NUCLEAR POWER TOO DANGEROUS TO DISCUSS

New South Wales Premier Bob Carr's call for a discussion of the merits of nuclear power as a possible power source has been slammed by the environmental high-grounders:

New South Wales Premier Bob Carr's call for a debate on the merits or otherwise of nuclear power has been labelled "ludicrous" by environmentalists, who say it is too risky an option to even consider.

Prominent anti-nuclear campaigner Dr Helen Caldicott says nuclear power production creates massive amounts of global warming gases and she describes it as a "cancer industry".

"It will over time produce epidemics of cancer - leukaemia and genetic disease, particularly in children," she said.

The Nature Conservation Council (NCC) has labelled it mad and dangerous and argues other safer alternatives are available.

Greens Senator Bob Brown says the tide of public opinion is against it.

"It was sealed with Chernobyl, that was really the end," Senator Brown said.

Senator Brown is suspicious of Mr Carr's motives.

"Asking for a debate about nuclear power is code for getting on with more nuclear installations," he said.

More nuclear power installations?

It would be nice if we could at least discuss the options.