...Opposition to nuclear power stations in Germany was generated by widespread agreement that nuclear power was not in the best interests if Germany society. This is reflected in legislation. However, if a significant proportion of Germany’s electricity supply is sourced from France – in particular, from nuclear power stations that are situated close to the German border – are there moral issues, or is this simply a cruel irony? Answer: By giving up nuclear power at this period of time would mean that Germany would have to rely heavily on non-renewable resources, such as coal, and on buying electricity from France. The electricity produced by France is mostly from their nuclear power stations, which are situated close to the German border. If we look back at the Chernobyl disaster, not only parts of Ukraine were affected but many parts of Belarus were affected too. So, if there happened to be a nuclear station accident in France, then, Germany would be affected too. Therefore, in my opinion, Germany has made the decision to quit from nuclear power too early as mentioned by the president of Germany, Ralf Gueldner, "A quick and rash exit from German nuclear power would raise costs for the whole economy, make us miss climate goals, raise our reliance on fossil fuels and make our power supply less secure, meaning more power imports and problems with network stability," (Pidd, 2011). The operating standards in French nuclear power stations are not necessarily those that would apply...
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...four different topics. I have underlined some of the words and phrases that link the ideas. Although the main ideas come from the ebook, it is sometimes necessary to expand on them and add examples; this is part of the practice. 1. Nuclear Power Benefits: Nuclear power stations have several benefits. Firstly, nuclear power is a relatively sustainable energy source, meaning that it can be used to produce electricity without wasting limited natural resources like coal, oil or gas. Secondly, nuclear power stations are cleaner than fossil fuel power stations, and could help to reduce carbon emissions that cause global warming. Finally, with improvements in nuclear technology, the risk of accidents is being reduced. As a result, many countries are now considering nuclear power as a solution to high oil and gas prices, increasing demand for electricity, and worries about pollution and climate change. Drawbacks (disadvantages): On the other hand, opponents of nuclear power worry about the safety of power stations. The Chernobyl disaster was an example of the dangers of a nuclear accident, and safety fears mean that the building of new nuclear power stations is unpopular; nobody wants to live near one. Apart from the risk of accidents, nuclear waste disposal is a significant problem as there is currently no way to decontaminate radioactive material. Waste has to be contained and stored, which is expensive and raises security issues. Another worry is that terrorists could steal...
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... Whitaker ENGL 1101-08 November 17, 2012 The Nuclear Solution The need for electricity has risen to an all time high, as the number of electronic devices in use increases along side that of America’s growing population, consumption has began to exceed that of production. In order to meet these demands energy needs to be produced in a more efficient and effective manner. Although there is no shortage of renewable resources such as water, wind, and the sun, these resources have yet prove their ability to provide us with the extensive amount of energy we require. On the other hand nuclear power has shown great success and I believe may be the solution to the energy crisis. Nuclear power plants split uranium and plutonium atoms, a process known as fission, to produce high amounts of heat within a reactor, turning water into steam used to power generators (Introduction to Nuclear Energy). Twenty percent of America's energy already comes from nuclear power (Alexander); thus arising an essential question, why have we not expanded this technology? America should turn to nuclear power as its primary source of energy because it will help stimulate the economy, create new advancements in nuclear technology, limit the stress put on our environment, and is much more safe than once believed. Increasing the number of nuclear power plants would be positive to the economy in an array of ways. Some people argue that the cost of nuclear power plants are more expensive to build compared...
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...Salako Tejumade Dr. Matthew Lerberg ENGL 1302-019 20 October 2014 Fossil fuel: Are they worth it? A very reasonable percentage of the UTA faction is definitely aware of the fast rising problems fossil fuels are costing our global environments and the controversy with intent of finding alternative energy sources. Nevertheless the public has appreciated most of this interference with no doubt but some others have resulted in some real dissension. One of the most common controversies that can be put before us is reason for the rise in sea level that deviates from anatomic evolution to the management of water resources to the highly debated issue of climate change. One can think that it is developing as a result of natural instability of the climate system or that it is human-induced, mainly from the burning of fossil fuels. Moreover, our global environment has many problems, If the extent of carbon radiation increment is one, low level of intellective involvement accompanying some of the extreme concurrent objections are definitely in addition. Furthermore, there is several captivating and scrutinized investigation on selective concurrent complications just as global warming, and yet some of the foundational issues have remained unresolved and unaddressed. In this paper I will review three main positions areas of neglected environmental analyses that demand immediate attention. First, is the widespread problem of not possessing anything like a general normative infrastructure...
