Nuclear still safer than any alternatives

WE see the “environmentalists” are eager to talk about the Japanese catastrophe.

Not the earthquake and tsunami which has killed more than 2,000 people, probably far more, but the consequent failure of two reactors which have caused neither death not injury to anybody.

This disproportionate coverage of anything with the magic word “nuclear” is normal across our media.

For example, compare the coverage of Chernobyl, where a total of 56 people died with that of the Ufa train disaster also in the dying days of the USSR, where over 500 people died.

Both were equally the result of incompetent management, but the latter, though 10 times worse, was never “newsworthy” because no nuclear “black magic” was involved.

The fact is that nuclear power safer than any other comparable industrial process.

For example, in the last 20 years, two people have died in one nuclear accident in an industry that produces 20 per cent of the world’s electricity, whereas over 50 have died falling from wind turbines, in a subsidy driven “industry” that produces under 0.1 per cent.

I don’t know if the earthquake has caused any Japanese windmills to fail – because I do know that if it has happened it would not be “newsworthy.”

What the anti-technology crowd won’t say is that, when disasters strike, far and away the most important factor in saving lives is having an advanced technology.

If the “greens” really cared about human wellbeing they would enthusiastically support every instance of human progress, including more (CO2 free) nuclear power.

Time to stop supermarkets

From: Bob Watson, Springfield Road, Baildon, Shipley, West Yorkshire.

THE excellent letter from Kathleen Calvert (Yorkshire Post, March 10) highlighted, once again, the unacceptable pressures placed on our farmers by the now over-powerful supermarkets.

Whatever these businesses have to say, there can be no doubt that they are much more concerned about increasing their already substantial profits rather than ensuring that our farmers see an acceptable return for their massive efforts on all our behalf. This really has to change.

These same supermarkets are now expanding into convenience stores, which will further decimate local businesses in our town and village centres, and change the faces of those same centres forever.

It really is now time for the Government to put a stop to this ongoing expansion by the supermarkets, with a presumption against new store openings unless they are approved by a majority of the local community.

If action is not taken soon, then those greedy supermarkets will eventually destroy so many other businesses and virtually take over entirely. Perhaps that is their hidden agenda already?

Wasted money at universities

From: Paul Rouse, Main Street, Sutton upon Derwent, York.

I DIDN’T get, nor did I need, a university education, but I fully support those who want one, and feel that it should be readily available at taxpayers’ expense.

However, I think our protesting students should look more closely at the way their universities are spending taxpayers’ money, and if those activities might have something to do with why they need to impose tuition fees.

For example, an article on the new pavilion at Headingley (Yorkshire Post, March 5) stated that it was built using £14m provided by Leeds Metropolitan University. If this was provided as ‘sponsorship’, and I suspect that it was, it’s a colossal waste of money – and I speak as someone who has over the years spent millions on sponsorship – and, I believe, irrelevant.

Obviously, some of our universities have been allowed to indulge in activities that they know nothing about, and which have nothing whatsoever to do with providing our youth with a higher education.

Save our jewel in crown

From: Janice Scanlon, Voluntary Publicity Officer, Friends of Clarke Hall, Sandal.

Wakefield Council has confirmed that the main source of funding for 17th century Clarke Hall, this popular living history museum, runs out on April 1.

The Friends of Clarke Hall have already had one meeting with the council to discuss other options to try and secure its future.

Built in 1680, Clarke Hall was once the home of the Clarke family.

Benjamin Clarke was steward to the Duke of Norfolk. Since the 1960s, the Grade 11 listed building has been used as an education centre and is a regular feature in school’s calendars throughout the whole of Yorkshire and beyond.

It is regarded as ‘the jewel in the crown’ for Wakefield Council. There are very few places in the whole of the country where children can learn and become part of ‘living history’.

Sense over farm policy

From: Gordon Bray, Grange Road, Golcar, Huddersfield.

PROFESSOR Sir John Beddington talks a lot of sense when he advocates that British farmers should be encouraged to produce as much food as possible with the land available in order to feed an ever growing population (Yorkshire Post, March 11).

If that is the case, and your Editorial seems to bear this out, can anyone tell me why farmers are being encouraged to grow willow coppice for burning in our power stations and why we are spending millions of pounds on building a plant to convert wheat into fuel for our cars? It just does not make any sense.