Environmentalists vs. Nuclear Energy

For those who are doubtful about a pro-nuclear article written by a nuclear physicist who considers himself an environmentalist, I suggest you have a look at Intermezzo below. A quick look at tourists walking nonchalantly on radioactive beaches in Brazil in radiation fields far exceeding what is to be found in the evacuated zone around Fukushima should be an eye opener. Perhaps the fear of radioactivity from these nuclear accidents has been overplayed? Then return to here and read this article from the beginning.

It is highly ironic that the environmental movement is opposed to the production of nuclear energy. Although there is a sizable fraction of the environmental movement which is not opposed to nuclear energy, indeed I am one of them, I think it is safe to say that on the whole the majority of the environmental movement opposes the development of nuclear energy. It is highly ironic because the environmental movement, a staunch ally in bringing awareness of global climate change to the public and leading the effort to curtail the emissions of green house gases (GHGs), should also be the main antagonist in quashing the only energy system that is currently capable of making significant inroads in the curtailment of these gases. In doing so it is proving to be as every bit irrational to the consensus of scientific fact as are the climate change deniers to the scientific consensus of the reality of global climate change. In the mistaken belief they are protecting the world from becoming a nuclear wasteland, the environmentalists are helping to effectuate a global climate change catastrophe along with their inadvertent allies, the big fossil fuel companies and the global climate change deniers.



https://www.triumf.info/wiki/pwalden/index.php/Environmentalists_vs._Nuclear_Energy