Galway Advertiser 1990/1990_05_17/GA_17051990_E1_015.pdf 

Extracted text

Nuclear Power -- Environmentally Friendly
MAINTAINS PROFESSOR WALTON
Dear Editor, Please may I be permit ted to answer at least some of the points made by Hella Honeke in her letter following your report of my lecture on the nuclear option ot the Solar Energy Society. Firstly, I would agree with her that it was a pity that other aspects covered in the same meeting such as energy conservation, solar energy, wind energy, etc., did not get the same publicity: that was not my decision. The fact that I was asked to talk is an in dication that the Society wished to consider all possible options for com batting the greenhouse ef fect which was the theme of the meeting. My main argument was that, while I agree wholeheartedly with using conservation and renewables I have been atten ding the Society's meetings for a bout five years; I believe that in themselves they cannot supply the needs over the next fifty years with rising populations and depleting oil reserves. The only op tions open for generating the bulk of the electricity are coal or nuclear power. Currently 34% of the EEC's electricity is generated by 140 nuclear reactors. If these were to be replaced by coal it would mean an extra 550 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year in addition to other noxious gases. It is believed by a number of leading en vironmentalists, including J a m e s Lovelock, that nuclear power is more en vironmentally friendly than the other options and will be necessary. Hella is also correct in saying that Ireland had the fourth highest radiation dose in the EEC from Chernobyl we were measuring it in this departmentbut the lifetime personal radiation dose received in only one twentieth of what we receive every year from cosmic rays in a return transatlantic flight. Unfortunately the risks from small radiation doses are much exaggerated by the media as is also the case with most other public scares. Unfor tunately comparisons with other everyday risks are rarely given and the layman can get no inform ed perspective. I fail to understand Hella's final remark, reiterated in the headline, that the Physics Depart ment should "confine their experiments to themselves". The depart ment has strong research interests in environmental monitoring and, for exam ple, runs a very successful international air monitor ing station at Mace Head near Carna. None of the other research in the department could remote ly be considered as having anything to do with nuclear power. Yours sincerely, Philip W. Walton, Professor of Applied Physics, U.C.G.

Our Lovely Streets Cluttered with Cars
Dear Editor, It gladens my heart to see the development of the city centre. Where once were old derelict buildings and empty years now stands some lovely new buildings. Nicer still is to see old buildings brought back to their former magnificence and both old and new com plimenting each other so well. It is a great achieve ment. My compliments to all involved. The new houses and apartments are ensuring the continued renewal of the area. This augurs well for the future. Sadly, there is the other side. Parking problems, lovely streets cluttered with cars, and our green areas and open spaces. Will there be any left? Have we got a town plan? And is there any truth in the rumour that fourteen houses are to built in Eyre Square? Galway, you're looking great! Let's keep it that way! Yours in Hope, Aidan T. Berry. 8, Grangemore, Bishop O'Donnell Rd., Galway.

Lottery to Aid Emigrant Centres
A new lottery to raise funds for Irish emigrant care facilities in Britain was launched in Galway last week by Bishop Eamonn Casey. The lot tery is being organised to benefit Irish Centre Hostels with the assistance of Rehab Lot teries and the tickets will be sold on selected Ryanair flights and at Ryanair ticket desks around the country from lottery, Bishop Eamonn Monday May 21 1990. Casey stated "Irish Cen Irish Centre Hostels tre Hostels a r e in dire provide a wide range of s t r a i t s for additional services to the 30,000 peo funds to cope with the ple e m i g r a t i n g from ever increasing number Ireland to Britain an of emigrants and the nually. These services in funds generated from the clude advice in respect of lottery will be extremely accommodation, assist helpful. I applaud both ance in finding work and Ryanair and Rehab Lot help with adjusting to a t e r i e s for this im new society. aginative initiative" In launching the new

TRIBES THEATRE GROUP GALWAY have pleasure in thanking

COTTON B O X I N T E R I O R S
for the exquisite dressing of the PLAZA SUITE SET.

Bishop Eamon Casey holds up his ticket at the launch of the Rehab/Ryan Air "Emigrant Help" lottery in Galway this week. Also in the picture John McGuire, Rehab Lotteries, Ann Marie Dwan and Derek O'Brien of Ryan Air.

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