Death of the Nuclear Family

Yes we all know that the nuclear family is a rarity nowadays but what about the family relying on nuclear power. Sadly this beast is still alive a kicking strong.

When I was a student I remember participating in a debate in which I argued for Nuclear Power stations to be built in order to tackle climate change.

Actually I never considered the larger picture and I've now changed my stance. After months of thinking about it logic has prevailed.

Nuclear Power prances around selling its self as a clean energy source, but clean it is not.

Just look at the facts below:

Nuclear power is still unsafe and cannot help the UK meet its pollution targets. Here's the low-down on an energy a former Environment Minister says we need 'like a hole in the head'.

• Expensive
• Dangerous waste
• Environmentally unfriendly
• Security threat
• Real alternatives

Expensive

• Costs more than wind - In 2002 the Cabinet Office estimated that nuclear could cost over 40% more per kWh than on/off-shore wind.
• Waste of money - Construction costs are large and unpredictable with delays causing greater losses. Windfarm costs are known, smaller and falling.
• Hits taxpayers - Disposal of existing waste will cost around £56 billion. More reactors mean more waste, with no guarantee that costs won't be passed on to the public.

Dangerous waste

• Highly radioactive - Nuclear waste can remain dangerous for tens of thousands of years.
• Deadly inheritance - No one has yet demonstrated a safe way of disposing of it.
• Accidents do happen - Leaks and near misses cannot be ruled out.

Environmentally unfriendly

• Way off target - Doubling nuclear power would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at most eight per cent.
• Not emission free - Mining and transporting uranium, building nuclear plants and storage of nuclear waste all produce carbon dioxide emissions.
• Only electricity - It will not replace petrol and diesel - currently responsible for around 22 per cent of UK carbon emissions.

Security threat

• Weapons - Uranium enrichment plants can be misused to make nuclear weapons.
• Vulnerable - No nuclear reactor could withstand a direct hit from a jumbo jet.
• Nowhere to hide - A successful attack could have an impact 40 times worse than the explosion at Chernobyl.

Real alternatives

• No need for nuclear - The UK's vast renewable resources combined with simple energy-saving tactics provide a safer, cleaner and more sensible solution.
• Secure supply - Renewable sources could generate more than half our current electricity needs by 2025.
• Quick technology - All the major renewable technologies can be implemented within three years. We'd be waiting at least ten for nuclear.
• Bright idea - A programme to phase out inefficient light bulbs could save a whole reactor's worth of electricity by 2020.
• Forward thinking - We could save fifteen reactor's worth by investing in the potential of using waste heat to generate electricity.

Source: http://www.foe.org.uk/resource/faqs/questions/nuclear_energy.html

The real problem is our continued plundering of carbon resources to fuel our energy inefficient lifestyles. If all the carbon locked up in the Earth was released the Earth would be inhospitable. Actually we might as well just move to Venus which is a clear example of a planet undergoing an uber-greenhouse effect.

Now carbon isn't the only problem. Actually methane is even worse than Carbon Dioxide as it heats the earth more and stays in the atmosphere longer (Guardian, 2005). Let’s discuss that one another day.

We must think about the future! Nuclear energy is not sustainable. Think small act big.

We need to engender a society based on self-sufficiency. It can be done now. Solar panels, wind turbines... it's not just green clap-trap. It's a way of saving a fortune, living cleanly and giving future generations... well a future.

So what am I doing? Well not a great deal. I moved to a carbon neutral energy tariff but after reading the July 06 New Internationalist, I'm now of the belief that carbon offsets are a farce. I'll be looking at getting my energy from 100% sustainable providers as soon as that next pay-rise comes through in a couple of months. As for my car, well it’s still a petrol whore. I feel guilty at my hypocrisy but I am making changes. I'm currently on the look out for a cheap used LPG car. LPG isn't great either but it’s the lesser of most evils and once again it will save me a fortune in petrol.

Going green usually means saving money in the long-run - which is great for tightwads like me :)

Now if anyone knows the environmental cost of creating LPG please let me know!