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== Welcome==
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'Welcome to '''NuclearSpin''', a website that tracks the companies, people and organisations behind the campaign to build new nuclear power stations in the UK and worldwide.
  
== NuclearSpin==
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It aims to give you information on who is influencing the debate about nuclear energy, and the tactics that they use to persuade the public we need more nuclear power.[[File:HinkleyC z CCSA.jpg‎|525px|left|thumb|Hinkley Point C in Somerset, England. Source: Flickr/CCSA]]
  
Welcome to NuclearSpin. In the current economic climate are you worried about how the nuclear industry and governments may try and spin the finances for new power stations? Will you end up paying for new nuclear power plants? Where are the new sites going to be built in the UK? What about the waste? Where will it be stored? Will it be secure? All these issues have not yet been resolved, yet the British government is pushing ahead with a new generation of nuclear power plants.
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==Become a contributor==
  
Throughout 2012 we will be updating this portal and all its associated pages, the bulk of which were developed in 2008-09. If you'd like to help us by becoming a Powerbase contributor, please email the managing editor melissa.jones@powerbase.info
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'''NuclearSpin''' is a free encyclopedia, written collaboratively by a wide variety of volunteers and independent researchers, and is part of [http://www.powerbase.info Powerbase].
  
==Briefings archive==
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If you'd like to help us expand and update our '''NuclearSpin''' site, '''please email our [[User:Melissa Jones|editor]] Melissa Jones'''. All contributions, big or small are welcome.
To help people understand key issues on nuclear power, NuclearSpin in 2009 wrote a [[Nuclear spin briefings archive|series of in-depth analysis pieces]] on key issues surrounding the debate concerning building new nuclear power plants in the UK. We will be updating these briefings and associated pages in 2012.
 
  
=== Exclusive: Government Department Secretly Discussed Going Pro-Nuclear ===
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==About us==
 +
'''NuclearSpin''' was set up in 2006 to track a massive lobbying campaign launched by the nuclear industry. In that same year, the British Government began a public consultation which raised the possibility for the first time in many years that new nuclear power stations could be built.
  
The Nuclear Decommissioning Agency, the Government department in charge of overseeing Britain’s nuclear legacy, secretly discussed making the controversial decision of actively promoting a new generation of nuclear power plants, even though the Agency is meant to be completely neutral. [http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Nuclear_Decommissioning_Authority#NDA_Secretly_Discussed_Going_Pro-Nuclear Read the whole story.]
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Even though the High Court ruled in 2007 that the Government’s consultation was "misleading, seriously flawed, manifestly inadequate and procedurally unfair", and its plans to build a new generation of nuclear power stations were "unlawful", Ministers still pushed ahead.<ref> Deborah Summers, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/nuclear/article/0,,2013618,00.html Government loses nuclear power case], ''The Guardian'', 15 February 2007, </ref> <ref> BBC News, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6364281.stm Nuclear Review "Was Misleading"], 15 February 2007, </ref>
  
===Exclusive: Nuclear Civil Servants Wined and Dined by Industry===
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'''NuclearSpin''' showed how the Labour Government [http://www.nuclearpolicy.info/docs/nuclearmonitor/NNM14.pdf helped the nuclear industry] and documented the close links between nuclear insiders and powerful politicians, such as Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]] and Planning Minister [[Yvette Cooper]].
  
Senior civil servants from the Office for Nuclear Development the government department set up to facilitate the building of nuclear power plants, were wined and dined at some of London’s most prestigious restaurants by companies with a vested interest in nuclear.  [http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Office_for_Nuclear_Development#Living_the_high_life See full story].
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In 2008, the site was expanded to look at the industry campaign for new nuclear in other countries, expose [[The Secret Pro-Nuclear Push In British Schools]] and explain why [[Nuclear is not the Answer to Climate Change]].  
  
== Background ==
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Nuclear power is now central to the British government’s plans for future energy. But our politicians are not being straight with us about the cost of nuclear power or its safety.
  
