Background information

Last updated: 4 July 2007

Need general background about nuclear issues? Start here! This is a wide-ranging and reasonably balanced collection of links, some from independent sources, some from the nuclear industry, and some from anti-nuclear campaign groups. We've tried to label all the websites so you know which ones are pro and which are anti. But do try to read widely... and make up your own mind! Many thanks to people who have suggested additions.

Links are grouped into these categories:

• Introductions - from independent sources
• Introductions - from the nuclear industry
• Introductions - from anti-nuclear campaign groups
• Climate change
• Economics of nuclear power and alternatives
• Nuclear reactors
• Fuel and uranium mining
• Decommissioning
• Waste
• Pollution
• Accidents
• Weapons
• World safety and terrorism
• Nuclear Industry (and other pro-nuclear groups)
• Campaign groups and organizations - anti-nuclear
• Campaigns against specific UK power plants
• Energy topics
• Lots more links!

Introductions - from independent sources

Introductions to how nuclear power works, nuclear fission, chain reactions, and so on.

• Nuclear explained: A clear introduction from the BBC with good diagrams. Covers both science and issues.
• Nuclear debate in depth: Another nuclear briefing site from the BBC, with videos, photos, and arguments from both sides.
• Howstuffworks - How Nuclear Power Works: The nuts and bolts of how reactors work.
• Britannica Students' encyclopedia: A very short, general article on nuclear energy with a (paid) link to a longer article. Get it from your local library for free.
• Wikipedia: Nuclear power: A group-edited article about nuclear energy. It seems to cover both pro and anti aspects of nuclear power, but carries a prominent banner "neutrality disputed".
• Nuclear energy: A good, balanced introduction from the Columbia encyclopedia.
• Nuclear power generation development and the UK industry: A history of the British nuclear saga from the Government's Department of Trade and Industry website, from 1953 to the present day.

Introductions - from the nuclear industry

More introductions to nuclear power, this time from nuclear-industry websites. These may have more of a pro-nuclear bias (though some are very balanced).

• Kids' Zone: Nuclear Energy: Atomic Energy of Canada's interactive guide to the energy locked inside atoms.
• BNFL education: A very comprehensive website from British Nuclear Fuels.
• Find out more about nuclear energy: A guide by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• Nuclear background: An introduction from Duke Power, operator of three US nuclear power plants.
• How do nuclear power plants work?: The nuts and bolts of a reactor, explained by Duke Power.
• Nuclear energy made simple: from the World Nuclear Association.

Introductions - from anti-nuclear campaign groups

More introductions to nuclear power, this time from environmental and scientific campaign groups. These tend to be openly biased against nuclear power (though not always).

• Fossil fuels and nuclear: A discussion of what part fossil fuels and nuclear power have to play in future energy supply, from Friends of the Earth (FoE) UK.
• Greenpeace UK nuclear power home page: Huge collection of information and campaign archive.
• Greenpeace nuclear fact file: More anti-nuclear info from Greenpeace UK.
• Friends of the Earth: Media Briefing: Nuclear Power and the Energy Review: What are the renewable alternatives to nuclear power?
• Broken promises: why the nuclear industry won't deliver: A detailed report from Corporate Watch suggests the industry is still dependent on massive subsidies.

Climate change

Industry sources claim nuclear power is the way to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions; campaign groups say not.

• General information and links about climate change: Well-compiled collection of links from the UK Rivers Network.
• The Role of Nuclear Power in a Low Carbon Economy, report by the Sustainable Development Commission.
• Nuclear power and climate change - special briefing: A scientific briefing arguing against nuclear solutions from FoE.
• Tackling climate change without nuclear power: Alternatives to nuclear power, from FoE.
• Responding to Global Climate Change: The Potential Contribution of Nuclear Power, report by the Uranium Institute/World Nuclear Association.
• Nuclear power - no solution to climate change: A good briefing from FoE Australia.
• Why nuclear power is not an achievable and safe answer to climate change: A briefing from FoE UK's Roger Higman.
• Why nuclear power is not the solution to climate change: A handy little briefing from Pete Roche.
• Nuclear power - no solution to climate change: Greenpeace UK's arguments against nuclear solutions to climate change.
• Ten reasons why nukes can't address climate change: from the Nuclear Information Resource Service.
• BBC Weather Centre: Nuclear power and climate change A fairly balanced discussion of pro and anti arguments from the BBC.
• French Nuclear Energy Agency: Arguments in favour of using nuclear for climate change alleviation.
• NIRS: Nuclear no solution to climate change A detailed guide from the Nuclear Information & Resource Service.
• Nuclear power: climate solution or pollution?: Various nuclear articles from New Internationalist magazine, with a focus on climate change.

