So Nuclear Energy!! It’s been a topic of debate at the moment with the Howard government wanting to open 35 nuclear reactors throughout Australia. There has also been debate about opening a nuclear waste dump in outback NT. So why all of the sudden does the government believe that it’s a quick fix to our Global Warming and energy problems??
Here's the Facts:
1) Uranium is a finite element. If we were to convert all coal power stations in the world to Nuclear power, there would only be 9 years worth of Uranium before its all gone.
2) Each nuclear reactor produces 30 tones of nuclear waste per year. Imagine the amount of nuclear waste that would be left over once we refined all our deposits of Uranium.
3) Nuclear waste is the most dangerous substance known to man. It is carcinogenic and takes half a million years to decompose. What a legacy to leave for our children!
4) Where are we going to store all that waste? And how do we know someone won't use that waste against us?
Now the government seems to think that Nuclear Power is our answer to the problem of Global Warming and CO2 emission. A nuclear reactor emits 1/3rd the amount of CO2 that a same size coal power station emits. BUT Uranium isn't an easy substance to mine. Think about all the CO2 emissions coming from the mines that are digging up the uranium. And then there's the refining process. The refining process takes a lot of energy to get the uranium ready for use in a reactor. That's more CO2 being released. Then we have to build and decommission the Nuclear Sites. And to top it off, a Nuclear Reactor uses 1 tone of water per hour.
So, if Australia decides to build its 35 nuclear power stations, we will open more uranium mines, we will open more uranium refineries and we will, in the end, produce the same amount, if not more, CO2 emissions then are currently being omitted by our coal power stations.
So my question is. Why is the government putting so much time into arguing about a Nuclear Future for Australia, when they could be pooling all their resources (and our money) into clean, green energy solutions? Renewable resources! Wind, Sun, Waves, Water.
I don't want to blab on too much, and there is way too much information to put in one blog. I haven't even touched on the Medical ramifications from Nuclear Power, and the Radioactive Emissions that are produced from Nuclear Reactors. But if you want to find out more, jump on this website http://www.helencaldicott.com/. Helen Caldicott is an Australian Physician that is an advocate for the dangers involved with Nuclear Power. Check her out.
Now, this is not all my original work. So i guess i better do some referencing. The information obtained in this blog has come from Articles, written and published by Helen Caldicott http://www.helencaldicott.com/. I also got some of my information from the ABC TV show, Difference of Opinion that aired on ABC 19th July 2007.
