The Insidious Nature of Nuclear Power
A collection of Neil Pine’s research and thoughts
The abatement of global warming should never depend on the proliferation of nuclear power.
For decades, atomic scientists have speculated through sheer mathematical odds the inevitable possibilities of nuclear disasters. Nuclear weapons, accidents, and complications with proper waste disposal are all determining factors in this theory.
Limited public awareness bolstered by political and economic propaganda has led to a resurgence of a pro-nuclear mentality. Climate change, depletion of resources, and shortages of energy are all supposed justifications for such a mindset.
Since nuclear power does not contribute to global warming, many misinformed individuals consider it a green technology. Regardless of global warming, true green energy technology should never carry with it the risk of Armageddon, let alone dangerous radioactive contamination.
While analyzing the nuclear paradigm, three separate types of risk become immanent: the contingent relationship of the nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear weapons, nuclear accidents, spills, leaks, contamination, meltdowns and system failures, and the safe disposal of nuclear waste.
In the past, scientists developed nuclear energy with the false hope that in the future a safe and permanent system of radioactive waste disposal would be developed. Even in the new millennium, scientists still don’t fully understand the terrifying implications of storing radioactive byproducts. Nuclear waste has an afterlife, which dramatically increases with age, peaking thousands of years into the future, putting the human race at risk.
Many conscientious scientists feel that by just taking into account the current way nuclear power is stored, even without factoring in the threat of nuclear annihilation, there may only be cockroaches left inhabiting the earth someday if a safe and permanent method of storage is not implemented. The public is not very aware of the current methods of nuclear storage.
The idea of storing this material in deep mines, such as the Yucca Mountain Salt Mines in Nevada, has been thrown around for over 50 years but has never been properly implemented. The cost of this proposed site has risen exponentially over the years. The problem is that the storage life of this material under our current technology is roughly 40 years, and then must be dug up and re-contained. Since nuclear power is more than 60 years old, this has been an ongoing and never-ending process.
Scientists still lack the knowledge to properly estimate the potential migration of radioactive nucleoids into the environment. However, it has been determined that peak levels of radiation from this waste will occur thousands of years into the future, thus potentially displacing major portions of the earth’s population, or even worse, making the planet completely uninhabitable.
Economic pressures, combined with a different mindset about nuclear waste disposal (who wants radiation in their backyard?) will be a motivation in the future to store these dangerous byproducts in less developed countries. Many corrupt third world governments are notorious for cutting deals with nations who would love to get their hands on this highly hazardous material. A new world revival of nuclear power would make weapons of mass destruction much easier to acquire by these nations.
According to sources at CNN, in March of 2009 the United Kingdom reported an increased threat of chemical and nuclear terrorism. Officials in London believe that there were several interrelated terrorist sources culminating and planning their next move in regard to this threat. The Al-Qaeda Organization seems to be involved predominantly, however, there are many other factions of Islamic extremist groups who share the same rigid ideologies as Al-Qaeda.
The United States, Iran, North Korea, China, India, Pakistan, Russia, and Israel all have major interests in the development of nuclear weapons. Middle Eastern and northeast Asian countries have been involved in a nuclear arms race, trying to get an edge over the other in an attempt to gain superiority. Nuclear weapons would be highly desirable by a weaker power, which either feels threatened, or is currently under attack by conventional weaponry.
The threat of acquiring dangerous radioactive byproducts by non-nuclear nations led to international safeguards. Under the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, sovereign, signatory nations agreed to inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA.) Currently the IAEA operates under the guise of the U.N. Security Council, adhering to international guidelines and policy regarding licensing, safety, compliance, and operational integrity of nuclear facilities all over the world.
In April of 2009 President Obama called for a worldwide freeze on all nuclear weapons, citing concerns with North Korea and Iran.
With the advancement of true green alternative energy, there should be no excuse to continue with highly dangerous nuclear technology. Ocean Power Technologies Corp. is a global provider of ocean power, generating equipment with billions of dollars in projects all around the world.
According to PR Newswire, OPT uses PowerBuoy technology which is “based on integrated patented hydrodynamics, electronics, energy conversion and computer control systems, [to] capture and convert energy from the natural rising and falling of waves into low-cost, clean electricity.”
Beyond OPT’s technology, there are many new methods being developed which can capture the energy of crashing waves. Experts have projected that these new systems could someday generate a potential target of two trillion watts of power.
Hydroelectric power is nothing new. Nicola Tesla designed the hydroelectric plant at Niagara Falls which was built in 1907, and today it safely generates 4.4 gigawatts of power.
First Solar is a 12 billion dollar corporation and the world’s leading producer of photovoltaic technology. It has been established that solar power will grow by a staggering 26 percent annual growth rate to a projected 170-200 gigawatts by 2030. And there are also untapped wind energy sources. There are currently new buildings (domestically and internationally) and ones being built or being developed that incorporate wind turbine technology.
The Price Anderson Act, last renewed in 1987, states that in the event of a nuclear disaster, the total liability incurred by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) would be limited to 8 billion dollars. And guess what? We as tax payers would be forced to pay the difference. To put this in perspective, the Chernobyl disaster, one of the worst nuclear power plant accidents in history, has already cost Russia over 300 billion dollars, with additional costs coming from interdicted land, radioactive disposal, and ongoing health effects.
The deeper that scientists delve into a nuclear solution, the more they realize it is useless. The conclusion always remains the same: too many unknown variables, which can only lead to serious risks and consequences.
The elimination of all coal, oil and nuclear energy technologies, and the development of wind, solar, and hydroelectric energy sources, will someday represent a landmark in the evolution of humanity.
Neil M. Pine, Securities analyst, specializing in Green Alternative Energy Technologies & formally a Federally Registered Investment Advisor. He is a devout Vegan, nationally published fine artist, and author of the upcoming book, “The Conscious Planet”, (Transcripts & Endangered Species art available). He also serves as an alternative-healing consultant for The G-3 Holistic Health Center. Mr. Pine can be contacted at neilmpine@yahoo.com or 626.428.4825.