00'02
Despite their controversial nature, nuclear power plants could save our climate. You may find it astonishing, but experts have found that nuclear energy has the potential reduce Co2 emissions by 2.5 billion tons every year. Nuclear power is green power. At least, that is what the nuclear industry and the British government are telling us.
OT Insert Jamieson Reed, Labour MP (in English)
We rely on nuclear power for various reasons. Most importantly, we want to stop climate change. We need more power plants in less CO2 emissions.
00'34
K: The old kiln in the coming 15 years after off. To make the light on the island remains to be 10 new reactors are built.
A nonsense, says Nathan Argent from Greenpeace. Electricity generation already contributes little to CO2 emissions.
0.55 OT Insert Nathan Argent, Greenpeace (in English)
Should the government actually create the Besthende fleet with 10 new replacement reactors, our CO2 emissions would decrease by just 3.6 percent. If we are serious about achieving our goals on climate change, then we should be in the next 75 years every month, 4 new reactors built. That is impossible.
1.14
In the quiet village of Sizewell, 93 miles northeast of London, there are plans to build a new nuclear power station 2018. Sizewell A closed down one and a half years ago. Sizewell B is expected to provide electricity until 2035.
Although the power plants create jobs in the region, many of the village’s residents are not happy about plans to build a third reactor on the site. Opposition has been rallied by a citizen’s initiative outside a briefing organised by the power station operator, British Energy.
OT Insert Peter Rowberry, Citizens' initiative "Stop nuclear power station Sizewell C" (in English)
It is wrong to prevent pollution by any other pollution - and that is radioactive waste - should be replaced. We should not only talk about climate change, but mainly on sustainability.
OT Insert Bill Howard, Citizens' initiative "Stop nuclear power station Sizewell C" (in English)
I am against the legacy of nuclear technology, because of our grandchildren. And their grandchildren. And thousands of generations of grandchildren.
2.15
K: But the majority of Britons support a renaissance of nuclear energy, including this former Sizewell employee:
2.25 OT Insert: Terry Hodgson (in English)
I have long worked in the nuclear industry and knows how safe power plants are today. We need nuclear energy. We can not forever use of fossil fuels. We must rethink our strategy. Wind is a variant of our problems but not solve.
2.42 OT Insert: Pat Wallace (in English)
As a country we need the new power plant. But we want is not on our doorstep. We are in favour of nuclear energy, but not here.
2.51
K: After our visit to Sizewell we drive to Sellafield. The reprocessing plant here is a legacy to Britain’s radioactive history. However, it is far from environmentally friendly.
How to dispose of nuclear waste is a subject the industry prefers not to talk about.
No need for concern, says the Sellafield MP, Jamieson Reed – who sat on the government’s environmental committee for two years.
3.24 Insert OT Jamieson Reed, Labour MP (in English)
I am the third generation, in the nuclear industry at Sellafield has worked. I am a father three small children. If there were only the smallest signs of a risk, I would be the first politician who oppose nuclear industry would Felde. I talked to scientists. The unanimous opinion is that it is not the smallest clue is that Sellafield nuclear industry or any impact on health. The accusations against the nuclear power already strain our patience. Because they come again and again.
4.00
Near the plant nuclear pollution is fairly substantial.
The Geiger counter measures 300 Becquerels of radiation – about as much found in the area around Chernobyl today.
Janine Ali Smith is outraged by the way we are treating our environment.
Insert OT Janine Allis-Smith, Opponent atomic energy (in English)
Here are a tourist route, which have no idea. There are children who are playing here. People go for walks with their dogs and we all breathe. The people should at least warn.
4.37
K: Even the sheep are radiating.
Every day eight million litres of often radioactive pollutant flows into the sea.
4.46
OT Janine Allis-Smith (in English)
The effluent from Sellafield in the Irish Sea pumped. The say the radiation drift further into the Atlantic, but it comes back to the coast. The wind pushes them into the country and every day brings the flood herein.
5.07
K: The facilities of Sizewell lie on the Suffolk coast. Directly on the beach
For the locals, it seems quite normal to live in an area where in the near future there may be three nuclear power plants. This is Britain’s only pressurised water reactor. The cooling water is pumped out of the sea and piped back there again.
But doesn’t this cause problems for fishermen working here?
OT Fisherman (in English)
No, that is not risky. I am very much in favour. It is clean. For me makes no difference.
5.40
K: But do these supporters of nuclear power not think about Chernobyl?
OT Man on beach 2 (in English)
That was an accident. And accidents happen everywhere. Also by storms or other Wetterkapriolen. The power plant here? When a disaster happens, quite frankly, many would not know.
5.58
K: Nuclear power plants are normally built at remote locations. Surly a sign that the nuclear industry should take the hazard potential of their technologies seriously.
Allen Miller works in the huge nature reserve which borders the Sizewell reactor. He receives his salary from British Energy, the operator of the plant.
The wetland in Sizewell is an area of scientific interest and is considered to be of national importance. Not because of its proximity to nuclear power plant, but because it is Britain's largest bird sanctuary.
6.41
OT Insert Alan Miller, Suffolk Wildlife Park (in English)
Our priority is the natural protection. If it does not matter if there is a chocolate factory or a nuclear power plant. We care only about the protection of nature.
7.00
K: Upon closer examination, nuclear energy is not as green as its proponents may claim. The issue of disposal is far from resolved. What about the alternatives? Will increased investment in nuclear power inhibit the development of solar, wind and water resources.
OT Insert Jamieson Reed, Labour MP (in English)
There are private companies operating in energy generation projects to invest. They can decide themselves on what they want to invest. We have unprecedented high subsidies for renewable energies. The argument that more nuclear power renewable ousted is not entirely true.
7.35
K: The whole truth is different from how the Greenpeace animation shows:
7.42
Commentator (in English)
The government spends 13 billion for research and development of the atomic industry. In addition, 70 billion for the recycling of waste. On the other hand, one billion for research and development of renewable energy. Should we be surprised that the renewable little chance?
8.01
K: Nathan Argent isn’t surprised. Mainly because the opponents of new forms of energy are powerful, very powerful in fact.
OT Insert Nathan Argent, Greenpeace (in English)
The nuclear industry's afraid to lose control. They have the distribution network they have the generators. We want them to. If we want to have success in the fight against climate change, then we must outdated, centralized management system abolished. But the nuclear industry is struggling about its monopoly to keep the billions it deserves. Only therefore they have a PR campaign for climate protection. That was their lifeline.
08.45
K: And people in Britain? It would seem that they have bought into the nuclear industry’s green image – over half of the population supports a resurgence of nuclear power.
8.55
OT Old couple (in English)
No problem. You can tell people in Austria if they want to have nuclear power, we recommend them. Dear no wind turbines, which deface the landscape.
9.10 Insert final
Report: Patrick Hafner / Stefan Krobath
Collaboration: F. Reiterer
Camera: I. Friswell / T. Serpini
Editing: K. Bohland / E. Lazar
9.20 END