A page on energy issues
Like what happens when you do not go nuclear this is a page of developing thoughts. Suggestions welcome. Please contact me with them.
A question on Quora recently asked "What can I do to support nuclear power?" I answered "be informed, be brave, be realistic". You can see the rest of my answer at https://www.quora.com/q/nuclearforagreenerus/What-can-I-do-to-support-Nuclear-Power-6 (for the moment at least).
But many other answers have given me a lot to think about. Some of them aggressively anti-nuclear-power of course, and they helped me to better understand why some people are so anti. Others that were aggressively pro nuclear power were less helpful, and these also gave some painful fresh insights into exactly why some people are so anti.
Not a lot of it was surprising. But it all helped me to refine my thoughts, and change them in perhaps small but significant ways. The substance hasn't changed much but the focus has.
And parallel to this, some pro-nuclear advocates are now saying that we should fight fire with fire, and be as manipulative as the anti-nuclear industry has been, using similar methods. This appals me. We should not need to stoop to this, and in doing so we abandon the moral high ground.
So here is a better answer. As I said above, comments welcome.
Be informed
Several responses, mainly but not only those opposing nuclear power, said some quite ridiculous things. Obviously if they can get away with repeating the old turkeys about bombs, wastes and accidents, and back these bogus claims up with even more bogus information, and get away with it, we have a problem. But we don't just need to correct them, we also need to be right ourselves.
One mainly pro-nuclear writer recently refused to be corrected on their claim that U-233 is "fissionable". (Do you know what the problem is with that claim?)
How you gonna teach without learnin', boy?
Be honest
It's a complex field. Even if you have a PhD in Nuclear Engineering you probably don't know the lot. Nobody knows the lot.
One of the problems we have is that the nuclear industry is not perfect. Fair go, you say, nobody is perfect but we are better than most. True. But we need to be as good as possible. So don't pretend to know more than you do, or to be right if you realise after having pressed "save" or "submit" that what you said wasn't quite up to the mark. Don't defend the indefensible.
If we are right and nuclear power is good for the environment, then we do not need to lie. And if we're wrong, then again it's better if we are honest.
Either way, it's best that the facts... the true facts... are known sooner rather than later.
Be patient
It will probably require generational change before Greenpeace will allow new nukes in Germany or the USA. And they and those of like mind probably have the street cred to stop them. See pollies and participants.
If that's reality, then that's what we need to work with.
Conflict is not in our interests, and some of those opposing nuclear power know this only too well. That is why it is such a popular greenist tactic.
See also
More to follow, watch this space
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.