Economics of nuclear power and alternatives

What's the economic case for and against nuclear power?

• The Energy Review: A detailed review of energy policy options from the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit (Cabinet Office).
• Small or atomic? Comparing the finances of nuclear and micro-generated energy: A comparison of nuclear and alternatives from the Green Alliance.
• The Alternative Energy Report: An eight-page comparison of nuclear and non-nuclear ways forward by energy academics for the Green Party. Concludes that nuclear is the inferior choice.
• The Economics of Nuclear Power: A pro-nuclear report from the World Nuclear Association.
• Inside Track 11: Having our cake: why nuclear isn't the answer: A comparison of nuclear and alternatives from the Green Alliance.
• Mirage and Oasis: Energy choices in an age of global warming: A comparison of energy options from the New Economics Foundation.
• The world nuclear industry status report 2004: Useful background from the Greens/European Free Alliance Group.
• Nuclear power: economics and climate-protection potential: A briefing from Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute.
• Costs of nuclear power: Evidence from Greenpeace to the Environmental Audit Committee Inquiry "Keeping the Lights On"

Nuclear reactors

Information about specific nuclear reactors (power plants and experimental, scientific reactors).

• Maps of nuclear reactors: Worldwide maps from the International Nuclear Safety Centre (shows only power plants).
• Where is nuclear waste produced and stored in the UK?: This handy map from the BBC shows reactors and waste stores.
• Nuclear sites: Information about the operations and activities for each of the UK's nuclear sites managed and operated by British Nuclear Group and Westinghouse.
• How do nuclear power plants work?: The nuts and bolts of a reactor, explained by Duke Power.

Fuel and uranium mining

What's so bad about uranium mining and the nuclear fuel cycle?

• The Nuclear Fuel Cycle Position Paper: A briefing paper from AMP Capital Investors, Australia that explains why they will not invest in the uranium mining and processing industry.

Decommissioning

Is it possible to remove nuclear installations safely at the end of their life?

• Decommissioning and cleanup of sites: Sceptical information from Greenpeace UK.
• Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Official public body charged with cleaning up Britain's "nuclear legacy", includes a recently published draft strategy on cleanup.
• UKAEA Decommissioning page: More official information. This site includes a brochure "Leading the way in nuclear cleanup".

Waste

Is it possible to dispose of nuclear waste safely?

• BBC Nuclear overview - waste section: Explains the different types (grades) of waste and how and where they are processed or stored. From the BBC and reasonably balanced.
• Environment Agency - discharges and data: Official Data on discharges from UK nuclear power plants.
• Radioactive waste stocks: Official data on UK stocks of nuclear waste.
• Nuclear waste - the problem that won't go away: Campaigning information from Greenpeace UK. Anti-nuclear bias.
• NIREX education: Useful information sheets from the company charged with disposing of waste. Pro-nuclear bias.

Pollution

How big a problem is radioactive contamination (pollution) from nuclear plants?

• Nuclear Pollution: the threat to our oceans: A quick survey of notorious nuclear pollution episodes.
• UK accused over Sellafield pollution: A 2003 Guardian news story in which Norway accused Britain of ruining its lucrative Arctic lobster business by failing to stop radioactive discharges from Sellafield.
• Sellafield plans massive increases in discharges of nuclear waste to sea A press release from the Greenpeace archive, 2001.
• Should Sellafield be shut down?: A discussion on the BBC news website from 2001.
• Irish PM steps up Sellafield campaign: Environmental campaigners have welcomed calls by Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern for Sellafield's controversial Mox plant to be scrapped. BBC News story from 2001.

Accidents

How many nuclear accidents have there been and where did they occur?

• Chernobyl.info: The official website dedicated to charting the long-term consequences of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
• Post-Chernobyl timeline: How did nuclear policy change after Chernobyl? An interesting timeline from the US Department of Energy.
• Backgrounder on Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Accident: From the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
• Nuclear reactor accidents: Describes 11 major accidents from 1952-1993.

Weapons

What's the connection between nuclear power production and nuclear weapons?

• Nuclear weapons - Encyclopedia.com: Short introductory article about nuclear weapons, with a few links.
• A Tutorial on Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear-Explosive Materials: A detailed backgrounder from the Nuclear Threat Initiative. Anti-nuclear bias.
• The Manhattan Project: An Interactive History: A US Department of Energy project charting the creation of the atomic bomb, from Fermi's work on the original nuclear reactor in Chicago in 1942 onwards.
• Nuclear disarmament: A reasonably balanced article from Columbia Encyclopedia.
• Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND): Many detailed briefings and information sheets about nuclear weapons. Strong anti-nuclear bias.

