Coal power opposition goes global

Saturday, August 14th 2010 - 08:48 UTC

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Almost 10,000 people from 100 countries have objected to plans for a new coal-fired power station at Hunterston in Ayrshire, Scotland, it was revealed yesterday (Friday 13 August) by WWF. Read full article

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harrier61
This is interesting. Wonderful Scotland, keen on its independence from the United Kingdom, plans to build a coal-fired power station. Personally, although I am a member of WWF, I don't care. Scotland has a devolved government and, as far as I'm concerned, can do what it likes on its own territory. An attitude I recommend to people ”From Bangladesh and Bulgaria to Uganda and Venezuela.
As far as the UK is concerned, we will be building 11 or 12 nuclear power stations. Technology that Scotland doesn't have. But we might let them have some electricity, if they ask very nicely and the rest of us don't need it!
Aug 14th, 2010 - 02:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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JF
harrier61: I'm a member of WWF but i do care.

Yes, Scotland can do what it likes. but here's a few facts: 1) Scotland does have nuclear (two power stations at Torness and Hunterston) 2) Scotland is a net exporter of electricity (mainly to England and some to N.Ireland) 3) By the company's own admission in the press, the proposed coal-fired power station is being built not for Scotland's needs but to generate even more electricity for England and N.Ireland (i.e. not Scotland). 4) The proposal is considered so polluting and unnecessary that the campaign is supported by WWF in Scotland, England and globally.

So, here we have yet another example where one country is asked to take a polluting company to generate power, profits for another country's benefit. It is no better than rich countries exploiting timber from the Amazon, fish from African waters, precious metals from Latin America.

I say: well done to the people of “Bangladesh and Bulgaria to Uganda and Venezuela” for spotting an injustice. They are supporting the resistance of local people and others in Scotland. Well done for caring about others.
Aug 14th, 2010 - 10:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Think
(2) JF
Nice to see that they are intelligent readers in here (Mercopress) that don't want to let erroneus comments stand alone without a proper answer....

Think
The Argentinean
Aug 15th, 2010 - 05:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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stick up your junta
Hi think been waiting to catch up on you

a link to your pals in the Taliban,make the argie junta look benign

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/8909049.stm
Aug 15th, 2010 - 09:38 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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harrier61
Unfortunately, JF, the reported facts don't seem to back up your assertions. It seems that the Hunterston station is intended to supply Glasgow and Edinburgh. It also seems that it is to be built with new technology (unavailable to backward South Americans) resulting in the capture of 90+% of emissions.
Now, as far as I am concerned, what mankind does in its environment is on a par with what a beaver does in its. So, if a beaver dam is natural, so is what mankind does. Unless you want to go back to squatting in a cave eating raw meat. I refuse to indulge in “hand-wringing” over it. Subject closed.
Aug 15th, 2010 - 11:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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zethe
I don't personally know if this plant is a major pollutant, i don't know the facts but if it is, then it's Britons responcibility to not let it go on, Scotland may have a devolved parliment but they we are still one nation, and that won't change for a very long time.

I personally never got this whole scotland/england/wales divide thing, blaming one for such. We are one nation, and have been for a VERY long time.

It's not scotish companys making power for england, it's British companys making power for British people.

I did have an amusing conversation with an angry scott once telling me how the english were oppressing his homeland, then i pointed out that(at the time) our leader was scottish, he swore and walked off. Some people are just idiots.
Aug 15th, 2010 - 07:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Billy Hayes
scots are right; england is an opressing nation.

