Lets say that a couple weeks ago I asked you this question. “What do you think would happen if a 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit a 40 year old nuclear power plant?” You would probably describe something close to what's on the news right now. You are also probably not a nuclear physicist. I think that allows us to file this concept under “common sense”.
This incident had not brought any new information to light yet all of a sudden my tv\radio\news paper is full of people debating the future of nuclear energy. Why? Nuclear energy is big business and they don't want their product recalled. They are doing their best to make sure everyone is arguing about all the wrong things and its working. Lets put this whole thing through the bullshit strainer and then sprinkle some reality on top.
As far as meltdowns go, nuclear energy is relatively safe, especially newer generation III plants. This is not the main point of concern.
THE PROBLEM IS NUCLEAR WASTE!
It never goes away. Some isotopes of the uranium and plutonium can have a half life of ten thousand, hundred thousand, even a MILLION YEARS. This shit has to be maintained FOREVER which means the cost of nuclear energy is INFINITY DOLLARS. That’s right INFINITY DOLLARS! The energy industry loves it. Your great grandchildren will still be paying for the energy you are using right now.
At every step of the process, profits are privatized and expenditures are subsidized:
- Mining Uranium
- Building The plant
- Running\Maintaining The Plant
- Selling Electricity
- STORING THE WASTE
Before the meltdown, Republicans said its cheap and safe, Democrats (including the president) said its cheap and clean. Both are being blown by industry lobbyists (http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2011/03/17/AB6sr0k_story.html). If they actually cared about any of these things they would be selling the people on solar, wind, geothermal, etc., but instead they make excuses which could be applied ten fold to nuclear energy. They say these technologies are not ready. They will never be ready because the corporate sponsors will never willfully give up energy revenue. In fact, despite over half a century of research and billions(maybe trillions world wide) of dollars, it is nuclear energy that is NOT READY. Theoretical gen IV and V reactors may produce little or no waste, but scientist say they are at least 20 years away from practical application. Even then, is this how we want to power the whole planet?
What if we put (or had put) these resources into real renewable energy? Nuclear energy is a distraction and we don't need it.
Dude that's so real..... And if you sit down and think about it makes total sence..... One time for u mang!
ReplyDeleteYou called it exactly right. As long as there is even one nickel to be made, the energy cartel will keep the U.S. chained to nuclear waste.
ReplyDeletebut when these gen 4/5 plants come around wont we have 40 years of nuclear waste to fuel them?
ReplyDeleteYes! I intend to be burning in up in my jet pack on Mars.
ReplyDeleteI think you missed the point.
You might be a hippy.
ReplyDeleteNo, wait. You are a hippy.
I'm not saying you should stop these very one-sided rants or whatever, and I know that if I don't want to read it then I can fuck off or whatever. But I think you fail to take into account that the world has already been pushed beyond the tipping point. It was hit by a hummer right into a polluted chasm full of corruption and money.
The environment is fucked, the economy is fucked, social advancement is fucked, technological advancement is fucked, everything is fucked. Nothing short of leaving this crap pot behind and finding an inhabitable world could save us now, but since there's no technology being made for space travel and everybody just wants to stay on this dying planet, well, who gives a shit?
The most accurate representation of the future of Earth is Idiocracy, probably within the next half-century.
Hippies are the only thing on this planet more useless than your comment. If you believe what you are saying then why did you even take the time to write it? Who gives a shit right? I guess you don't care soooo much, that you like to tell everyone about it. Doubt it. Sounds like a good strategy for conversation with teenage girls that wear black make-up; as does the dick and fart joke movie you referenced (the premise and first 5 min are awesome, if you could sit through the whole thing you have brain damage). Your either a self-fulfilling prophecy at worst or just completely frivolous at best.
ReplyDeletehttp://thoughtcatalog.com/2011/how-to-have-a-rational-discussion/
If you decide to post again please look this over first to save us both some time.