Nuclear Power

[primushead]

I had a very long discussion with some friends last night about the merits of Nuclear Energy, and how it would be GREAT to invest more in this.  

We also talked about how Coal Mining, and it's subsequent product that produces energy, has gotten out of hand.  How West Virginia and Kentucky mountains are stripped; how "coal slurry" is one of the most harmful by-products of any resource; how communities and their environments are simply destroyed after years of coal harvesting, etc.

It seems to me that Nuclear Energy is safer, MUCH less harmful to the environment and more cost effective than it was even a decade ago.  

Why can't we start switching to Nuclear Power?  France seems to be doing fine, as are many other countries who have invested in it.  I think it's time that we made the switch before our energy problems get out of control.  


http://www.occupationalhazards.com/News/Article/79385/Study_Coal_Mining_Pollution_May_Affect_Public_Health.aspx


http://nuclearinfo.net/Nuclearpower/TheBenefitsOfNuclearPower

[Jaimoe]

What's going on in West Virginia and Kentucky is a disgrace and nothing short of an environmental and human disaster of epic proportions - and I feel that my province and its hunger for more power in the hot summer is partially at fault. The only reason why the mountains are being levelled instead of mined the old fashioned way, is because the companies can get away with it, and it's cheaper. Coal has to be phased out as a power source and soon (and it has been on the way out in Canada for many years).

As for nuclear power, sure it's efficient and "clean", but what do you do with the radioactive waste? You can't keep burying it forever (and who actually believes this is a safe and good idea as the generations roll on). And what about radiation the plants themselves give off? I live in Toronto and there's a massive nuclear plant not far from the city, in a suburb called Pickering. The rates of cancer are far higher in Pickering than in Toronto. Coincidence? No, but difficult to prove in court. Hell, the law still can't prove that smoking is bad for you. Nuclear power and its bi-products are potentially far more harmful in the long-run than coal.

However, I also don't think damming up rivers is the answer for cheap power either. Rivers take millions of years to develop and evolve. Damning rivers causes irreparable damage to water flow, ecosystems, communities and inevitably our FUCKING WATER SUPPLY. Look at California and New Mexico: because of giant river diversions and dams, they are drying up before our eyes. Of course, I don't care about California, but since Canada has a ton of water and the U.S. thirst for more will eventually look north (and eyes and hands are already focussing as I write), we need healthier solutions. Solar and wind power are no-brainers. Bio-fuel? Don't even start with that bullshit. The destructive baggage bio-fuel brings is appalling and the supporters of that alternate fuel source are extremely short-sighted due to their political and financial agenda amongst other things.

So, nuclear power? I'd say: Use At Your Own Risk.

[thatswhatshesaid]

i occasionally drive through pike county, kentucky and see the destruction of what at one time was some of the most beautiful land in the area. now it looks like the surface of the moon. its grinds on one's soul to see it. its also astonishing that the people who live in the area look at what has been done and are ok with it. i know that its for economic reasons and that coal mining is their livelyhood, but wow. blinded by the all mighty dollar i guess.

anyway, my suggestion is solar power. although it is expensive up front, it can pay itself off within 5 years or so. plus, no harmful pollutants are released into the air or water. i would like to see the government promote solar energy with tax breaks (im sure there already is one), and maybe grants or even loans to people who are interested in using solar. oh wait, i forgot that all that money could be used towards something better, like maybe a war in iraq.

[Jaimoe]

i occasionally drive through pike county, kentucky and see the destruction of what at one time was some of the most beautiful land in the area. now it looks like the surface of the moon. its grinds on one's soul to see it. its also astonishing that the people who live in the area look at what has been done and are ok with it. i know that its for economic reasons and that coal mining is their livelyhood, but wow. blinded by the all mighty dollar i guess.

The people that are ok with it don't know any better. How could they be ok with coal dust leading to severe health problems not to mention flooding, landslides and economic relocation and unemployment.

The coal mining companies know exactly what to do or say to these people to get them on their side - of course there are groups of protestors and dissenters that fight the companies, but if the state governments aren't helping them out - and they aren't - the people get screwed. The coal mining companies know exactly the economical and educational demographics of the areas they are exploiting.

[primushead]

What kills me is that, at any time, the government could step in and DEMAND that the coal companies switch to solar, nuclear or ANY alternative energy source.  The coal companies have hundreds of millions of dollars that they could easily spend to switch over to whatever was mentioned in the ultimatum.

They would, presumably, make the same profits but wouldn't hurt the environment like they are now.  Why isn't this happening?  

