tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357499775964821963.post4515614818766287688..comments2023-11-26T16:42:06.417+00:00Comments on A Life Inside & Outside of Politics - Mark Cole: A Japanese Tragedy & My Nuclear DilemmaMark Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17030479655275524928noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357499775964821963.post-65167383735414793942011-03-13T17:28:38.723+00:002011-03-13T17:28:38.723+00:00Unlike the majority of Lib Dem members, I have nev...Unlike the majority of Lib Dem members, I have never had a dilema with nuclear power. I am in favour of it, subject to various conditions. <br /><br />The public tend to have a fear of nuclear power, like they do on crime. They perceive a problem that is often not there, judging by Home Office statistics.<br /><br />I had a clerical job at AERE Harwell and then Culham Laboratory, both near Abingdon in Oxfordshire. OK, I was a pen pusher as computers were not there for us to use in those days. I worked there from 1978-82, when I then went to Portsmouth Poly.<br /><br />Of course I have reservations of nuclear energy, but as long as its being used for generating electricity and therefore peaceful purposes, it has a role to play. I am even more satisfied now that for the UK, the next generation of nuclear reactors are far safer and produce far less waste than the generation that are coming to the end of their useful life.<br /><br />Nuclear power also has the advantage of no CO2 emissions and unlike wind farms that spoil the beautiful landscape of Wales and the UK, they continue to operate when there is no wind.<br /><br />Too many political parties and politicians are BLINKERED by the view that wind turbines are the solution. In my opinion, they are a small part of the solution. Yet so many politicians are happy to destroy our landscapes with wind turbines and yet the amount of electricity they produce is fairly small and wont solve the problem even if they cluttered the land mass. <br /><br />They are not friendly to birds, either.<br /><br />Our blinkered politicians need to wake up. Within a few years, the lights will start to go out as the current power stations start to come off-line. And thats not just the nuclear power stations.<br /><br />In my opinion, to keep building gas power station is a waste of a resource that is best used for domestic and industrial use. Not to produce electriicity.<br /><br />HOWEVER, I wish to make it clear that I am horrified that a country such as Japan, with its history of earthquakes, because of where it lies, has nuclear power. The problem for Japan is that it has few natural resources, so I guess thats why it has nuclear power.<br /><br />We all know that Iran wants nuclear power to produce enriched uranium to make nuclear bombs as I wouldnt believe a word that comes from the mouth of President Ahmedinejad, any more than I could have thrown Cyril Smith, in the 1970's.<br /><br />Nuclear power in the UK would be viable as long as the sitings are geolically safe, as well as the expected security precautions were all in place. If scientists said it was safe next to me, I would be happy to live next to one. Also, the fears of dealing with the waste has to be dealt with as it currently is on the surface, in Cumbria. If the geology was safe next to me for the next 100000 years (or whatever the time scale is), I would be equally happy to have them bury it under my house as long as its all done safely using the skills that scientists at the UKAEA and from abroad, say is what is required.<br /><br />I am also pleased that the Severn Barrage scheme was dropped.<br /><br />Its time we had an adult discussion on the future of nuclear power in the UK and start to allay the fears that people have, but we learn the lessons of our current reactors and from what has happened in Japan.<br /><br />Nuclear power is safe and it is a GREEN form of energy and less damaging to the landscape, unlike politicians obsessions with wind turbines. <br /><br />If we want electricity, we will have to bite the bullet and look at ALL the options and not exclude any, either, or the lights will go out.Andrew Lyenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357499775964821963.post-22144768620219665002011-03-12T21:10:54.125+00:002011-03-12T21:10:54.125+00:00On the basis of the information that's out the...On the basis of the information that's out there so far, I'd say we're underestimating the severity of the accident (there's clearly some core damage and the plant will never generate again) but, thankfully, overestimating the radiation consequences (which seem to be no worse than Three Mile Island, which didn't even breach its discharge limits!)Gareth Aubreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420082463890261627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357499775964821963.post-20051680010137610932011-03-12T17:21:16.629+00:002011-03-12T17:21:16.629+00:00great post. it is a real situation of Japan. The ...great post. it is a real situation of Japan. The damages were worst than anyone thought. so longAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com