Sweden to abandon oil and nuclear power

Tue, 14 Feb 2006 17:29:49 +0000

Sweden is attempting to become the world's first oil-free country by 2020, without the use of nuclear power. According to the Swedish government, "Energy policy should create the conditions for efficient and sustainable energy use and a cost-effective Swedish energy supply which has minimum negative impact on health, the environment and the climate. It should also facilitate the transition to an ecologically sustainable society."

Currently 45 per cent of Swedish electricity comes from nuclear power while 8 per cent comes from fossil fuels. In the last two years, however, Sweden has stopped importing electricity and has increased its production of hydroelectric power to compensate. A 1980 referendum called for the phasing out of nuclear power, allowing operating plants to operate only until the end of their technical life (assumed to be 25 years).

According to the Guardian "The Swedish government is working with carmakers Saab and Volvo to develop cars and lorries that burn ethanol and other biofuels." Public and private industries are being given grants to convert to other energy sources.

Sweden has decided to convert to renewable energy sources to prevent the problems of climate change and avoid the predicted high oil prices --problems similar to those Sweden faced in the 1970's. Brazil and Iceland have also developed plans to shift 80 to 100 per cent of the fuel used by their transport vehicles to renewable energy sources in the near future.

Geordie Gwalgen Dent

Sweden's public broadcaster blasts Italian PM's media empire

Mon, 28 Feb 2005 21:32:40 +0000

A diplomatic row has erupted between Italy and Sweden over advertisements for Swedish public broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT) that claim Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi used his ownership of Italian media to gain political power.

The ads, which claim that Berlusconi controls approximately 90 per cent of Italy's media industry, suggest that he used his media power to gain political office, and once in power, used his political influence to prevent moves to change Italy's media ownership laws.

In an interview with Sweden's daily tabloid Aftonbladet, Swedish Ambassador to Italy Staffan Wrigstad states that Italian officials are very "concerned" with the advertisements and are demanding that they be withdrawn immediately.

SVT's information director Helga Baagöe is quoted in the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper as saying that the station has no intention of withdrawing the ad.

» BBC: Rome angered by Swedish TV spot

The Dominion - Sweden

Sweden to abandon oil and nuclear power

Sweden's public broadcaster blasts Italian PM's media empire