[Jaimoe]

They are destroying the region of the American Appalachian Mountains (the range extends into the Maritime Canadian provinces too) for all eternity, one mountain at a time. Mountains aren't a renewable resource. But if it's coal you want, these companies employ a fraction of the miners they used to and their work is far more efficient and and inevitably destructive. This has nothing to do with employment and the economy.

[thatswhatshesaid]

i dont understand why our society is based on a non-renewable energy source anyway.

[The DARK]

i dont understand why our society is based on a non-renewable energy source anyway.

Most energy sources aren't renewable. Wind, solar, and hydroelectric are the exceptions.

[Jaimoe]

i dont understand why our society is based on a non-renewable energy source anyway.

It's hereditary/historical, plus no leader has the balls and vision to impliment a new energy-efficient infrastructure and convince the masses that this is a good thing. Our forefathers used wood, peat and then coal for fuel and then oil etc...... and now, certain governments don't want to be the scapegoat for making  changes that may or may not affect their economies negatively in the short-term.

Oil will run out in 20 years or less. Fresh water is drying-up and their will be a huge water crisis (and there are pockets of water crisis's all over the world right now, thanks to the control of The World Bank and massive water companies like Nestle and Coke) in 15-20 years. Fact. If we don't switch to wind, nuclear (and I'm no fan, but for now it's the most useful) and solar soon, man, the future is bleak. Water will be the new oil.

[The DARK]

i dont understand why our society is based on a non-renewable energy source anyway.

It's hereditary/historical, plus no leader has the balls and vision to impliment a new energy-efficient infrastructure and convince the masses that this is a good thing. Our forefathers used wood, peat and then coal for fuel and then oil etc...... and now, certain governments don't want to be the scapegoat for making  changes that may or may not affect their economies negatively in the short-term.

Oil will run out in 20 years or less. Fresh water is drying-up and their will be a huge water crisis (and there are pockets of water crisis's all over the world right now, thanks to the control of The World Bank and massive water companies like Nestle and Coke) in 15-20 years. Fact. If we don't switch to wind, nuclear (and I'm no fan, but for now it's the most useful) and solar soon, man, the future is bleak. Water will be the new oil.

I'm glad someone else is recognizing the water problem. Nearly all the meltwater in the world will be gone in the near future and much of the world will suffer from extreme thirst.

[Jaimoe]

I saw the film Flow at the Hot Docs Festival in Toronto a few weeks ago (considered the most important documentary festival in the world). Flow is a documentary about the world's fresh water (and a bit about salt water too) and how it is exploited by big water companies,  governments and the omnipotent World Bank. If I can leave everyone with one simple way to fight the world's water shortage (and the corruption of water companies as a whole), DO NOT BUY OR DRINK BOTTLED WATER (if you have a choice). Check out the film's link below (and make sure to check out the film clips too):

http://flowthefilm.com/about.php

[mjkoehler]

... and massive water companies like Nestle and Coke) in 15-20 years.

I wish people would quit buying bottled water. I work for Nestle and absolutly refuse to buy bottled water and will only drink it if I absolutly have to.

EDIT- I do not drink soda/pop. Sadly many eating establishments have switched to bottled water which makes it ruff.

[thatswhatshesaid]

i took a class last fall that discussed the overuse and abuse of fresh water. it is scary to think about that there is a good possibility war will break out over water. examples in the US are the colorado river basin and there is a battle between georgia and florida over water as well.  the govt is trying to screw indian tribes out of water so las vegas can have enough to run its water fountains and such.

[thatswhatshesaid]

... and massive water companies like Nestle and Coke) in 15-20 years.

I wish people would quit buying bottled water. I work for Nestle and absolutly refuse to buy bottled water and will only drink it if I absolutly have to.

EDIT- I do not drink soda/pop. Sadly many eating establishments have switched to bottled water which makes it ruff.

thats funny because i am drinking a bottle of nestle water right now. i dont drink tap water in dayton because apparently there have been traces of mood enhancing drugs and hormones found in the city water. i dont need the government adding things to my water to try and numb me and turn me into a woman.

[thatswhatshesaid]

speaking of the damage mining does:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080510/ap_on_re_us/farewell_to_a_town

[Jaimoe]

... and massive water companies like Nestle and Coke) in 15-20 years.

I wish people would quit buying bottled water. I work for Nestle and absolutly refuse to buy bottled water and will only drink it if I absolutly have to.

