reports

Summary

Whilst the Finnish government tries to assure the world that it upholds principles of sustainable forest management and forest protection, it continues to launder illegally and unsustainably logged Russian timber through its border into the European market and beyond.

Between June and August 2006, Greenpeace documented widespread illegal logging in the Russian Karelian Republic and the subsequent transport of illegally logged timber into Finalnd.

Summary

Genetically engineered rice, unapproved for human consumption, has been found in food products in France, Germany and the UK. This is in itself a cause for concern but when the strain of illegal GE rice is an experimental one that contains a toxin with potential allergenicity to the public, then this is truly alarming for a staple food that feeds half the world's population.

In this issue:

The UK timber trade, Chinese sweatshops and Malaysian robber barons in Papua New Guinea's rainforests

Summary

How the UK timber trade is helping to destroy the magnificent rainforests of Papua New Guinea, via the Chinese timber mills and Malaysian timber companies.

1. Britain’s new nuclear age?
2. Lib Dems say nuclear is too expensive
3. Environment Agency attacks Blair
4. Sustainable Energy: Tories to outflank Blair?
5. When does a carbon price become a hidden subsidy
6. EDM 2412: nuclear waste trains
7. Scotland leads dash for renewables
8. Terrorism fears over new reactors
9. Radioactive waste report not a ‘green light’
10. Electricity is not the same as energy.
11. Nuclear decommissioning – Caithness-style
12. Uranium – is there enough?
13. Micropower and the law

Summary

The European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is intended to allow the EU member states reduce their CO2 emissions in the most cost effective way and in doing so fulfil their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. The scheme covers nearly half of Europe's CO2 emissions, and is seen as a key plank of both European and member states policy to tackle climate change.

In this issue:

Summary

In May 2006, CoRWM released its draft recommendations (PDF) on the management of radioactive wastes. The committee, which was set up by the government to find a long-term management plan for nuclear waste, concluded that the best available approach is "geological disposal" - more commonly called deep dumping.

In this issue:

A brief review of a confidential leaked EdF document

Summary

This is a brief review of a confidential EdF document that has been leaked to the public domain in France.

The EdF document relates to the projected performance of the AREVA designed Generation III EPR reactor. The first of this reactor type is presently being built at Olkiluoto in Finland and construction of a second EPR is expected to commence shortly at the established nuclear power station site at Flamanville in France.