Swedish teenager Ia Anstoot says group’s ‘unscientific’ opposition to EU nuclear power serves fossil fuel interests
    • oct_opus@lemmy.worldEnglish
      133·
      1 year ago

      Here are few things to consider:

      • The vast majority of nuclear waste is not highly radioactive. Over 90% of it is low-level waste. As we progresses we’re finding better ways to manage and reduce this or even recycling it.
      • The Fukushima incident though unfortunate and a reminder to improve safety standards didn’t result in any direct fatalities due to radiation. In fact, the amount of radioactivity released into the ocean was 0 when you look at the vastness of the Pacific and the dilution. The oceans already contain a considerable amount of natural radiation and the added amount from the incident, though not better than nothing is a drop in the ocean size bucket.
      • Air pollution from coal plants contributes to numerous premature deaths yearly with some estimates in the hundreds of thousands globally. This is far more concerning than the potential risks posed by nuclear energy especially when managed with modern safety standards. Just see Fukushima.
      • As for nuclear plants being military targets, any infrastructure can become a target in wartime, dams, chemical plants or any other energy installations. The key is to ensure safety and security measures.
    • Olgratin_Magmatoe@startrek.websiteEnglish
      73·
      1 year ago

      practical, long-term, solution to nuclear waste

      This depends on the type of waste, and how radioactive it is. The overwhelming majority of nuclear waste is low level, and capable of being safely stored in steel/concrete casks. The higher level stuff can be safely stored in exhausted mines.

      demonstrate that a nuclear bomb is not a military target, sure

      All power sources are inherently military targets, so you’ve defined an impossible task.

      Additionally, you can design a plant to be a lower risk target in the case of an attack. We’ve had decades of research put into how to make these plants safe.

      https://sgp.fas.org/crs/homesec/RL34331.pdf

      https://theconversation.com/how-to-protect-nuclear-plants-from-terrorists-57094

      We just saw Japan release nuclear waste into the ocean for lack of a solution

      I’m not thrilled with it either, but the waste they are releasing is diluted.

      https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66610977

      The water they are releasing is basically no different than the radioactivity of normal sea water.

      • Thunderbird4@lemmy.worldEnglish
        42·
        1 year ago

        I would also emphasize that nuclear reactor =/= nuclear bomb. Power reactors cannot under any circumstances cause a nuclear explosion.

            • Olgratin_Magmatoe@startrek.websiteEnglish
              1·
              1 year ago

              This is what humans have been saying about auto exhaust, factory emissions, agricultural emissions etc for a hundred years. It’s turned out wrong in every way.

              There is a key difference, fossil fuel use inherently ends up leaving pollution in the atmosphere, nuclear power does not do anything of the same.

              it, isn’t your position basically the same as the right wing position on climate change?

              Nope. It’s not even close

              That even if it exists humans are too small to actually effect the huge atmosphere so it’s not human caused.

              That’s not even close to what I am saying.

              All sea water is radioactive already, and has been since before humans got nukes. And thats because all sea water has tritium at low levels. When we release water that is at the same level as sea water, nothing changes.

              It’s like adding a red ball or playdoh to a red ball of playdoh. There’s not going to be a difference. Fossil fuels on the other hand would be like adding a black ball of playdoh to a red one.