SENIOR ministers like to tell us that we must not flinch at making hard
decisions. Well, here is one that we had better face up to, and soon: MOX, or
mixed oxide fuel. The MOX plant at Sellafield is of great importance both to
Britain and to British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL), and it鈥檚 vital that the government
allows BNFL to open it. Various sources in the industry agree that there is now
independent evidence to support what BNFL has been saying: that MOX
plants鈥攚hich create fuel from a mixture of uranium and reprocessed
plutonium鈥攎ake economic sense and have a market. Aside from such a plant鈥檚
benefits for Britain as a whole, it would boost west Cumbria鈥檚 economy.
BNFL first sought permission to operate the MOX plant five years ago. The
politicians involved cannot be proud of their indecision. Frankly, I think
successive ministers have shown more than a streak of political cowardice. There
are customers waiting, and it鈥檚 time to give it the go-ahead.
IRAQ has foot and mouth disease, and 快猫短视频 has argued that
it should be allowed to rehabilitate its vaccine production facility at Al-Doura in Baghdad
(21 April, p 3).
Mudhafar Amin, head of the Iraqi Interests Section
in London, tells me: 鈥淚n view of the increasing outbreaks of foot and mouth
disease, the plant could produce up to 12 million triple doses per year. The
vaccine is sorely needed not only for Iraq but for the region generally.鈥�
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The vaccine plant began production in 1982 and continued for 10 years. Like
many of Iraq鈥檚 industrial and pharmaceuticals factories, it was forced to shut
down by the sanctions imposed on imports of raw materials and spare parts. That
was part of a deliberate US and British policy to degrade and destroy all of
Iraq鈥檚 production capabilities, regardless of their nature.
After the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) disabled the plant in 1996 by
destroying the ventilation and air purification system, it needed more than just
spare parts to resume production. 鈥淭hat malicious act was not necessary,鈥� noted
Amin. 鈥淎s the equipment was not specifically procured or designed for a
prohibited activity, there was no need to destroy it. The option of 鈥榬emoval or
rendering harmless鈥� was given to UNSCOM.鈥�
The present situation in Iraq must not go on. After 10 years, surely enough
is enough.
IN THIS column on 7 July, I highlighted the dangers of being exposed to
low-level noise for long periods. I mentioned that the government had launched a
major research programme in this area. In fact, five research programmes were
launched, two of which are finished. The other three will be completed later
this year.
The first study looked at the effect of occupational noise on cardiovascular
disease and life expectancy. It found a weak correlation, though much depended
on factors such as where people worked. The second study measured the effect of
aircraft noise on children鈥檚 cognitive performance and stress levels. It found
that aircraft noise affected children鈥檚 reading performance. It also found a
weak association between noise, hyperactivity and some psychological
conditions.
The government is now helping to fund a European Union programme that will
look at the impact of road and aircraft noise on children鈥檚 health and learning
abilities, to be completed by the end of 2003. It will be based around London鈥檚
Heathrow Airport. Given the amount of noise we all have to put up with, whether
we鈥檙e under a flight path or not, it鈥檚 a welcome decision.