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...Fam, S., Xiong, J., Xiong, G., Yong, D. and Ng, D. (2014) ‘Post-Fukushima Japan: The continuing nuclear controversy’, Energy Policy 68: 199-205. Fam et al. discuss the impacts of the 2011 Fukushima disaster and the opposing values and interests that are involved in the nuclear energy debate. The value disagreement exists between the economic benefit of nuclear power versus the nuclear risk as evidenced in the disaster and the interest disagreement occurs for economic security versus environmental and safety risks. Their analysis primarily focusses on the actors in the energy conflict, the role they play and the ingrained institutional barrier to reform in the Japanese nuclear energy sector (Fam et al.: 2014). Fam et al. concludes that the...
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...Father of the Soviet Hydrogen Bomb. “In 1947 I defended my thesis on nuclear physics, and in 1948 I was included in a group of research scientists whose task was to develop nuclear weapons” .- Andrey Sakharov. The twentieth century was a critical year for human civilization in many ways. Advances in science transformed the lives of people and shook the traditional way of life across the globe. The perception of human existence and its core aspects have never been the same after the developments during the twentieth century. Together with discoveries in physics and chemistry, the century has witnessed two world wars which led to millions of human deaths and other human atrocities. One of the miracles of the twentieth century was the creation of a nuclear weapon. The development of the nuclear weapons followed with further research on the hydrogen bomb as well as all the controversies surrounding the creation of the weapon. These controversies can be directly linked to some issues of moral and ethical significance. The story of Andrey Sakharov about his contribution to the nuclear arms race of the USSR and its implications is a vivid example of that link. According...
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...Controversy over Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) shipments Axia College of University of Phoenix COM 125 Utilizing Information in College Writing Tasha Tillman September 17, 2006 Controversy over Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) shipments When someone says the word nuclear or radioactive most people panic and are scared to death. Would one be safer transporting a trailer loaded with 9,000 gallons of gasoline or would the same person be safer transporting a loaded trailer of transuranic (TRU) waste? Therefore, transporting any commodity can be as safe as the driver transporting the commodity or the opposing traffic makes the situation. With the continued controversy over the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) site, the Department of Energy (DOE) has continued to transport transuranic (TRU) waste from different sites around the U.S. to the world’s first repository for radioactive waste. This paper will explain what the WIPP site does and where WIPP is located. Will explain the birth of the program and why. Will explain what TRU waste is. Will explain what the process of disposal is from birth to the grave. Will show what the public has to say about the program. Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is the world's first underground repository licensed to safely and permanently dispose of TRU waste left from the research and production of nuclear weapons. After more than 20 years of scientific study, public input, and regulatory struggles, WIPP began operations...
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...demand for energy. Due to the era of cheap and unsustainable energy supply, also known as fossil fuels, coming to an end, we must consider other forms of energy. Nuclear energy is the energy released during nuclear fission or fusion, when used to generate electricity. Renewable energy is energy from a source that is not depleted when used. Both types of energy are considered to be replacements for fossil fuels, however both with benefits and drawbacks. One of the main advantages of nuclear energy is that it is a clear power with no atmospheric emissions therefore it does not contribute to global warming. They do not produce smoke particles to pollute the atmosphere or emit gases that contribute to acid rain. When comparing this with the atmospheric emissions of fossil fuels, it is a big advantage. It is by far the most concentrated form of energy - a lot of energy is produced from a small mass of fuel, this reduces transport costs. It is considered low cost power for today’s consumption. The technology has already been developed, it is ready for market use. It is not geographically limited as nuclear power plants don't require a lot of space; they do not need a large plot like a wind farm. It is reliable, unlike some forms of renewable energy, it does not depend on the weather. We can control the output from a nuclear power station to fit our needs. Although radioactive, nuclear power does produce a small amount of waste. One of the main disadvantages of nuclear power is the...
