Sir David King's effort to bring science into UK nuclear discussions
I ran across an article published on Sunday 13 January 2007 by Times
Online titled I pushed Blair's nuclear button that gives some
background on high level discussions leading up to the recent decision
by the UK government to include nuclear power as a significant part of
its future energy mix.
Here is a tantalizing quote intended to make you go visit the article
and form you own opinion.
It was 2003 and Prescott thought he and the other ministers
overseeing a new energy white paper had finally reached agreement
to rule out nuclear options and instead to recommend concentration
on renewables and energy efficiency.
"That was when I put my hand up," King said last week, "and told
him I still did not believe we could cut CO2 without nuclear power.
Nor would I pretend I had changed my mind."
King claimed that what happened next was shocking. Prescott "went
ballistic", shouting about collective responsibility and thumping
the table. "I wondered if I was going to get punched," King
recalled.
I have had similar experiences while putting my hand up in high level
meetings and saying something that conflicted with the alternative
reality assumed by a person in a power position. It is not always
comfortable to be an independent voice, especially when dealing with
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