It is all manageable to do, but we do need more people to help support our work.
Thus we will be doing a review of how to forward our campaigning work and how to finance it all over the coming months.
In the meanwhile we are still looking to find more people who can help promote our work in a number of locations, and specifically at Chester, Ellesmere Port, Preston, and all those towns where DRS nukiller waste flasks go through.
We also need more donations in order to promote our work, and in order to engage in much more public education on the dangers posed by the nukiller power industry.
On March 4th it was 52 years since the founding of URENCO with Treaty of Almelo.
Aside from rereading out previous statements about our opossition to URENCO we read out the following new one from Radiation Free Lakeland
‘ Radiation Free Lakeland stand in solidarity with Close Capenhurst and would like to thank the Close Capenhurst campaigners for representing all of us who are impacted by the nuclear waste industry from its obscene beginnings in uranium mining to its ‘dangerous to all life on earth’ end product which is long lived nuclear wastes. We have long been concerned about the exports of Uranium Hexafluoride from URENCO Capenhurst (and Springfields) to Russia and other countries, one mans nuclear waste is another mans nuclear weapon.
In Cumbria we are being asked to “look again” at the dumping of High Level Nuclear wastes in our flawed and complex geology – this time even the subsea area is on the table including the Irish Sea area either side of the controversial coal mine plan.
Incredibly the coal mine boss Mark Kirkbride is giving the UK government advice on costings – not only on the digging of very deep holes for Geological Disposal of High level Nuclear wastes but also on the digging of not so deep holes for Near Surface Disposal of Intermediate Level Nuclear Wastes.
We have set up a new campaign to fight these plans called Lakes Against Nuclear Dump and we are calling for the dumping of nuclear wastes to cease – everywhere! The first step is to Just Stop Nuclear.’
A few days ago – still after the beginning of the war – Urenco wanted to use the Russian nuclear freighter “Mikhail Dudin” to bring depleted uranium waste from the British uranium enrichment plant Capenhurst to Russia for final storage. The deal apparently fell through at the last minute after protests from Germany and the Netherlands. A Dutch Urenco spokeswoman told the newspaper Tubantia that Urenco would “of course” comply with EU, UK and US sanctions. But does this about-face also apply to uranium waste transports from Gronau to Russia?
Uranium enriched in Gronau in Münsterland is probably also being used in the fiercely contested nuclear power plants in Ukraine. This is the fear of anti-nuclear initiatives, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate IPPNW and the Federal Association of Citizens’ Initiatives for Environmental Protection (BBU). They therefore demand that the German government immediately stop the delivery of uranium from Gronau and of fuel elements from Lingen to Russia and Ukraine. This also means a binding end to uranium waste exports from Gronau to Russia.
For several years, the German-Dutch-British uranium enricher Urenco has been Ukraine’s main supplier of enriched uranium. This is then processed into fuel elements by the US company Westinghouse in Västeras, Sweden, from where it is exported to Ukraine. According to the export list of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, the most recent export licences for enriched uranium from Gronau to the Swedish fuel element factory were issued on 1 February 2022 and 2 December 2021.
The transports from Gronau to Russia were stopped for a couple of years, but take place constantly nowadays.
On March 4th it will be 52 years since the founding of URENCO with Treaty of Almelo.
When the 50th anniversary of the treaty occurred in 2020 we stated that was nothing to celebrate.
We will be going back to the Capenhurst plant at 14.00. on March 4th to repeat this statement.
Short news updates
Civil Nukiller Police
Following a Subject Data Access request it has been revealed (amongst other things) that Radioactive Waste Management has given false information to the police/Civil Nuclear Constabulary about the founder of Radiation Free Lakeland
DRS continues to try to kid us all that they are concerned about the environment. It is all a part of the nukiller greenwashing which we are all so depressingly familiar with,
Here is just one example from the DRS Website: –
‘Nuclear Transport Solutions’ rail division has launched a new locomotive design at this year’s Low Carbon Logistics event in Mossend, Scotland.’
Flask Movements.
On January 7th Hunterston B stopped producing electricity having first done so in 1976, and following 8 years of construction.
Now the process of what is known as defuelling has became, and so DRS will be taking the highly radioactive used fuel rods to Windscale / Sellafield for the next three years.
Award Short listing
We are now starting to compile short list for the 2022 George Monbiot Nukiller Greenwash award.
As you will be aware, the award is named after the influential journalist George Monbiot, who mistakenly believes that Nuclear power is the solution to the Global climate change crisis.
So far we have added Drigg and Copeland Council to the short list, but will add more during the year