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Written by Sir Bernard Ingham
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Monday, 26 April 2004 |
SUPPORTERS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY(SONE) is a group of individuals of many different disciplines, interests and backgrounds. They have one objective:
To promote an informed debate about nuclear's place in global energy supply and how it can help power the world's economic development in a sustainable way.
SONE members believe that:
- Nuclear energy is a safe, reliable, economic and environmentally acceptable way of providing electricity.
- Nuclear energy is, on present knowledge, essential to the world’s continued development if serious climatic changes are to be avoided.
These beliefs are underpinned by three convictions:
- Nuclear energy must not only be safe but also seen to be safe and permitted to manage its waste properly.
- Nuclear energy must be able to compete on equal terms with other sources of energy while maintaining the highest levels of safety.
- Nuclear energy must be subject of an open and honest dialogue with the public.
We invite you to join us in promoting such a debate because the national interest requires a substantial nuclear contribution to an environmentally acceptable mix of energy supplies. Without secure energy supplies when they are needed, we cannot maintain our people in work, our prosperity or lifestyle or generate the resources needed to protect our environment.
Nuclear - mature technology for our energy future
After nearly 50 years’ experience in Britain of safe nuclear generation of electricity, we know that nuclear power can provide long term security for the nation.
We also know that expectations of the energy to be derived from renewable sources - wind, waves, tides, solar, hydropower etc - look ever more optimistic. So, too, do the savings to be secured from energy conservation, given the steady but relentless increase in electricity demand.
Nuclear is crucial to meeting Kyoto commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, nuclear generates more than a fifth of our electricity and so avoids the annual emission of some 50m tonnes of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas.
Greenhouse gas emissions in Britain have been rising over recent years - just as nuclear power stations are beginning to close on grounds of age. On present plans, nuclear’s contribution to British electricity supplies will have dwindled by the early 2020s from over 20% to a mere 3%.
An increasing number of distinguished organisations have highlighted the dangers of a decline in nuclear output - The Royal Society, The Royal Academy of Engineering and The Institution of Civil Engineers. Others are becoming concerned about the security of energy supplies if we are ever more reliant of imported natural gas.
For all these reasons SONE believes that the steady development of nuclear energy is the only way forward.
Find out more about SONE - click here to download the PDF
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A list of Officers of Supporters of Nuclear Energy.
Officers:
Chairman: Sir William McAlpine Bt FRSE
Secretary: Alexander Center
Treasurer: Terry Westmoreland
Committee: The above list plus:
Robert Armour
Neville Chamberlain CBE
Dr David Fishlock
Martin Morland CMG
Keith Parker
Mrs Ann Robinson
Professor J A Simmons
Paul Spare
Peter B Vey
Dr W L Wilkinson CBE FRS
Patrons:
Dr Gordon Adam
Sir Christopher Audland KCMG DL
Giles Chichester MEP
Lord Cunningham PC DL
Damon de Laszlo
John Edmonds
Lord Gregson DL
Professor Sir Frederick Holliday CBE FRSE
Lord Jordan of Bourneville CBE
Sir Gavin Laird CBE
Professor James Lovelock CH CBE FRS
Lord Maclennan of Rogart PC
Dr Denis MacShane MP
Lord Marsh of Mannington PC Kt
Lady McAlpine
The Hon Sir William McAlpine Bt FRSE
Lord Parkinson of Carnforth PC
Ann Robinson
Lord Taverne QC
Lord Tombs of Brailles Kt FREng
Lord Walker of Worcester PC MBE
Viscount Weir
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SONE is registered as a private limited company No. 3576562
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 14 July 2009 )
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