15.06.10
Stop Nuclear Power Network protest outside the Nuclear Industry ForumProtests accompanied the opening of the Nuclear Industry Forum Conference this morning, a two-day event that sees talks from top executives in nuclear power.
The London Stop Nuclear Power Network (SNPN) are attending the conference to voice their concerns about nuclear expansion in Britain.
Dan Viesnik from the group said: "We’re here in Westminster, because the Nuclear Industry Forum is taking place, so all the big nuclear companies and political groups associated with nuclear and the minister for energy will be here…We’re opposed to nuclear power for a whole range or reasons, not least because we don’t believe nuclear power is a solution to climate change."
Dressed in protective clothing, gas masks and hard hats, the protestors displayed banners with the message "Green our future, No to nuclear" and hand out their organisations newspaper to attendees of the conference and passers-by.
Speakers at this year’s conference will include, Charles Hendry, Minister for Energy, representatives from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the Environment Agency and representatives from energy companies including EDF, Centrica and Horizon Nuclear.
MarketForce, who organise the conference, say it helps to "critically addresses a wide range of key topics from siting and financing issues for new build to overcoming regulatory challenges for decommissioning."
However, SNPN, would much rather see time invested into renewable energy sources. One protestor, Shaun Brown, said: "Money is going to be invested into nuclear energy and is going to be taken away from the renewable technologies when lots more advancement needs to be made in them."
The Nuclear Industry Forum continues tomorrow.