I'd like to preface this diary by saying that I don't consider myself a tree-hugging environmentalist, by any means. I generally take a pragmatic approach to solving problems, rather than an ideologically-motivated approach.
But, like many environmentalists, I have huge problem with us turning to nuclear to solve our energy problems. Throughout the campaign, we've been told that nuclear energy is "clean and green," which seemed attractive in light of $5.00 gasoline. Nuclear has been touted as magical cure for both global warming and our growing energy needs.
Before we allow ourselves to be drowned out by louder drumbeats and propaganda, we must be thoroughly become informed of the risks and problems associated with nuclear energy.
Case in point: the Department of Energy has just called for the expansion of the Yucca Mountain dump site.
While Senator John McCain used his famous air-quotes to mock Obama for his concern for nuclear waste, states like Nevada are grappling with the issue. Now, just imagine for a second, if we depended on nuclear as a power source. How many Yucca mountains will we have to deal with? Where will we store the waste?
Not in my backyard, of course, will be the prevailing attitude.
It is well known that Native-Americans and other minorities are the most adversely affected by our energy decisions. Think of the Native-Americans in Alaska after the Exxon-Valdez spill: the environmental degradation that that ensued ended up hurting people who fished for a living. And of course, we already know that minorities are more likely to live in polluted areas, and are disproportionately suffering from respiratory illnesses.
How will nuclear energy affect environmental justice? Whose backyard are we willing to store nuclear waste in?
Sadly, the world seems to be sending their nuclear waste to the United States. That's right folks: our country is being used as a garbage can. This goes to show that the problem of nuclear waste has not been solved.
We also haven't thought about how the secretive nature of the industry will affect us. It will be difficult to investigate any wrong-doing, since the nuclear industry is not one that can be checked by sunshine laws. As we have seen with Nevada, states cannot do much to fight the federal government's decisions.
How would you feel if your state became the new dumping ground for nuclear waste and there wasn't anything you can do about it? Nuclear plants need to be heavily policed and protected. In the long run, how will that erode our civil liberties?
Nuclear technology is a very, very vulnerable technology, and we must think twice before we jump on the bandwagon.