press releases

Greenpeace tour ends in Cambridge with message for government

The clear majority of people in East Anglia want to see more wind turbines at sea and no new nuclear power stations, according to the latest MORI poll. The results will be presented to government representatives when a Greenpeace tour of the region ends in Cambridge today (16.08.02).

Commenting on the Environment Agency's Proposals (1) for Future Sellafield Regulation, Greenpeace today described them as grossly inadequate. Greenpeace campaigner, Pete Roche, said, "Despite all the talk of significant reductions in discharge limits, the actual radioactivity going into the Irish Sea and our atmosphere is likely to double over the next few years".

Further evidence that biotechnology companies are unable to manage the release of genetically modified (GM) crops in the UK came to light today when Aventis admitted significant contamination of oilseed rape trials in England and Scotland. The GM crop, which is resistant to the herbicide Liberty, was also found to contain marker genes conferring resistance to the antibiotics neomycin and kanamycin, and makes up 2.8% of the total crop that Aventis has tested in the UK since 1999.

Greenpeace said today that the closure of British Energy's nuclear plant at Torness because of a fault in its reactor cooling system was further evidence that nuclear power is not only dangerous but is a technology that can't be relied on to deliver the UK's electricity.

Greenpeace nuclear campaigner Emma Gibson said,

Greenpeace has launched a touring exhibition of photographs of Bhopal by world renowned Magnum photographer, Raghu Rai (1).

'Exposure: portrait of a corporate crime' offers a unique insight into the human and environmental tragedy that has engulfed the Indian city since December 1984, when an explosion at Union Carbide s pesticide plant released lethal gases into the city, causing the world's worst industrial disaster.

Greenpeace today welcomed the news that the Government has given the go-ahead for the UK's largest wind farm out at sea. The North Hoyle project which will be built off the North Wales coast by National Wind Power, will generate clean electricity for people who have signed up to "Juice" - the UK's first non-premium truly green domestic electricity product. "Juice" was launched last year by electricity provider npower and Greenpeace.

Greenpeace projects '72% say no' on Sizewell nuclear reactor

Nearly three-quarters of the British public would rather their electricity came from renewable energy like wind, wave and solar power than from nuclear plants. In a national MORI poll commissioned by Greenpeace 72% said they preferred renewable energy to the nuclear option (cost being similar). The poll also found that 41% of the public would be less likely to vote for a political party if it supported nuclear power (1).

The world's most famous environmental group will descend on Kings Lynn today (Tuesday) as Greenpeace urges locals to back a new plan to build thousands of wind turbines off the coast of East Anglia.

Greenpeace said today it would welcome a proper debate on GM crops but that there were major doubts over the Government's political and financial commitment to a serious public consultation.

Greenpeace GM campaigner Ben Ayliffe said,

"It would be great to have a real debate on GM food but the Government must reveal whether the future of GM is really up for discussion? Margaret Beckett must say whether or not the Government would be willing to ban GM crops in the UK following the outcome of this debate. Unless this happens, the debate is pointless."