Nuclear spin

Welcome to NuclearSpin The Covert Pro-Nuclear Push in Schools As the British Government announces the go-ahead for a new generation of nuclear power plants in the UK, Nuclear Spin reveals the pro-nuclear covert campaign underway in British schools. For example, in 2006, the national curriculum was changed so that it became compulsory for schools to teach all 14-16 year olds about nuclear power. The move was largely sparked by a report for the Department for Trade and Industry written by the Nuclear Skills Group, made up of Government officials and a panel of six ‘independent members’. In the report only one, Paul Thomas, was said to be working for BNFL. But NuclearSpin has discovered that two more members were also working for BNFL. One of the nuclear industry’s largest education projects is called Energy Foresight, run by Young Foresight, which in turn has been paid hundreds of thousands of pounds by nuclear organisations to develop a set of teaching materials “that present radioactivity and related issues in personal and social contexts.” Energy Foresight’s material’s have been criticized by independent nuclear consultant John Large as “a blatant piece of propaganda… it misleads”. For more on this go [here]. Background 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”. [1] [2] What makes Brown's decision in January 2008 to give the goahead to a new generation of nuclear plants politically sensitive is that his younger brother Andrew Brown works for EDF Energy, the UK subsidiary of EDF, which is one of the leading companies pushing for a nuclear rebuild programme in the UK. The Labour Government is also speeding up the planning process, making it easier for nuclear power plants to be built. Planning Minister, Yvette Cooper has already had to fight off criticism of "nuclear cronyism" due to her father's links to the nuclear industry too. To help people make up their own mind about nuclear power, NuclearSpin has been updated and expanded. There are new sections on countries and regions, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, the EU, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom and United States; Within these sections you will find details on the lobby groups and pronuclear MEPs in Brussels, including British MEP John Purvis, who is a director of a company with significant investments in nuclear. You can read about the Italian company, Enel, still 30% owned by the Italian Government, (in a country which voted to close down its reactors in 1987) which is now trying to build new nuclear reactors in Slovakia. Or find out how German companies are trying to undermine the nuclear phase out agreement. Or find out more information on companies like Iberdrola, which has recently taken over Scottish Power and likes to present itself as a renewable energy company. Find out how French Government-owned EDF is expanding its pro-nuclear tentacles around the globe, and Vattenfall – wholly owned by the Swedish State, which is meant to be phasing out nuclear power – is heavily involved in the industry battle to undermine Germany’s phase-out of nuclear power. Hugely expanded profiles on pro-nuclear organisations and lobby groups. Some of these are out to confuse you with “eco”-sounding names such as the African American Environmentalist Association and the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition. Or learn how some of these groups such as the Nuclear Energy Institute ghost opinion pieces for local academics to sign and publish in regional newspapers across the country. A new Analysis section, including “Why Nuclear is not the Answer to Climate Change.” New Freedom of Information requests in key areas on the nuclear push in schools, the Franco-British Nuclear Forum, the "intimate" relationship between Jamie Reed MP and BNFL, and secret meetings between Number 10’s advisor, Geoffrey Norris and the World Nuclear Association. We hope you will find the site useful and informative. We think you will discover that a better understanding of what is going on globally will help you understand what pro-nuclear spin doctors are up to in your country.

NuclearSpin Categories Analysis Individuals Organisations Countries Companies PR, Lobbying and Consultancy firms NuclearSpin in the News So far NuclearSpin or documents from the website have been covered in/on: The Guardian, May 03, 2006; The Guardian, May 24, 2006; The Guardian, June 7, 2006; The Sunday Herald; May 14, 2006; The Sunday Times; May 7, 2006; Open Democracy; May 18, 2006; BBC Newsnight Scotland, May 17 2006; Private Eye, No. 1159, 26 May - 8 June 2006 WhiteHaven News, June 22, 2006. BBC Newsnight, July 5, 2006. Scoop, July 7, 2006. BBC News Online, July 10, 2006. The Guardian July 11, 2006. The Guardian, July 17, 2006. Public Affairs News, October, 2006 Variant, Number 28, Spring 2007 What's New Nuclear power is the least popular energy source among European Union citizens, according to new research. A special report from Eurobarometer, the public opinion analysis arm of the European Commission, concludes that “EU citizens are most in favour of renewable energy sources while nuclear energy is opposed by many”. Of 24,815 EU citizens interviewed in 25 countries, only one in five said they were in favour of nuclear power, while one in three (39 per cent) expressed strong opposition. The report says: “Nuclear energy provokes the most opposition among EU citizens." To read more, click here (pdf file). The Financial Times reported on February 19, 2007, that Rolf Linkohr, who has been advising Andris Piebalgs, the European energy commissioner, had his contract terminated because he failed to clarify there was no conflict of interest between this role, and his role as a pro-nuclear lobbyist. The sacking came after a campaign by Corporate Europe Observatory. Check out the new video section on SpinWatch including one on the dangers of civil nuclear power featuring David Lochbaum from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Also a coalition of groups in the US called Grass Roots Action Center for the Environment (GRACE) has launched a report called False Promises: Debunking Nuclear Industry Propaganda this is a compelling exposé of the nuclear industry propaganda. Other Nuke News Get the latest news on the Nuclear push at the Spinwatch site