NuclearSpin was originally launched in response to the British Government's 12-week consultation on energy in 2006. In 2007, the High Court ruled that the government's plans to build a new generation of nuclear power stations were "unlawful" and the way it consulted with the public over the decision was "misleading, seriously flawed, manifestly inadequate and procedurally unfair".<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/nuclear/article/0,,2013618,00.html][http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6364281.stm] </ref>
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For example, the coalition agreement between the [[Conservatives]] and [[Liberal Democrats]] in May 2010 said there would no public subsidies for nuclear – but the Government is now discussing “contracts guaranteeing subsidies for up to 40 years”.<ref> Juliette Jowit, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/feb/18/nuclear-power-ministers-reactor Nuclear power: ministers offer reactor deal until 2050], ‘’The Guardian’’, 18 February 2013</ref> We explore this in our 2012 briefing paper [[Media:NuclearSubsidies_SpinWatch_briefing_May_2012.pdf|Broken Promises: Subsiding the Nuclear Industry]].
  
What made [[Gordon Brown]]'s decision in January 2008 to give the go-ahead to a new generation of nuclear plants politically sensitive was his younger brother [[Andrew Brown]]'s role as director of communications with [[EDF Energy]], the UK subsidiary of [[EDF]] and one of the leading companies pushing for a nuclear rebuild programme in the UK.
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The Government also colluded with the [[Nuclear Industry Association]] to play down the safety implications of the nuclear accident at [[Fukushima]] in Japan in 2011.  
 
 
The Labour Government also sped up the planning process, making it easier for nuclear power plants to be built. Planning Minister [[Yvette Cooper]] was criticised for her "nuclear cronyism" due to her father's links to the nuclear industry.
 
 
 
For a full briefing on the so-called 'facilitative actions' which the Government is carried out to speed up nuclear developments see [http://www.nuclearpolicy.info/docs/nuclearmonitor/NNM14.pdf New Nuclear Monitor No.14 (pdf)]
 
 
 
To help people make up their own mind about nuclear power, NuclearSpin was last updated and expanded in 2008/09 with the following information:
 
 
 
* New sections on countries and regions, including [[Nuclear: Australia|Australia]], [[Nuclear: Belgium|Belgium]], [[Nuclear: Canada|Canada]], the [[Nuclear: EU|EU]], [[Nuclear: Finland|Finland]], [[Nuclear: France|France]], [[Nuclear: Germany|Germany]], [[Nuclear: Japan|Japan]], [[Nuclear: United Kingdom|United Kingdom]] and [[Nuclear: United States|United States]];
 
 
 
* Expanded profiles on pro-nuclear organisations and lobby groups.
 
 
 
* An analysis section, including Why [[Nuclear is not the Answer to Climate Change]] and [[The_Secret_Pro-Nuclear_Push_In_Schools]].
 
 
 
* NuclearSpin also worked with [http://www.sourcewatch.org Sourcewatch] to develop a [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Portal:Nuclear_Issues Nuclear Portal page]. Some articles and profiles have now been deleted from this NuclearSpin site and moved across to SourceWatch. Deleted pages include a redirect to the relevant Sourcewatch page.
 
 
 
We hope you find this site useful and informative. We think you will discover that a greater awareness of what is going on globally will help you understand what pro-nuclear spindoctors are up to in your country.
 
 
 
The editor of the Nuclear Spin portal is Andy Rowell: andy.rowell AT powerbase.info.
 
  
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In July 2012, the House of Commons [[Science and Technology Committee]] concluded that public does not trust the Government to tell the truth about nuclear. It said 'the Government's position as an advocate for nuclear power makes it difficult for the public to trust it as an impartial source of information'.<ref> Science and Technology Committee, [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmsctech/428/42805.htm Devil's bargain? Energy risks and the public], First Report, 9 July 2012 </ref>
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'''
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This site is designed to help you see through the nuclear spin'''.
 
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==NuclearSpin Categories==
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==NuclearSpin categories==
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[[File:Nuke power Flickr CCSA bagalute.jpg|right|225px|thumb|''Source:Flickr bagalute'']]
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*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Civil_nuclear_industry '''Industry''']
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*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Nuclear_PR%2C_lobbying_and_consultancy_firms '''PR, Lobbying and Consultancy firms''']
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*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Pro-nuclear_organisations '''Organisations''']
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*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Individuals_linked_to_the_push_for_nuclear '''Individuals''']
  
