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The Government says we need to build a new generation of Nuclear Power Stations.ÌýÌý Once again Nuclear power is being put forward as the answer to our energy crisis.

The Government admits that new reactors are unlikely to be ready much before 2020, and would make a significant contribution up to 2050.Ìý The notion that Nuclear Power's contribution is essential if we are to tackle climate change has been under attack around the world.

An Austrian government report says a new reactor building programme would come in too late to contribute significantly towards solving climate change. Energy efficiency measures and alternative energies were proposed as superior both ecologically and economically.

Nuclear waste is still one of the biggest problems faced by the nuclear industry; recent suggestions that deep geological disposal would be the answer are seen by the majority as being problematic.

The red spots cover the control rods.

Even if society agrees with the principal of deep geological disposal, a nuclear dump site is expected to take up to five years to identify, with 15-20 years before any construction work starts and possibly 30 years before the first waste is transported there. Communities on 'ANY' shortlist of sites could expect generous "community benefit packages", described by opponents of nuclear dumping as "bribes".Ìý Ask yourself this question, would you want a deep geological dump on your doorstep?Ìý If the answer is NO - why would you inflict one on someone else's doorstep?

Nuclear Accidents do happen, as I write (in September 2007) it has been a troubled two months for the Nuclear Industry around the world. An earthquake in Japan and two fires at Nuclear facilities in Germany have both reminded the public of the potential for accidents.

Government tells us new build will be funded and run by private business, can we rely on organisations with the soul aim of profit to be 100% diligent regarding our safety?

We can lull ourselves into a false sense of security; however, the fact that there has not been a major accident recently does not mean that it will never happen again. Every year there are thousands of incidents, occurrences and events in nuclear installations and, simply because there was no catastrophic radioactive leakage, the world reacts as if there was no problem.

The Scotsman newspaper reported this year that Ìýa review of several studies has concluded rates of leukaemia are higher in children and young people living near nuclear plants.

Energy efficiency and renewable energy I believe are the way forward, all we need is the political will to make it happen.ÌýÌý One final thought, the Stone Age did not end because they ran out of stone; it ended because they found something better.Ìý We could findÌý twenty first century solutions to our energy crisis.Ìý Future generations will thank us for taking that step.Ìý Will they thank us if we leave them with a nuclear legacy?