World safety and terrorism

Most people accept that nuclear power has made the world a much more dangerous place.

• Secure Energy: Options for a Safer World: Factsheets from the Oxford Research Group, printed November 2005.
• Nuclear power and terrorism: A dossier from Greenpeace UK, published January 2006.
• Nuclear analyst highlights risks of terror attack at nuclear installations: Press release from the Nuclear Free Local Authorities, March 2005.

Nuclear Industry (and other pro-nuclear groups)

Websites representing various aspects of the British nuclear industry.

• British Energy: The company operating nuclear-electric power stations.
• DTI - Nuclear Links: Useful links from the UK Department of Trade and Industry (British government department).
• British Nuclear Fuels Limited: Publicly owned nuclear company that operates Sellafield.
• Sellafield Visitors Centre: "The Visitors Centre presents a unique educational experience and contains interesting and innovative exhibitions providing an insight into the world of BNFL and Sellafield."
• UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA): Quango responsible for the management of nuclear reactors and waste sites.
• UK Nirex Limited: Company responsible for the disposal of nuclear waste generated by power production.
• US Energy Information Administration: Facts and data from the United States nuclear industry. Good for comparisons with the UK.
• US Nuclear Regulatory Commission: The US nuclear watchdog - another good site for comparison.
• World Nuclear Association: represents the technology, people and organisations of the global nuclear energy industry.
• Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy: In favor of all energies which respect the environment, including nuclear energy and renewables.

Campaign groups and organizations - anti-nuclear

A selection of groups opposing nuclear power and nuclear weapons.

• Friends of the Earth (FoE) England and Wales: London-based head office and large network of local groups.
• Friends of the Earth (FoE) Scotland: For those of you north of the border.
• Greenpeace UK: Long history of opposing nuclear power.
• Green Alliance: Green Alliance?s mission is to promote sustainable development by ensuring that the environment is at the heart of decision-making.
• Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND): Britain's oldest anti-nuclear group. Mainly opposes nuclear weapons, but also some work opposing nuclear power.
• Green Party UK: A long history of opposing nuclear power and promoting renewables.
• New Nuclear Power? No Thanks: An anti-nuclear site mainly for nuclear activists, with lots of action suggestions for individuals and groups.
• No 2 Nuclear Power: A detailed site for people who oppose nuclear power.
• The Nuclear Flower: A campaign against 25 proposed new nuclear power stations in Australia.
• Nuclear Free Local Authorities: Local authorities have been opposing nuclear power and supporting clean, sustainable energy for over a quarter of a century.
• WISE: The World Information Service on Energy has been fighting nukes since the 1970s. Order your "Nuclear power no thanks!" badges and stickers from here... in any language you like!
• Caroline Lucas, MEP: Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas has a long history of working against both nuclear weapons and nuclear power. Caroline has been involved with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament for many years, and she was an active member of the Snowball Campaign against the US bases.

Campaigns against specific UK power plants

A selection of local groups. More soon!

• Nuclear Free Future: A group campaigning against building another nuclear power station in Hartlepool and against nuclear power in the UK as a whole..
• Stop Hinkley: A local group dedicated to the removal of nuclear reactors from the Bristol Channel and the Severn Estuary.

Energy topics

Some more general websites about energy and power.

• Lower Carbon Futures: Research from Oxford's Environmental Change Institute, including a project to create a house than uses only 40% as much energy as normal.
• Decentralized Energy: A report from Greenpeace: We can generate energy close to or at the point of use. Buildings can become power stations instead of passive consumers. Because electricity is generated close to the point of use, no energy is lost in transmission. With a combined heat and electricity system, no energy is lost as heat. If renewables are used instead of fossil fuels to generate the energy, no climate damaging emissions are produced. Read the summary or the full report (5MB).
• Energy Quest Canada: A very comprehensive children's introduction to energy and electricity. Covers all forms of electricity production, including coal, nuclear, and renewables.

Lots more links!

These are more collections of general links, for and against nuclear power:

• Open Directory Project: Nuclear science links: Large, human-compiled catalogue of sites (currently 246).
• Open Directory Project: Nuclear issues page: Many links about nuclear controversies and campaigns.
• Federation of American Scientists Nuclear links: Many general links.