Should we bin Nuclear Energy as a bad joke once and for all.?

Question

But not stop at energy but anything nuclear. It is very dangerous and volatile and how can we get rid of the waste safely.

Answer 1

Never gonna happen, it is here for good; much as well get used to it.

Answer 2

No.

Relying on solar, wind, biomass and other environmentally friendly energy sources alone is a good idea, until you realise how little power it generates. Not because of how few wind turbines or whatever we have, but because it's not a very effective method of generating power.

Alarmists have spread that nuclear power is dangerous and volatile, but this is highly exaggerated. It's controlled precisely so no accidents happen and modern nuclear plants can withstand a plane, missile or something else crashing into it safely. There have been incidents in the past, but since then technology has improved to stop the same from happening.

Nuclear power generates a lot of energy and the waste can be recycled a lot of times before being disposed of. When we run out of fossil fuels, we'd not have enough energy to power hospitals and so on, unless another more efficient source than the current natural power was found.

The waste is the only real problem, nuclear power plants don't effect the environment much apart from the waste. It is safe to concrete is away deep underground though.

Admittedly though, I'd likely feel safer if it was on some small island somewhere. Knowing it's mostly safe is easy, but when you're always hearing otherwise you have doubts.

Answer 3

Anything nuclear? Like the fusion generators almost developed in Europe and America? That produce cheap energy, and no radioactive waste? Yeah, lets get rid of them. They're doing us no good.

"Anything nuclear" being "dangerous and volatile" shows you don't have a very clear grasp on the subject. Nuclear energy actually pollutes an awful lot less than other forms of energy production like fossil fuel consumption. Yes, there was Three Mile Island, and yes, there was Chernobyl, but think of all the nuclear power stations in the world and how many of them pollute the atmosphere, or contribute to global warming, or give people increased probability of developing cancer.
The dangers of the technology are blown out of all proportion. People think of a nuclear reactor and they think of a bomb, just barely contained from going off, inside a cooling tower or something. It's just not like that.

And what about getting rid of all radioactive materials? How do you propose doing that? What about its use in medicine? What about the natural radioactivity in almost everything you see around you?

Answer 4

Sure. Nuclear energy promised big and has delivered little. And it only delivers one-fifth of our electical needs. The costs of disposal and contamination outweigh the benefits. I visited Sellafield in '96 and the visitor's centre there was trying too hard to convince people how safe and useful nuclear power was. They did have a point though - once fossil fuels run out we will need methods of power generation that don't involve turning the majority of countryside into wind farms.

The Chinese had a good idea - they moved 6 million people to create a hydro electic power system which will supply a good chunk of their power. Not perfect as construction and flooding alter the landscape but at least it's renewable!

As for anything nuclear. Yes disarming ourselves of nukes would be good but our conventional forces are much reduced since the Falklands conflict so if we got rid of nukes we would probably be seen as a soft target!

Answer 5

Nuclear energy contributes around 80% of our energy needs. The rest is made up from gas power stations and imports. All nuclear power stations are coming to the end of their permitted lives.
It will take another 20 years to replace them and will also cost billions. At the moment we rely on their existence to maintain our way of life.
We will soon be faced with a future where imports of up to 80% for our fuel will be a reality, relying on corrupt Governments in Europe to satisfy our need.
We will have no bargaining chips to keep the cost down.
As much as I dislike him, I think the bravest thing Tony Bliar has ever said was to build nuclear power stations as an alternative to an uncertain future, were the lights could be permanently off!!!

Answer 6

It's our only hope for keeping the lights on. If we bin it, the joke will be on us. Incidentally, nuclear power supplies about 20% of the UK's energy, not 80%. But when the gas runs out, it's nuclear power or candles - you choose.

Answer 7

one way we could launch into space. But the prob. is what about the rest that don't want 2 get rid of it. So it like a catch 22.

Answer 8

Yes but as usual the majority will win temporarily until we all start to lose then the minority will be blamed. As a religious friend said the beast is about to turn on the whore.

Answer 9

We can get rid of the waste safely by firing it at our enemies......boom