EDIT- I do not drink soda/pop. Sadly many eating establishments have switched to bottled water which makes it ruff.

thats funny because i am drinking a bottle of nestle water right now. i dont drink tap water in dayton because apparently there have been traces of mood enhancing drugs and hormones found in the city water. i dont need the government adding things to my water to try and numb me and turn me into a woman.

Dude, water companies aren't regulated (especially Nestle) and thus don't have to answer to anyone. Often bottled water companies mine water right out of a city's tap-water system. Enjoy your hormone-infested bottled water. And governments aren't the one's dumping the mood enhancers and hormones into the water system. It's us - we dump the drugs and hormones through our urine, blood, spit etc... down the drain far more than any hospital or slaughterhouse does. Oh yeah, you ingest more through your skin than you do by drinking tap water, so say goodbye to showering.

[thatswhatshesaid]

... and massive water companies like Nestle and Coke) in 15-20 years.

I wish people would quit buying bottled water. I work for Nestle and absolutly refuse to buy bottled water and will only drink it if I absolutly have to.

EDIT- I do not drink soda/pop. Sadly many eating establishments have switched to bottled water which makes it ruff.

thats funny because i am drinking a bottle of nestle water right now. i dont drink tap water in dayton because apparently there have been traces of mood enhancing drugs and hormones found in the city water. i dont need the government adding things to my water to try and numb me and turn me into a woman.

Dude, water companies aren't regulated (especially Nestle) and thus don't have to answer to anyone. Often bottled water companies mine water right out of a city's tap-water system. Enjoy your hormone-infested bottled water. And governments aren't the one's dumping the mood enhancers and hormones into the water system. It's us - we dump the drugs and hormones through our urine, blood, spit etc... down the drain far more than any hospital or slaughterhouse does. Oh yeah, you ingest more through your skin than you do by drinking tap water, so say goodbye to showering.

good point, but i do think the govt "enhances" our drinking water. sounds awfully bushy to me.

[Jaimoe]

... and massive water companies like Nestle and Coke) in 15-20 years.

I wish people would quit buying bottled water. I work for Nestle and absolutly refuse to buy bottled water and will only drink it if I absolutly have to.

EDIT- I do not drink soda/pop. Sadly many eating establishments have switched to bottled water which makes it ruff.

thats funny because i am drinking a bottle of nestle water right now. i dont drink tap water in dayton because apparently there have been traces of mood enhancing drugs and hormones found in the city water. i dont need the government adding things to my water to try and numb me and turn me into a woman.

Dude, water companies aren't regulated (especially Nestle) and thus don't have to answer to anyone. Often bottled water companies mine water right out of a city's tap-water system. Enjoy your hormone-infested bottled water. And governments aren't the one's dumping the mood enhancers and hormones into the water system. It's us - we dump the drugs and hormones through our urine, blood, spit etc... down the drain far more than any hospital or slaughterhouse does. Oh yeah, you ingest more through your skin than you do by drinking tap water, so say goodbye to showering.

good point, but i do think the govt "enhances" our drinking water. sounds awfully bushy to me.

Isn't your government's fear of "enhanced" drinking water the reason why LSD is still categorized as a major capital offence?

[thatswhatshesaid]

... and massive water companies like Nestle and Coke) in 15-20 years.

I wish people would quit buying bottled water. I work for Nestle and absolutly refuse to buy bottled water and will only drink it if I absolutly have to.

EDIT- I do not drink soda/pop. Sadly many eating establishments have switched to bottled water which makes it ruff.

thats funny because i am drinking a bottle of nestle water right now. i dont drink tap water in dayton because apparently there have been traces of mood enhancing drugs and hormones found in the city water. i dont need the government adding things to my water to try and numb me and turn me into a woman.

Dude, water companies aren't regulated (especially Nestle) and thus don't have to answer to anyone. Often bottled water companies mine water right out of a city's tap-water system. Enjoy your hormone-infested bottled water. And governments aren't the one's dumping the mood enhancers and hormones into the water system. It's us - we dump the drugs and hormones through our urine, blood, spit etc... down the drain far more than any hospital or slaughterhouse does. Oh yeah, you ingest more through your skin than you do by drinking tap water, so say goodbye to showering.

good point, but i do think the govt "enhances" our drinking water. sounds awfully bushy to me.

Isn't your government's fear of "enhanced" drinking water the reason why LSD is still categorized as a major capital offence?

well, as long as they can "enhance" it to the point to where people wont think for themselves and believe everything they say, its cool with them. of course we all know LSD promotes free thinking and open mindedness for some folks, therefore, it is illegal.

[bluntmaster]

my wrestling nickname is Nuclear Power.