Tag: green

Rupert Read on Scottish Independence

11:20 Wednesday 20th August 2014
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[A]NDIE HARPER: This morning we’re talking about Scottish independence, not which way people are going to vote, but generally looking at it in terms of business. Because if people do have concerns, north and south of the border, it is all to do with finance, the pound, membership of the EU and how business would thrive. Ross Clark the commentator thought that it wouldn’t have too much effect . On the other hand we heard from one of our listeners Richard a few minutes ago who felt that he’d got it completely wrong, and it could be a catastrophe. Simon says “In the Times on 18th of this month it showed that if Scotland voted for independence, the size of the Scottish economy would rank 43rd in the world. They would be behind the Philippines, Finland and Greece, and just ahead of Pakistan in 44th place, Portugal 45th and Ireland 46th. So much for independent Scotland being a major player in the world.” That was Simon’s take on it. Well let’s talk shall we to Rupert Read from the Green Party in the East of England who gave us a call. Rupert, good morning to you.
RUPERT READ: Morning Andie.
ANDIE HARPER: Do you feel that it would be disastrous for the countries both sides of the border if Scotland were to vote yes? And I’m talking now in purely business terms.
RUPERT READ: I don’t think it would be disastrous. Not at all. I think we have to calm the debate down a little bit here. I think some people on both sides are getting a bit het up. The first thing really I’d like to say as a Green Party person about this issue is I do think it’s a matter for the Scottish people, and we in the Greens think that if the Scots decide they want to go their own way, then well, good luck to them. And I think we should be looking on the bright side of that, and not just on the dark side. I think it could have all sorts of positive consequences.
ANDIE HARPER: And those would be what?
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Fiona Radic Green Party on Peterborough Council’s Incinerator Plans

07:10 Wednesday 27th June 2012
Peterborough Breakfast Show
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

FIONA RADIC: Landfill tax is a problem. However, that doesn’t take into account that we still have to dispose of what’s left, because there’s a residue left after incineration. There are two residues. One is bottom ash, which is what comes out of the bottom of the incinerator process. That goes to landfill. There is some notion that it can be used in roads, but apparently that’s not actually ever been done, outside the boundaries of landfill sites. The other much nastier is fly ash, which comes from inside the stack. And we don’t know what would be done with that, although we understand there are various chemical processes. It can be combined with cement working, and so on. But basically we don’t know what the plans are for those. And we also can’t quantify how much. So when they say it eliminates landfill, that can’t possibly be true, because we need to work out what’s left after incineration.
Friends of the Earth has very pessimistic forecasts for the amount of energy this particular plant, or a plant of this type, can actually produce. But much more importantly, in the plans there is no energy delivery infrastructure. Now in Scandinavia, where they do have a record of moving warm or hot water into people’s homes, or facilities like swimming pools, there’s a very very very very high tech grid, which has to be put in. And there’s no indication that the Council has got that grid, or even thought about it at the moment.

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