‘Huge pools of mystery sludge, leaking silos’ and shocking complacency only a few miles from Stranraer and the highest cancer level in Europe – Does Scottish Labour need a ‘cancer panic’ to wake it up to the horrific risks of pursuing even more nuclear projects?

Professor John Robertson OBA In the Daily Mail today: Atomic bomb waste discovered beneath six homes in St Louis has sparked panic and renewed concern in other US cities still haunted by Manhattan Project contamination. St Louis is far from the only city still dealing with Manhattan Project fallout. Across the country, sites such as Hanford in Washington, Oak Ridge in Tennessee, and Los Alamos in New Mexico remain dangerously contaminated. A 2003 study surveyed 801 individuals who lived downwind of the Hanford plutonium production facility, finding greater-than-expected numbers of central nervous system tumors and cancers of the female reproductive system. High incidences … Continue reading ‘Huge pools of mystery sludge, leaking silos’ and shocking complacency only a few miles from Stranraer and the highest cancer level in Europe – Does Scottish Labour need a ‘cancer panic’ to wake it up to the horrific risks of pursuing even more nuclear projects?

Herald frontpages highest level nuclear leak incident but then avoids mentioning how it might ‘smash into your DNA’

Professor John Robertson OBA The Herald today does get round to sharing with us details of the recent Ferret factfinder freedom of information release, on accidents at the nuclear base on the Clyde estuary, at Faslane in the Gare Loch, but do not investigate just what the resultant leaks might mean for those living nearby or those who swim in the Gare Loch or the Clyde estuary. Here is the fuller story and it gets very disturbing if you read on to the end. From BBC Scotland in August 2025: See that ‘leaked into loch‘, that should be leaked into loch. … Continue reading Herald frontpages highest level nuclear leak incident but then avoids mentioning how it might ‘smash into your DNA’

Reluctantly reported then sanitised falsely by ‘your’ media the radioactive tritium emissions leaking from 1 500 badly maintained pipes in Clyde nuclear sub base which ‘smash into’ your DNA, DOUBLE as cancer cases surge yet smoking rates plummet

Professor John Robertson OBA Today, from BBC Scotland, the above and: Radioactive water from a Royal Navy nuclear weapons base leaked into a loch after old pipes repeatedly burst, according to official files. The Guardian, external and The Ferret, external found the material was released into Loch Long, Argyll and Bute, after a six-year battle to access documents which involved Scotland’s Information Commissioner, external. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) said its assessments found the risk to the environment from effluent discharges was “of no regulatory concern”. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) also said there had been “no unsafe releases of radioactive material” into the environment. The … Continue reading Reluctantly reported then sanitised falsely by ‘your’ media the radioactive tritium emissions leaking from 1 500 badly maintained pipes in Clyde nuclear sub base which ‘smash into’ your DNA, DOUBLE as cancer cases surge yet smoking rates plummet

10 countries already routinely issue iodine tablets to those near nuclear facilities but with the highest cancer rates in world, Scotland, dependent on Westminster, does not

Professor John Robertson OBA Sky News in September 2019, reported: France is to give free iodine tablets to more people living near the country’s 19 nuclear plants. Around 2.2 million people living within 20km (12.4 miles) of a nuclear plant will be given the tablets to protect their bodies from the effects of radiation in the event of an accident. In 2016, five years after the nuclear accident in the Japanese city of Fukushima, France gave iodine to those living within 10km (6.2 miles) of a nuclear plant. Thyroid cancer incidence in France has increased dramatically over recent decades, particularly … Continue reading 10 countries already routinely issue iodine tablets to those near nuclear facilities but with the highest cancer rates in world, Scotland, dependent on Westminster, does not

Does Scotland really need SMRs for a resilient energy system?

By stewartb ‘At the time of writing there are only two SMRs actually operating – one in Russia and one in China. For this reason alone, we must question reliance on a technology not yet fully tested, as the basis for a national programme of work.’ So it’s a novel technology. The OECD in 2024 recognised three SMRs as operational, with over 50 SMR technologies currently still under development. (https://www.ansto.gov.au/news/small-modular-reactors-an-overview) If a company or nation state has relevant indigenous technological capability, an energy need AND national ambition to develop and then sell as exports SMRs, one might see the sense of being … Continue reading Does Scotland really need SMRs for a resilient energy system?

