geldof calls for nuclear power

Geldof calls for more nuke power plants

Posted Fri Dec 14, 2007 8:45am AEDT
Live 8 organiser Bob Geldof addresses the crowd in London.

Renewable energy just 'Mickey Mouse': Bob Geldof (File photo) (Reuters)

Anti-poverty campaigner Bob Geldof has joined the global warming debate with a call for the rapid expansion of nuclear power, describing renewable energy as a "Mickey Mouse" answer to the climate crisis.

The Irish former rock star, known for his campaigning on poverty relief in Africa, was writing on a blog set up by carmaker Lexus to promote hybrid road vehicles.

"The reality is that we need to do much more than change the type of car we drive to make an impact on climate change," he wrote.

"In the UK, we'll soon have to scramble for more nuclear power.

"On this issue, I don't care what anyone says: we're going to go with it, big-time.

"We may mess around with wind and waves and other renewable energy sources, trying to make them sustainable, but they're not. They're Mickey Mouse."

The comments are unlikely to endear him to the environmental lobby which condemns nuclear power as dirty, dangerous and expensive.

The nuclear power industry says it is at least part of the answer to global warming caused by emissions of carbon gases from burning fossil fuels for power and transport.

- Reuters