[Global Change: 2315] Re: Public Awareness of Energy Issues

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phil Randal" <phil.randal@xxxxxxxxx>
Newsgroups: gmane.science.general.global-change
To: "globalchange" <globalchange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, December 28, 2007 1:49 PM
Subject: [Global Change: 2313] Re: Public Awareness of Energy Issues


>
> My own reading of publicly available IAEA data is that nuclear
> electricity cannot make anything other than a token difference, and
> that the resources wasted following the nuclear path could be better
> used elsewhere.

Citation, please?  The idea that nuclear can only make a token difference is 
a contrived argument that rests on the qualification "in the next 50 years". 
Almost anything you care to name (within reason) can only make a token 
contribution (to CO2 emission reduction) in the next 50 years.  Voluntary 
human extinction could make a big difference, but that is not within reason.

If you look over the next 100 years you can see why nuclear power is a 
necessary (but not sufficient) condition to stabilize atmospheric GHG 
concentrations - even the least nuclear intensive IPCC stabilization 
scenario calls for a six-fold increase over the next 100 years.

You also speak of "resources wasted" following the nuclear path, but in 
reality, the nuclear path generates resources (electricity) with less waste 
than the closest substitute (coal combustion).

If you believe that financial resources generated by a coal tax, for 
example, could be put to better (emission control) use than financing new 
nuclear power plant construction, please elaborate on what alternatives you 
belive could "make anything other than a token difference" over the next 50 
or 100 years.

>
> There seems to be a complete lack of consideration of these moral and
> ethical issues by today's nuclear proponents.
>
> When the pro-nuke brigade starts earnestly and seriously discussing
> Weinberg's "Faustian Bargain" I'll start to take them seriously.
>
> But not until then.
>
> Phil
>

You have to look at what proponents write in order to determine whether or 
not they consider the moral and ethical issues.  Weinberg's concerns with 
safety culture in the nuclear power industry and intergenerational 
communication in "deep time" are both discussed earnestly and seriously in 
Cravens' book, please have a look at it. 
http://cravenspowertosavetheworld.com/

And while we're on the subject of moral and ethical issues, please do not 
ignore the impact of coal extraction, combustion, and waste on human health 
and the environment.

Thanks,
-dl