The origin of Britain's civil nuclear programme is closely linked with nuclear weapons. The first reactor - the "Windscale Piles" at Sellafield, began producing plutonium for nuclear weapons 1950. Britain's first commercial reactor - Calder Hall at Sellafield - was a dual-purpose reactor, with the main purpose being the production of plutionum for Britain's nuclear weapons. The same applies to the second commercial reactor at Chapelcross.
Later reactors were primarily built for the production of electricity, and in April 1995 the UK Government announced that all production of plutonium for weapons purposes had ceased.
At its peak in 1997, about 26% of Britain's electricity was generated by nuclear power. This has now gone down to less than 20%, and only 16% in 2009.
At present, the government wants to build new nuclear power stations at eight sites - all of which are existing nuclear sites. However, opposition to nuclear power is again growing. This website provides information for the growing anti nuclear power movement in Britain, with a special focus on nonviolent direct action against nuclear power.
Recent posts
29 Aug 2006 - 00:00
The gates to Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station are currently being blockaded by a group of seven climate change campaigners.
This morning at 8am seven people blocked the entrance to the nuclear plant by locking themselves together across the gate with steel arm tubes.
A banner outside the gates reads "No More" (with the o's being nuclear symbols) - in reference to the Governments plans for a new generation of nuclear power stations.
1 May 2006 - 00:00
The report “The Chernobyl Catastrophe Consequences on Human Health” presents the most up to date information concerning health impacts of the biggest technological catastrophe. The report is based on publications (including those in languages other then English – Ukrainian, Russian, Belarussian) presented by well-known scientists, many of whom have been working on Chernobyl health related issues since 1986-1988.
1 Apr 2006 - 00:00
The links between nuclear power and nuclear weapons go back to the very beginning of the development of atomic energy. Over time the nature and strength of these links have varied.
5 Mar 2006 - 01:00
Prepared as the SDC's input to the UK Government's 2006 Energy Review, The role of nuclear power in a low carbon economy draws together the most comprehensive evidence base available to find that there is no justification for bringing forward a new nuclear programme at the present time.
25 Jul 2005 - 00:00
A report by Greenpeace UK, July 2005
Britain's homes and workplaces would become mini-power stations generating huge amounts of electricity and making the UK the leading nation in the fight against climate change, if the vision laid out in a new report becomes reality.
The current, outdated electricity system is so inefficient that two-thirds of the energy in the fuel is wasted before it gets used at homes and workplaces, according to the report released today by Greenpeace.
1 Jan 2001 - 01:00
The nuclear industry is trying to promote itself as the answer to climate change. Yet, at the recent Climate Conference in the Hague, even the United States had given up supporting nuclear power. If Scotland were to build another nuclear station the costs would mean we would not invest in renewables, we would lose our world lead in wave power technology and we would leave even more nuclear waste for future generations to deal with.
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