Main Arguments Against Nuclear Power

There have been many arguments against nuclear power for decades, and although nuclear power comes in and out of fashion, the main arguments against nuclear power remain very much the same.

Early in the 1950s, nuclear power was heralded as cheap source of energy, which produced fewer pollutants into the atmosphere, and was going to change the face of the world. Governments, scientists and engineers were all supportive of this ‘wonder power’, in fact, Lewis Strauss, the head of the Atomic Energy Commission is quoted as saying in 1954 “it is not too much to expect that our children will enjoy in their home electrical energy too cheap to meter”. Rather a bold statement, so what happened there then?

The disaster at Chernobyl in 1986 brought home to many the very real dangers to people, the environment and the whole world, (the effects were even felt in the UK) and nuclear power became an extremely contentious issue among many world leaders and environmentalists. Greenpeace and many other environmental groups felt, and still do, that the risks to the environment far outweigh any advantages which the pro-nuclear scientists can muster.

Main Arguments against Nuclear Power

Ironically, due to increased knowledge and awareness of climate change and global warming, some environmentalists are once again advocating the use of nuclear power as an environmentally friendly option, as less CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere (one of the main culprits of global warming). The main arguments against nuclear power, however, are still the same:

• Accidents – the threat of nuclear melt down is very real, as was proved by Chernobyl, and the consequent release of massive quantities of radioactivity
• Waste disposal – one unsavory bi-product of nuclear power is the large amount of radioactive waste, dangerous for thousands of years. Scientists are still working on safe ways to dispose of this dangerous waste, but no luck yet
• Weapons of mass destruction – the expertise and facilities needed to produce nuclear power can be easily adapted for the production of nuclear weapons
• Terrorism – nuclear power plants make great big, immovable targets for terrorists and other criminals
• Mining – Uranium mining is renowned to be dirty, and there is even danger of contamination whilst transporting the uranium to the power plant
• Alternatives – there are safer, cleaner alternatives to nuclear power. Wind turbines, Solar power, Wave turbines to name a few. Although the cost of setting up these safer alternatives may be prohibitive, in the long run who wouldn’t agree that it’s a small price to pay for a safer, cleaner world?