20 March 2007 - UK foreign policy is driving Iran towards nuclear weapons and could lead to a nuclear catastrophe in the Middle East, Green Euro-MP Caroline Lucas will warn at a Westminster debate today (Tuesday, March 20th).

Speaking at a ‘people’s parliament’ event, Dr Lucas will say the Government’s decisions to support new nuclear power stations and upgrade the UK’s nuclear weapons arsenal have increased support for nuclear technology in Iran and round the world.

The MEP for South-East England, who is also co-founder and Co-President of the European Parliament’s cross-party peace group, will argue that Iran ’s interests lie in developing its huge potential for renewable energy instead of nuclear power – and the UK and EU should be helping the country do so with transfers of technology and expertise.

“Developing nuclear power is simply not in Iran ’s interests. I t threatens to destroy the delicate ecology of the Persian Gulf by accident and by pollution, it is expensive and inefficient, and it will leave a deadly legacy for generations to come.

“In contrast Iran has abundant potential for renewable energy, for reducing its exponential growth in energy consumption by tackling extraordinarily high levels of waste and inefficiency, and by investments in energy savings.

“Iran could lead the world in the 21st century technologies of solar and wind energy. Offering to help it leapfrog damaging nuclear technology would make a genuine contribution to peace in the region.”

Dr Lucas will make her comments during ‘The Debate Parliament Won’t Have’, a ‘peoples’ assembly’ organised by the Stop the War Coalition at Westminster Central Hall to mark the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Speakers include MPs from all parties, Kate Hudson, chair of CND, and representatives of more than 100 organisations .

The debate will be split into three sessions: one on Iraq , one on Iran and the third on British foreign policy after Tony Blair resigns this summer.

“It beggars belief that we are proclaiming our support for nuclear technology at exactly the same time as chastising Iran for doing exactly the same,” the MEP, who is also a member of the decision-making National Council of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said.

“We can’t expect Iran to shy away from either nuclear energy or nuclear weapons while we refuse to do so ourselves. We must scrap our own nuclear power stations and offer targeted assistance to allow Iran to develop its huge potential for renewable energy – especially solar in its desert regions.”

Deserts occupy a quarter of Iran ’s total land area. It has been estimated that if just one per cent of that desert area were covered by Solar Photo Voltaic Collectors, the energy obtained would be five times more than the current annual electricity consumption in the entire country.

“Military action against Iran would not only be counterproductive and likely to increase the chances of a nuclear catastrophe in the region, it will only fail to meet its objectives anyway, since Iran is well-defended and its nuclear facilities are well dispersed and hidden,” added Dr Lucas.

 
ENDS