Can we not just say no to nuclear?

We heard news yesterday that the Japanese company Hitachi had sent officials to the UK this week after taking over a site for a proposed Nuclear Power Station in the UK.

Officials from the company met local groups and politicians at the Anglesey ‘Horizon’ development, where a new £8bn project to replace the current Wylfa plant is planned.

If built, the construction phase could lead to 6,000 new jobs for locals in Wales.

For me, I am wary of nuclear energy. Safety, environmental concerns and the cost are just some of my worries, and I think recent incidents have highlighted the wider worries of the public.

Just last year we saw the effects of a tsunami in Japan, and the disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Although the effects of that were mainly down to the tsunami, fears about nuclear were heightened after the disaster.

I’ve always taken a negative stance against nuclear. It’s dangerous, it’s temperamental and it does not help the environment. It might not release any Co2 emissions, but the toxic by-product from these factories is unstable and, in the case of Japan and Chernobyl, possibly deadly.

But it seems the UK government are pretty keen with the idea. Faced with mounting pressure from Brussels to cut Co2 emissions, rather than focus on renewable energy sources like wind farms and solar energy, to government would rather subsidise nuclear.

In a letter obtained by the Independent, sent last week, energy experts and academics said that the government would underwrite the cost of new nuclear power stations in the UK, despite originally saying that that they would never subsidise energy.

In a u-turn considered by Energy Minister John Hayes, the deal would see the public pay through taxes any budget overruns or building delays.

Already two energy companies have dropped out of the Anglesey site, blaming the economic downturn and the aftermath of Fukushima. If the government offer money to help towards the construction, then a private company is much more likely to build a site.

Which is why I was shocked yesterday to hear that a Japanese company (might not be significant, but you can’t help but link it to Fukushima) were arriving in the UK, which seems to confirm the reports from the Independent.

The deal with Hitachi will see £700m be brought to the table, with the plan to also build a new station at Oldbury, Glocestershire.

It amazes me that the government could take this stance. Why can we not subsidise solar energy? Remember that story last year about the Isle of Wight wind turbine factory facing closing down due to lack of trade? Why can’t the government subsidise a UK company that are investing in safe, reliable energy resources rather than a foreign company?

The public seem to be of the view that solar and wind farms are ugly and a blight on our picturesque landscape. Is this to say a nuclear power station is not? Give me a wind turbine any day over a dirty, concrete cooling tower.

At the end of the day, if we do not start investing in renewable energy, the environment will be ruined. Global warming is happening, you just have to see the adverse weather in the US right now to appreciate the fact that Mother Nature is changing. And she’s getting angrier! But nuclear energy is simply not the answer, and I really hope the government are met with fierce opposition for these dangerous plans.

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia

Can the Welsh language survive?

I'll be quick to admit that I have never been to Wales. Usually one for picking the 'exotic' over the 'countryside' when it comes to holidays, I have never ventured that side of the Severn. But the latest campaign from Wales has certainly interested me, and this was further highlighted by a recent article in the Guardian.

Because, according to the latest statistics, the Welsh language is dying out. According to the Welsh Government, there are only 580,000 people in Wales speaking Welsh, about 21% of the population, whereas in the late 1800's, the figure was nearly 80%. There is a net loss of about 2,000 to 3,000 Welsh speakers each year as a result of factors such as death and outmigration.

Which is possibly why the Welsh tourism board have produced this new advertising campaign, to re-establish Wales as a part of our culture and society.

It's certainly sad when any language dies out. After spending most of my college years studying language variation and change, I became fascinated in language change, particularly in pidgins and creoles. Therefore, I look at these statistics from an academic point of view, and from my own personal view.

From an academics point of view, the new figures are somewhat alarming. No matter how small Wales is, it plays a very important part in the British society. Its heritage - whether it be cultural or economical - form part of the British society, so to dismiss the new figures as a sign of a growing problem would be somewhat fickle. Surely promoting the Welsh language would be a good idea for all of us?

But then again, from my own personal perspective, what is the point in the Welsh language? I mean, what with English so widely spoken, with England inevitably holding the most power in Britain, what is the point in trying to protect the national dialect?

Arguably, it is a question that Wales is trying to answer. The Welsh Assembly recently introduced new legislation appointing a commissioner of the Welsh Language through the Welsh Language 2011 Measure. Meri Huws spoke out about how she wished to restore the trust people have in the language, with Scotland and Northern Ireland all watching her closely to see if they can mirror her success.

Language commissioners are nothing new, in fact they are widespread in countries like Canada and Ireland,  but do they work? Huws believes she can help promote the Welsh language through various codes and laws, such as fining companies who fail to promote Wales and its language. Schools are tyring hard, and even market sellers are trying to promote the language.

But the public remain dubious, with many people in Wales conceding that the language is doomed to become extinct in the next few decades. For me, this is sad and something that should be helped to protect. Our country is built on its multicultural past, with language varieties such as the Welsh language forming our rich history.

Times change as society evolves. Arguably, the present English language could be described as more American then English as it once was, so maybe the national government could collate their efforts into protecting both languages. If the government can lay down laws meaning any immigrant must learn English, maybe something similar could be said for anyone who moves to Wales?

Time will tell, but I would like to think that in centuries to come, the Welsh language will still be alive and kicking.

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia