Issues

Scientists for Global Responsibility – a UK campaign group, with about 1000 members – today moved into its new offices at Halton Mill, an eco-renovated former industrial building just outside Lancaster.

Press release, 31 August 2013
 

Military use of science and technology is commonly argued to be good for our security. Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, presents a range of evidence to show that this view has major flaws, and argues for a change in priorities for security R&D.

Presentation at Leeds Headingley Cafe Scientifique, 14 May 2013 (references updated 3 June 2013)
 

Dr Philip Webber, SGR, presents the evidence that the launch of the nuclear missiles of just one Trident submarine could cause devastating climatic cooling.

Article published in the Nuclear Monitor, 12 April 2013
 

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, argues that the UK's leading science and engineering fair for young people - which this year runs from 14 to 17 March - is distorted by the prominent involvement of arms corporations,  oil companies and other controversial sponsors.

Article published by the New Left Project, 14 March 2013
 

This briefing presents evidence that the detonation of the nuclear warheads carried on just one UK Trident submarine would lead to vast quantities of smoke being generated that would led to a sharp climate cooling, causing a global crop failure which would threaten the lives of some 1 billion people. This would be in addition to the deaths of over 10 million people killed directly by blast, fire and fallout from the nuclear explosions.

SGR briefing by Dr Philip Webber; 26 February 2013.
 

Assisted by Dr Philip Webber, SGR, the campaign group Article 36 has published a short case study of the direct humanitarian impacts from a single nuclear weapon detonation on Manchester, UK. This study is intended as a reminder of the devastating impact that just one nuclear warhead - of the size of a Trident warhead - can cause to a city.

26 February 2013

Dr Helena Paul and Dr Ricarda Steinbrecher, EcoNexus, warn that the rapidly developing field of synthetic biology – which proposes releasing artificial living organisms into the environment – is running ahead of the necessary precautionary controls.

Article from SGR Newsletter no. 41, autumn 2012 (published online: 2 January 2013)
 

Insulation has little 'wow' factor compared to solar panels, but greater potential to reduce carbon emissions cheaply. However, it is crucial that we consider the energy required for their manufacture: natural, non-toxic
materials consume the least energy and are safer for human health, argues Dr Tom Woolley, Rachel Bevan Architects.

2 January 2013

With details of the new UK Energy Bill starting to be released, and the latest round of UN climate change negotiations underway in Doha, Qatar, here is a summary of recent relevant analysis from SGR commentators.

27 November 2012
 

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, argues that there is too much focus on technology within mainstream climate change strategies and that there needs to be a better balance between technology, economic and political solutions. This would lead to more effective climate policies and would contribute to quality of life improvements.

Presentation at Warwick Climate Forum, 24 November 2012.