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From The Socialist newspaper, 11 October 2007
Windscale 1957
FIFTY YEARS ago on 10 October 1957, Windscale nuclear plant in Cumbria, since renamed Sellafield, suffered a serious fire. This week, a BBC documentary showed how the 1950s Macmillan government was in a rush to build an 'independent' British hydrogen bomb and maintain prestige on the world stage. They used Windscale to develop the plutonium and tritium they needed for the bomb.
This very hurried process overlooked the fears of scientists and led to a dangerous overheating of the core's graphite rods. The core burst into flames. The government and its cover-up report scandalously tried to blame the staff at Windscale who had fought heroically to put out the fire.
50 years later, new scientific studies of the fire's radioactive debris and of weather patterns suggest that the plume of caesium, iodine and polonium that moved across the area may have triggered several dozens more cases of cancer than the 200 previously estimated.
New Labour is now going ahead with plans for a new generation of nuclear power stations that could be devastating to the environment.
No safe method of disposing of nuclear waste, that could last and contaminate for over 100,000 years, is known to science. And Windscale half a century ago is a reminder that nuclear accidents can happen with disastrous consequences.
Roger Shrives
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 11 October 2007:
Gloucestershire shows determination
Marching in support of the Burslem 12
Anger at Leighton, Crozier and Brown
Determination to continue the battle
Socialist Party NHS campaign
What we think
Brown's expedient election climb-down
War and terrorism
Anti-war movement upholds right to protest
Burmese students join London march
Socialism 2007
Socialism 2007: Debates to sharpen your socialism
Socialist Party news and analysis
Cuts kill - no reductions in the fire service!
Socialist Party feature
1917 October Revolution: the working class took power
International socialist news and analysis
Darfur bloodshed fuelled by land and oil grab
Iraq occupation: Brown's token gesture
Workplace news and analysis
Civil servants march against cuts and privatisation
National Shop Stewards Network holds meetings around the country
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