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...stretch across the globe. However, this hunger for energy has brought on problems as well. Our reliance on fossil fuels has led us to the issue of air pollution, which harms both the environment and our own personal health. Digging for these limited resources has become dangerous, to the point where accidents such as cave-ins drop down upon those mining for fuel. Lung disease from simply mining coal is responsible for the suffering of many diminished lives. Yet there is a solution, a solution that has already been implemented by modern countries, although on a small scale. Through the use of safe and nearly sustainable nuclear energy that can last hundreds of years, thousands of lives can be saved from the hazards of fossil fuels. The history of nuclear energy is relatively new. Though uranium was first discovered in 1789 by Martin Klaproth, it was not until the late 1930’s and early 40’s before experimentation with nuclear energy began. It was around this time that nuclear fission was discovered; to put into simple terms, nuclear fission is the process of splitting an atom’s nucleus, which results in the...
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...Illinois Nuclear Industry Illinois is the nation’s nuclear energy leader. Illinois has more nuclear power plants, employs more people in the nuclear industry and produces more electricity through nuclear power than any other state in the nation. However, the plants are no longer operating profitably and some are at risk of closure due to electric prices being driven down by pollution emitting carbon based plants and by the wind energy industry being subsidized by the federal government. 1 It is crucial for Illinois lawmakers to take a pro-nuclear stance in order to ensure the survival of this vital industry for years to come. Why is nuclear power so important to Illinois? * Illinois’ nuclear facilities generate 90 percent of the state’s carbon-free power and 48 percent of the state’s total electricity. 2 (See Figure 1 in appendix) * In order to match Illinois’ nuclear plants’ level of production, carbon based plants would need to emit over 82 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the air.3(Figure 2) * Illinois has six nuclear plants that employ over 5,900 people directly and 20,000 indirectly in jobs that pay 36 percent more than average jobs in the same areas in which they operate. 2 * The nuclear industry pays over $290 million a year in state and local taxes. This money helps to fund local school districts, communities and state agencies. There are two key factors at play that are threatening the nuclear industry. Exelon, owner and operator of the six...
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...Nuclear power debate – Is it worth using nuclear energy? According to the Interdisciplinary Study of Massachusetts Institute of Technology “Around 6% of the world’s energy and 14% of the world’s electricity is produced by nuclear power”. In the United States, 1 in 5 households and business are electrically powered by nuclear energy. This number is even higher in Europe, where a third of the electricity produced comes from nuclear energy. Though, there is always a strong controversy through the public over the usage of this type of energy. Opponents mainly point out the safety issue, waste management problems in dealing with radioactive residuals and the threat of possible leakage. Despite their arguments, I strongly believe that the benefits of nuclear power usage far outweigh the disadvantages and it is the most economically feasible and environmentally friendly way of producing energy. Some people feel that nuclear power represents the danger to the world in a form of possible nuclear warfare. They state, that many politically unstable countries like Iran, North Korea and Pakistan launch nuclear power programs but behind these programs there is an aim of creating the weapon of mass destruction. Fortunately, despite the fact, that US intelligence agencies suspected explosives to be tested on one of the Iran’s nuclear sites, inspection revealed no signs of possible threat there. Apart from it, historical facts show that while there have been wars in recent decades, they...
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...Why was their so fierce Opposition? In what Way did Truman Not Understand? These answers lie in the depths of the controversy about the Atomic Bomb. Introduction The atomic bomb was a topic of major controversy but the main debate was about the necessity of the atomic bomb. Many say that the atomic bomb was dropped because it would save millions of American lives. However at that period the Japanese were also at the point of surrendering. Huge amounts of incendiary bombs were used in large-scale cities against japan. Many of the scientists in the Manhattan Project were disturbed about it. The incendiary bombs reduced much morale from the Japanese army and crippled the will power. However this small cripple made Japan even angrier because these incendiary bombs were used on innocent civilians and not the Japanese army. Many think that it was necessary to use the Atomic Bombs because Japan attacked America first and not the other way around. It is a fact that when Hitler attacked Russia he expected Japan to attack from the East while Hitler attacked from the West and so Hitler might have won the battle of Stalingrad and captured Russia. Although this is not how it went. Japan respected the fighting force of Russia but however Fuehrer Franklin maneuvered them because he needed a war to maintain his presidency. Although even this statement is in deep controversy...