*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Nuclear_Analysis '''Analysis''']
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==NuclearSpin news==
*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Individuals_linked_to_the_push_for_nuclear '''Individuals''']
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{{Template:NuclearSpin}}
*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Pro-nuclear_organisations '''Organisations''']
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NuclearSpin investigations and documents from this website have been covered by:
*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php?title=Category:Nuclear_Spin:_Countries '''Countries''']  
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*Spinwatch, [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/5559-hinkley-a-huge-contribution-towards-yesterday-s-energy-thinking Hinkley: A huge contribution towards yesterday’s energy thinking], 28 October 2013
*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Civil_nuclear_industry '''Companies''']
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*Spinwatch, [http://spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/5542-ed-davey-s-nuclear-newspeak Ed Davey's nuclear Newspeak], Pete Roche, 17 September 2013
*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Nuclear_PR '''PR''']
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*Andy Rowell, [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/safety-fears-over-elite-police-officers-drunk-on-duty-at-uks-nuclear-sites-8675660.html Safety fears over elite police officers drunk on duty at UK’s nuclear sites], ''Independent'', 26 June 2013
*[http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Category:Nuclear_PR%2C_lobbying_and_consultancy_firms '''PR, Lobbying and Consultancy firms''']
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*''Spinwatch'' [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/blog/item/5514-how-the-lib-dems-help-edf-to-fleece-the-taxpayer How the Lib Dems help EDF to fleece the taxpayer], Pete Roche, 02 July 2013 
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*''Spinwatch'', [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/component/k2/item/5507-nuclear-costs-and-financesWould you spend £1 trillion to buy more nuclear waste?], Pete Roche, 24 June 2013
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*''Spinwatch'', [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/5481-nuclear-stealth-tax-will-kill-the-poor Nuclear stealth tax will kill the poor], Pete Roche, 26 March 2013
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*''The Independent'', [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/5478-nuclear-boss-wants-to-cut-family-fuel-aid Nuclear boss wants to cut family fuel aid], Andy Rowell and Richard Cookson, 17 March 2013
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*''The Guardian'', [http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/feb/20/rwe-npower-nuclear-subsidies-warning RWE boss warns over nuclear plant subsidies], Terry Macalister and Richard Cookson, 20 February 2013, which included information from a ''Spinwatch'' investigation into [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/5460-nuclear-industry-secondments-to-government-departments-responsible-for-policy-and-regulation Nuclear industry staff seconded to Government ministries], 22 Feb 2013 
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*''Spinwatch'', [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/5462-the-liberal-democrats-nuclear-tax-bombshell The Liberal Democrats' nuclear tax bombshell], Pete Roche, 20 February 2013
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*''The Guardian'', [http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/dec/26/sellafield-emergency-readiness-nuclear-watchdog Nuclear safety watchdog criticises Sellafield's emergency readiness], Terry Macalister and Richard Cookson, 26 December 2012 also posted on [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/5431-nuclear-safety-watchdog-criticises-sellafields-emergency-readiness Spinwatch], 27 December 2013
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*''Spinwatch'', [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/440-nuclear-hospitality-of-key-officials-exposed Nuclear Hospitality of Key Officials Exposed],  exclusive by Andy Rowell and Richard Cookson, 28 November 2012 (covered in [http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/nov/28/nuclear-lobbyists-senior-civil-servants ''The Guardian''])
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*''Spinwatch'', [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/318-big-energys-united-front-nuclear-ccs-and-renewables-lobbies-in-joint-push-for-diverse-energy-mix Big energy's united front: nuclear, CCS and renewables lobbies in joint push for "diverse energy mix"], Pete Roche, ''Spinwatch'', 8 November 2012 
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*[http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/439-is-the-government-about-to-start-lining-the-pockets-of-its-nuclear-friends the Government about to start lining the pockets of its nuclear friends?], Pete Roche, ''Spinwatch'', 24 October 2012
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*Rob Edwards, [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/438-police-trying-to-neuter-anti-nuclear-protest Police trying to neuter anti-nuclear protest], 2 October 2012
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*Pete Roche, [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/429-the-treasury-and-nuclear-power-if-they-arent-sane-how-can-we-trust-them-with-the-nations-finances The Treasury and Nuclear Power - if they aren't sane how can we trust them with the nation's finances?] 17 July 2012
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*Pete Roche, ''Spinwatch'' [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/437-when-is-a-subsidy-not-a-subsidy When is a Subsidy not a Subsidy?], 22 May 2012
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* ''Private Eye'' [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate?start=14 Waiving the rules to keep the nuclear power programme on course], Rob Edwards, 21 March 2012
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* ''Spinwatch'' [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/436-the-coalition-is-set-to-break-its-promise-on-nuclear The Coalition is set to break its promise on nuclear], 9 May 2012
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* Spinwatch, [http://www.spinwatch.org/index.php/issues/climate/item/434-a-year-after-fukushima-nuclear-lobby-has-brussels-in-its-grip A year after Fukushima, nuclear lobby has Brussels in its grip], 8 March 2012
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==Briefings==
 +
 
 +
To help people understand key issues, NuclearSpin publishes a series of briefings.
  
