Nuclear+Energy

Once again the nuclear power issue is making the headlines. Politicians and economists talk about the topic. Ones are saying the advantages and other people are arguing over the disadvantages of nuclear power. Pro-nuclear activists argue that Spain needs to obtain cheap energy. They claim that nowadays roughly 20% of our electricity comes from a nuclear source, and we are not able to obtain this amount from other energy sources. In addition to this, there are other public services, like hospitals, using this energy. They recognize that the waste is the biggest problem by far, but they think we can manage it, keeping it in secure centres. Pronuclear politicians compare our situation with the rest of European countries, and explain how well they are. Nevertheless, they don’t mention the high risk we are running if there is an explosion or an escape of radioactivity. They don’t explain what the matter was with Chernobil in the old USSR or the big leak in the USA some years ago; and how the authorities of those countries hid those facts. Those disasters spoilt many square kilometres of fertile soil, and big areas were damaged and polluted, not to mention the effect it had on people’s health, and the illnesses of people who lived there. I’m wondering: is it worth taking that kind of risk? Is it reliable? There is no doubt in my mind that nuclear power may be unpredictable and we must be worried about it. We can’t condemn the future of our descendants. Considering that, why do people like it? Some answers come to my mind: we think in economic terms. All the things in our society are translated into money, we just don’t realize that there are many other things we can’t measure in terms of money, like personal health, the environment and safety. I really believe that before we make a new nuclear powerstation we have to consider the likely damages and other possibilities: build new reservoirs to produce electricity, keep an eye out for reducing the electricity wasted in big towns, use more efficient light bulbs, and increase money for alternative renewable sources, like solar, wave and wind power, or hydrogen batteries. (José)
 * NUCLEAR POWER **