Buncefield Depot explosions: Imagine if this had been nuclear?
12 December 2005
Keith Taylor Green Party Principal Speaker today expressed concern at thepossible environmental impacts of yesterday's explosions, whilst warning ofthe consequences had this been a nuclear power plant.
"Perhaps the most important lesson we should learn from this eventis that even in the best regulated industries accidents on this scale canand do happen. Had this happened at a nuclear plant, that huge black cloudwould have been radioactive. The Chernobyl accident legacy has left 3million children in several countries still receiving medical treatment.Surely, when less damaging energy solutions are available, we should bedeveloping them?
"It is still too early to tell what the long term impacts of this event willbe, but it seems certain that the risk to the surrounding environment isimmense.
"The clearly visible airborne pollution may have catastrophic effects oncrops - carbon and kerosene residue could make much agricultural produceunusable. This will also have an effect on local dairy produce.
"Latest figures state that firemen are pumping 32000 litres of water aminute onto the still raging fires. The possible impacts of this are harderto quantify; both ground and surface water may well be heavily contaminated.The sheer volume of water being used renders any attempt to control whatwill most likely be toxic run off impossible. When, as it will, it begins torain, attempts to contain the pollution will become even more difficult.
"This could be devestating for surrounding rivers and consequently wildlife. The Green Party have requested that Environmental Health Officersmonitor the River Ver for signs of contamination.
"The thick black plume of acrid smoke enveloping the area surroundingBuncefield should act as a visual reminder of what we are doing to theworld's atmosphere when we burn fossil fuels.
"This is another cautionary tale against the use of dangerous sources ofenergy we have yet to truly master. We desperately need to examine ourreliance on oil - not simply because of the explosion, but because it is afinite and volatile supply. Incidents such as this highlight the fragilenatureof this exorbitantly expensive fuel, and prices are only going to up assupplies decline."