==NuclearSpin News==
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'''9 May 2012''': [[Media:NuclearSubsidies_SpinWatch_briefing_May_2012.pdf|Broken Promises: Subsiding the Nuclear Industry]]
 
 
NuclearSpin or documents from this website have been covered in:
 
* ''Private Eye'' [http://www.spinwatch.org/-articles-by-category-mainmenu-8/67-nuclear/5487-waiving-the-rules-to-keep-the-nuclear-power-programme-on-course Waiving the rules to keep the nuclear power programme on course], Rob Edwards, 21 March 2012
 
  
==Resources==
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Older briefings can be found in our [[Nuclear spin briefings archive|series of in-depth analysis pieces]].
 
   
 
   
'''Other Nuke News'''
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You can also search for other articles on the nuclear push at the [http://www.spinwatch.org/ Spinwatch] site.
 
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</td>
'''Get the latest news''' on the Nuclear push at the Spinwatch [http://www.spinwatch.org/ site]</td>
 
 
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==Notes==
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<references/>
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[[Category:Nuclear Spin]]

Latest revision as of 16:08, 6 April 2016

Welcome

'Welcome to NuclearSpin, a website that tracks the companies, people and organisations behind the campaign to build new nuclear power stations in the UK and worldwide.

It aims to give you information on who is influencing the debate about nuclear energy, and the tactics that they use to persuade the public we need more nuclear power.
Hinkley Point C in Somerset, England. Source: Flickr/CCSA

Become a contributor

NuclearSpin is a free encyclopedia, written collaboratively by a wide variety of volunteers and independent researchers, and is part of Powerbase.

If you'd like to help us expand and update our NuclearSpin site, please email our editor Melissa Jones. All contributions, big or small are welcome.

About us

NuclearSpin was set up in 2006 to track a massive lobbying campaign launched by the nuclear industry. In that same year, the British Government began a public consultation which raised the possibility for the first time in many years that new nuclear power stations could be built.

Even though the High Court ruled in 2007 that the Government’s consultation was "misleading, seriously flawed, manifestly inadequate and procedurally unfair", and its plans to build a new generation of nuclear power stations were "unlawful", Ministers still pushed ahead.[1] [2]

NuclearSpin showed how the Labour Government helped the nuclear industry and documented the close links between nuclear insiders and powerful politicians, such as Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper.

In 2008, the site was expanded to look at the industry campaign for new nuclear in other countries, expose The Secret Pro-Nuclear Push In British Schools and explain why Nuclear is not the Answer to Climate Change.

Nuclear power is now central to the British government’s plans for future energy. But our politicians are not being straight with us about the cost of nuclear power or its safety.

For example, the coalition agreement between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in May 2010 said there would no public subsidies for nuclear – but the Government is now discussing “contracts guaranteeing subsidies for up to 40 years”.[3] We explore this in our 2012 briefing paper Broken Promises: Subsiding the Nuclear Industry.

The Government also colluded with the Nuclear Industry Association to play down the safety implications of the nuclear accident at Fukushima in Japan in 2011.

In July 2012, the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee concluded that public does not trust the Government to tell the truth about nuclear. It said 'the Government's position as an advocate for nuclear power makes it difficult for the public to trust it as an impartial source of information'.[4] This site is designed to help you see through the nuclear spin.

NuclearSpin categories

Source:Flickr bagalute

NuclearSpin news

Nuclear spin.png This article is part of the Nuclear Spin project of Spinwatch.

NuclearSpin investigations and documents from this website have been covered by:

Briefings

To help people understand key issues, NuclearSpin publishes a series of briefings.

9 May 2012: Broken Promises: Subsiding the Nuclear Industry

Older briefings can be found in our series of in-depth analysis pieces.

You can also search for other articles on the nuclear push at the Spinwatch site.

Notes

  1. Deborah Summers, Government loses nuclear power case, The Guardian, 15 February 2007,
  2. BBC News, Nuclear Review "Was Misleading", 15 February 2007,
  3. Juliette Jowit, Nuclear power: ministers offer reactor deal until 2050, ‘’The Guardian’’, 18 February 2013
  4. Science and Technology Committee, Devil's bargain? Energy risks and the public, First Report, 9 July 2012