english & scots “alliance” had sense when britain was an empire and scots made good profits with that alliance. But that times are gone; britain is no long an empire and england is sacking scotland; look scotish north sea petroleoum, scots has only half of it and no profit; look MoD cuts, major cuts will be in scotland; worst social quality of life is in scotland despite mayor resourses for british economy come from there; britain is sacking scotland.
Aug 15th, 2010 - 09:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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harrier61
zethe. I think it's fairly easy to understand. Scotland has a devolved administration. In appropriate areas, it is autonomous. As with the release of the Lockerbie bomber. This is Scotland's choice. As witness Scotland's First Minister is from the Scottish Nationalist Party. The Scots have had to get used to the idea that, except where it suits, Scotland can no longer rely on English money. Scotland has made it clear that the UK is NOT one nation. Frankly, I'd be quite happy to see a large 5-mile wide channel dug to separate Scotland from England and opened to the sea, followed by sending all Scots resident in England back to their homeland. They can then revel in their version of civilisation.
Aug 15th, 2010 - 09:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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zethe
7 Billy Hayes:

Shows how much you know. Scotlish economy makes 8 billion a year. The oil makes 10 billion a year(without running costs). The UK provides scotland with 45 billion a year.

And harrier, i disagree fully. I think that statement undermines the extent that scotland and england have been through together because of a couple mistakes made recently. The scottish have stood by the english through thick and thin, and the second they make a mistake or two, kick them out? Wheres your sence of loyalty man.

This is also the attitude which has landed us from having the most territory in the world, to possibly not even owning all of our island.

A seperation will do neither side any good.
Aug 15th, 2010 - 10:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Billy Hayes
these guys don´t think the same as you

http://www.freescotland.com/whosoil.html
Aug 15th, 2010 - 10:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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zethe
There have been 7 surveys done in scotland over the last 10 years and NONE of them have shown that most scottish people want independance.

As you and your argentinian friends have pointed out loads of time, that oil is running out, quickly. over 70% of it is gone.
Aug 15th, 2010 - 11:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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stick up your junta
Maybe the jocks can sell the Argies Tumbledown
Aug 16th, 2010 - 08:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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JF
harrier61 and others: Sorry, but I did not intend to start an England v Scotland debate and I certainly don't want people living in caves. I don't even oppose the use of coal. I was just attempting to correct incorrect information. I will attempt to correct some more.

1) Scotland is already a net exporter of electricity - so adding any new power stations simply means more exports - not power for Glasgow or Edinburgh (which have what they already need) 2) The Hunterston coal station will not be 90% CCS. That's something company has said it'd like to do many years after it is built (if CCS can be shown to work) - so leaving many years of carbon emissions into the atmosphere from day one 3) Studies have shown that a better way to use CCS technology in Scotland would be to retro-fit the two existing coal-fired power stations at Longannet and Cockenzie - doing this would lead to a net reduction in carbon emissions as opposed to a net increase if Hunterston is built. This is the route I prefer: clean-up existing coal plants before building new ones. I accept while this could work in Scotland it might not be suitable for other countries with access to different energy resources.

:-)
Aug 16th, 2010 - 08:19 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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stick up your junta
wind the in pissing, anyone

http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/02/16/16climatewire-does-the-huge-china-australia-coal-deal-squa-78639.html
Aug 16th, 2010 - 08:37 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Think
Scotland 2
England 0

:-)
Aug 16th, 2010 - 10:49 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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zethe
Got to love thinks random and nonsensical commnents.
Aug 16th, 2010 - 03:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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stick up your junta
Think, your buddies are excelling themselves

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10983494
Aug 16th, 2010 - 04:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Think
Mujahedeen:
Created and financed by the “Civilized West” (including Britain)
Trained by Americans.......
You are getting your own medicine.....

Read and learn boy.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Cyclone
Aug 17th, 2010 - 08:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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JF
Here's a good source of energy for Scotland. Waste from whisky!

http://en.mercopress.com/2010/08/18/whiskey-s-noblesse-super-bio-fuel-butanol-from-distilleries-by-products

Perhaps Latin America could do the same with all that yerba mate waste.

;-)
Aug 19th, 2010 - 08:00 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Think
Hmmmm...
A kind of Whisky crack........
We could call it Wrack...
Very dangerous idea..... I would spend most of my days on the streets sniffing those single malt fumes :-)
Aug 19th, 2010 - 10:57 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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