Stopping
global warming is the signature issue of our time. If we do not reverse global
warming, nothing else will matter. Not bringing the Wall Street crooks to
justice or closing down the corrupt banks or stopping our government from
spying on us.
A vital
step is closing down our nukes. Nuclear power is not a legitimate alternative
to the burning of fossil fuels because it is far more dangerous albeit in a
distinctly different way. The risk of further contamination of our earth on
which we depend for our survival cannot be tolerated.
In spite
of the risks, powerful corporate executives are looking to use profitable
nuclear plants to address problems associated with stopping global warming.
Even if
CEOs refuse to do so, we have to recognize this stark fact: nuclear radiation
knows no boundaries. It is incumbent on us to join other countries in ending
nuclear power for it is immoral that by keeping ours running we would be
putting at risk countless others around the world.
The
disaster in Japan reminds us again of how dangerous this form of energy is. A
molten mass of radioactive material lies at the bottom of the three reactors
that experienced meltdowns shortly after the earthquake and tsunami hit
northern Japan on March 11, 2011.
Structural
remains of the containment vessels serve the short-term purpose of preventing
radiation from leaking out into the atmosphere and contaminating not only
Japan, but also much of the world. A second earthquake, predicted by
seismologists to take place within the immediate future, has the potential to
bring those structures tumbling down.
A hundred
thousand Japanese have already been relocated within the country. There are
recent reports that during negotiations over ownership of the Kuril Islands,
Japanese officials told their Russian counterparts that due to Fukushima they
are looking at evacuating roughly forty million people to one or more sites
overseas. (See HYPERLINK
"click here"
click here)
Continued
use of nuclear energy is being seen as part of a mix of alternatives to fossil
fuels. A recent rebroadcast of a PBS program (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/nuclear-aftershocks/)
featured several interviews with energy experts who proclaimed that our future
energy needs couldn't possibly be met without nuclear power. For this reason
plans are being made to replace the ones that will be phased out.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).