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on existing UK nuclear sites: ‘all land dedesignated or reused’ by 2380 – but sooner at Dounreay, by 2334!

By stewartb It’s clear from statements made, if Anglo-British political parties gain power in Holyrood after the 2026 election, Scotland in Union will see a new generation of nuclear power plants (large ‘conventional’ and/or small modular reactors) built here. Ian Murray MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, July 4, 2025 stated: “In other parts of the UK, the UK Government is driving forward nuclear power, as are countries across Europe and indeed the world. But in Scotland the Scottish Government clings to its ideological objection to new nuclear sites. That means that Scotland is being left behind, missing out on … Continue reading The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on existing UK nuclear sites: ‘all land dedesignated or reused’ by 2380 – but sooner at Dounreay, by 2334!

Impartial intelligence confirms that Labour’s Small Nuclear Reactor strategy is based on none in operation in the West, no concrete order and two already cancelled in France and the US due to soaring costs

By Anonymous When I questioned Small Modular Reactors, DeepSeek said You’re absolutely right to question the readiness of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)—while they are often touted as a potential solution for clean energy, they remain largely unproven at scale, with significant uncertainties around cost, deployment timelines, and real-world performance. Key Issues with SMRs Today1. Limited Real-World Deployment 2. Unclear Cost Competitiveness 3. Regulatory & Supply Chain Hurdles 4. Still Produce Nuclear Waste Should Scotland Wait for SMRs? Conclusion SMRs are not yet a proven solution—Scotland would be wiser to invest in tidal expansion, storage, and grid flexibility while monitoring SMR developments. If SMRs eventually prove cost-effective … Continue reading Impartial intelligence confirms that Labour’s Small Nuclear Reactor strategy is based on none in operation in the West, no concrete order and two already cancelled in France and the US due to soaring costs

Renewables not nuclear fully confirmed in every detail as the intelligent choice for Scotland by two expert impartial sources

By stewartb I asked both ChatGPT and Grok the following question: ‘Given its actual and potential ability to generate green electricity from onshore wind, offshore wind and tidal power, should Scotland invest in more battery storage and reliable sources like tidal energy or in nuclear generation, mindful of cost and legacy of nuclear waste? ChatGPT concluded: ‘Scotland should prioritize investment in offshore wind, tidal energy, and battery storage. These technologies have the potential to provide a more reliable, clean, and cost-effective energy system while minimizing long-term environmental and financial risks. Nuclear energy could remain a small part of the overall … Continue reading Renewables not nuclear fully confirmed in every detail as the intelligent choice for Scotland by two expert impartial sources

In current heatwaves, Labour’s new nuclear reactors will be more vulnerable to lower efficiency and productivity

Professor John Robertson OBA TuS Reader Legerwood commented yesterday under our piece on the widespread corrosion of Frances’s nuclear reactors (https://talkingupscotlandtwo.com/2025/06/27/reliability-of-nuclear-energy-takes-another-blow-as-france-fears-return-to-2022-when-57-of-all-reactors-were-offline-due-to-corrosion/): It is not just corrosion in its nuclear reactors that France has to worry about. The high temperatures that France now regularly experiences -at the moment 40C or above – affects the nuclear reactors and can lead to them being taken off-line. The high temperatures also heat up river water etc and reduce the water available making it difficult to cool the reactors leading to shut downs. All in all not a good time to go nuclear when the … Continue reading In current heatwaves, Labour’s new nuclear reactors will be more vulnerable to lower efficiency and productivity

Reliability of nuclear energy takes another blow as France fears return to 2022, when 57% of all reactors were offline due to corrosion

Professor John Robertson OBA Frances McKie has just alerted me to this reserved report from Reuters on the Civaux 2 nuclear reactor in France: PARIS, June 11 (Reuters) – European power contracts jumped on Wednesday on concerns France might have to reduce its nuclear output after the industry regulator said it had identified “hints” of possible stress corrosion in a reactor. The ASNR watchdog said testing had highlighted possible defects in the Civaux 2 reactor, but that there was no confirmation of corrosion at this stage and more testing was required. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/report-defects-french-nuclear-reactor-civaux-2-lifts-european-power-market-2025-06-11/ On it’s own and with that wording, it … Continue reading Reliability of nuclear energy takes another blow as France fears return to 2022, when 57% of all reactors were offline due to corrosion