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...Some may ask what nuclear energy is, the dictionary defines this as: 1. The energy released by a nuclear reaction, especially by fission or fusion. 2. Nuclear energy regarded as a source of power. Also called atomic energy Nuclear power was first known to be researched in the early 1900's, and by the world war; it reached its greatest peak by demonstrating to the world its power to destroy. Nuclear energy can be good or bad, depending on how the person works with this material; it is used for both sides good and bad. Scientists were unsure from the beginning of how it was possible to get energy from the material called Uranium. They were sure that with its uniqueness it would be able to transform itself into different elements. So they were unsure of it for many years, until Albert Einstein he explored the world of nuclear energy. In 1905 he released his theory of the famous equation e=mc2 with this he knew that uranium was able to create masses of electricity. A few years later, scientists found out the great power of the atomic energy. Since then, both scientist and the public were unable to find the best fit for nuclear energy in our society. We have put it into power plants, but the government and public were disappointed by accidents. We have put it into war, and with it we have caused great damages. So the question is where can this energy go? Even though it has been discovered to be the greatest power source of the world today, nobody is willing to...
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...1: Mechanical energy: potential energy (object not moving) vs. kinetic energy (object moving) Chemical energy: stored in bonds between atoms in a molecule 2: Electrical energy: results from the motion of electrons Nuclear energy: stored in the nuclei of atoms, it is released by either splitting/joining of atoms 3: Thermal energy: heat = internal energy in substances, the vibration and movement of atoms and molecules within substances Electrical energy: results from the motion of electrons 4: Kilowatt hour (kWh) = 1,000 watt hours, unit of energy. Ex: Using a 60 watt light bulb for 1,000 hours consumes 60 kilowatt hours of electricity. 5: The major resources used for energy globally are oil. In the US they are petroleum, coal, and natural gas. 6: 3 fossil fuels -Coal: Produced by decomposition of ancient organic matter under high temperature and pressure (non-renewable) -Oil: Produced by decomposition of deeply buried organic material under high pressures and temperatures for millions of years (non-renewable) -Natural Gas: Produced by decomposition of deeply buried organic material under high pressures and temperatures for millions of years (non-renewable) 7: Net energy= the usable amount of high-quality energy available from a given quantity of energy resource. Ex: coal, oil, natural gas 8: Second law of thermodynamics- when energy is converted from one form to another, a less useful form 9: oil- used to manufacture paints, medicines, plastics and is used in cars...
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...renewed interest in nuclear power as a means of providing for the world’s energy needs. Discuss the implications for Australia’s mining industry? Australia is the world’s largest coal exporter and has the second largest deposit of coal in the world. Although the world is currently in the throes of a global financial crisis, Australia’s economy one of the few in the developed world to stay afloat has been buoyed considerably by its exports industry, particularly that of coal. Despite Australia’s promise to reduce carbon emissions by 5% in accordance with its commitment to the Kyoto protocol, the coal industry has been lucky enough to avoid almost all penalties that other industries are set to receive under the proposed carbon emission trading scheme . This combined with Australia continuing to stall further international discussions on combating climate change has earned Australia the reputation of “A nation of climate sinners” . It is obvious that despite a lot of rhetoric on the importance of addressing climate change, the Australian government is not willing to commit to solving the global challenge of climate change to an appreciable degree while such a large part of the Australian economy is at stake. For the Australian government to fully commit to its promises on combating climate change, a way to free the Australian economy of its coal dependence needs to be found. The world is in a new era of energy production where it is no longer a question of which energy technology will...
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