Renewable energy alternative

From: Ken (wishdump_at_yahoo.com.au)
Date: 06/24/04 

Date: 23 Jun 2004 18:06:04 -0700

Are the proponents of massive expansion of nuclear energy production
proposing it occur world wide or only within 'approved' nations? The
limk between nuclear power and nuclear weapons is very strong. Lots of
nations embarked on nuclear energy programs in order to develop bombs
as much as to provide electricity.It was certainly a major
consideration early on in US, UK, French, Russian, Chinese, Indian,
Pakistani, Israeli, Iranian, Iraqi (have I missed any?) development
of nuclear capability. Finding nuclear capable nations that don't have
or have ambitions to have the big bomb as a way to deter potential
attackers can be difficult. Making full use of the uranium resource
really requires use of the fast breeder cycle ie turning the most
common but not very useable isotope -U235- into fissionable plutonium.
Will the old nuclear powers really encourage or even allow developing
nations to develop such technologies? Or will they only be allowed to
buy it off those old powers without being permitted to acquire the
capability themselves? That would surely help to fuel anti- West
sentiments.
I'm not convinced the waste problem is as easily or cheaply solved as
the proponents claim. In a world where planning past a decade or two
is the exception, planning for storage of wastes thousands of years
into the future seems questionable. Especially if the stuff is
proliferating in places where standards may depend more on who's paid
off whom than the kind of meticulous attention the stuff requires.
I'm also not convinced alternatives will always be the minor players
they are now, although they certainly don't get the kind of priority I
believe they should. When the entire world budget for renewable energy
research is less than gets spent on a few hundred kilometers of
freeway, it's very clear the will to really act just isn't there. And
it's a good indicator of just where Our priorities lie. Perhaps this
is a form of democratic choice but even in so called democracies we
need leadership that acts on best available information for the good
of their respective nations. I'm hoping the essentially decent nature
of Americans comes through and the good of the USA doesn't come
through depriving other nations of any decent future.
Ken

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