Ecopedia: Energy

Brave new world

• By Geoffrey Goodman
• 08 November 2007

Taken from The New Statesman 17 January 1959
Britain’s first nuclear power station opened on the Cumberland coast nearly half a century ago. Soon after its arrival, Geoffrey Goodman, then a correspondent on the News Chronicle, wrote this insightful article on its social significance in the New Statesman. He shows how the new breed of graduate scientists and technocrats, and the more traditional group of manual workers, also vital to nuclear energy’s success, were coming to terms with one another.
Selected by Robert Taylor

Not the general election

• 30 October 2007

Instead of the 1 November election and in association with The Fabians we've asked a range of people their views on the direction Gordon Brown should be taking ahead of what is expected to be a 2009 poll. Look out for Clare Short, Anthony Giddens, Shami Chakrabarti and more. Then why not add your own five point plan?

Zac, are you serious?

• By Sian Berry
• 20 September 2007

On 13 September, Sian gave her reaction to the Tory Quality of Life group's report. Then we gave its co-author Zac Goldsmith, a right of reply. Here Sian answers back.

Zac responds to Sian Berry

• By Zac Goldsmith
• 19 September 2007

Last week the Green Party's Sian Berry criticised the Tory Quality of life group report. Here Zac Goldsmith, who co-chaired the group, accuses her of a Labour-style attack.

Nuclear: The risks remain

• By Rebecca Harms
• 23 July 2007

Incidents involving reactors in Germany and Japan have again demonstrated the dangers of nuclear power, writes German Green MEP Rebecca Harms

The nuclear industry's biggest challenge: PR

• By Gia Milinovich
• 02 July 2007

Nuclear energy is safe, clean and long lasting, according to its proponents. But many people associate it with nuclear disaster or war and believe it is the most dangerous thing on the planet. It is time, argues Gia Milinovich, to update its image

The nuclear wisdom of young Blair

• By Jonathan Leake
• 29 May 2006

Observations on energy

Boiling frogs in Whitehall

• By Caspar Henderson
• 15 May 2006

Strange love

• By Keith Barnham
• 15 May 2006

Why did Tony Blair learn to stop worrying and love nuclear power? Keith Barnham and David Lowry on America’s atomic allure

Oil: We're addicted

• By James Buchan
• 17 July 2006

James Buchan has been writing about oil since the 1970s. Here, at a moment when steepling prices, political tension and encroaching climate change seem to point to the terminal crisis, he offers his prognosis for the commodity that made the modern world.

Stuff of dreams

• By Helen Womack
• 17 July 2006

High oil prices have given Russia renewed power, frightening the west but bringing hope to ordinary Russians. Helen Womack reports

Oil be damned

• By Angela Saini
• 15 May 2006

Angela Saini scrutinises the green fuel claims of London-based oil giants

Our best is not good enough

• By Andrew Simms
• 03 October 2005

Such is our dependence on oil, we face a shock that will dwarf any crisis of the past. It's a good job the government hasn't ruled out rations - only the effort of a war economy is likely to help.

Blow, blow thou winter wind

• By Andrew Simms
• 28 June 2004

The planet can no longer sustain our oil addiction. Renewable energies, meanwhile, hold the key to ending poverty. Why are we so slow on the uptake?

The curse of black gold

• By Nick Cohen
• 02 June 2003

Oil is bad news for a country: far from bringing prosperity, it is the harbinger of poverty, malnutrition and oppressive government. Nick Cohen reveals why