Debate - nuclear power?

CGY · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 11:19 am Post subject: Debate - nuclear power?

Well, for the past few years, and especially around this time, the shortage of electricity due to extreme temperature has been quite a hot topic. People need electricity to use their air-conditioner, fans, and all other stuffs, to keep the heat away. However, it is not something you can buy, even if you have the money. If there is not enough electricity, then you won't get it!

Why don't we use nuclear power?

Well, some countries are using them, but most of the others don't. Why, too dangerous, that's what they say, and damaging our environment. They use the Chernobyl as an example to what the huge damage the plant can do when it goes wrong.

But, take a look at its advantage. With nuclear power, we don't have to worry about the shortage of electricity any more. A kg of uranium can generate as much power as 1000 tonnes of coal. It's quite cheap as well. Well, to its danger, it's preventable, and if we are carefull enough, we may prevent all the leaks, and other problems.

What's you opinions?

0343DeepBlack · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 11:57 am Post subject:

I agree with you, CGY. But why do we even NEED nuclear power, anyway? Shouldn't we've moved on from this? Unfortunately, such answers are hard to come by. I'm gonna reserve my judgement until someone can provide some alternatives, not including the ones we have now.
_________________

For I am Steven, King of Cretins! May all lesser Cretins bow before Me!!

neothoron · Conscript Joined: Mar 19, 2005 Posts: 166 Location: France

I live in France, where nuclear plants are the main source of electricity (60-80%, dunno anymore).
Well, this has made France one of the developped countries which pollutes the atmosphere the least (bcoz nuclear do not reject any gas in the atmosphere but boiled water...)
And nuclear energy is practical, and cheap, and has made France (more or less) independant from oil prices...
But there are two problems...
-nuclear "garbage": these are radioactive garbage that stay radioactive for centuries; what to do with these?
-nobody can guarantee that a grave accident won't happen... though that is common sense, the consequences of such an accident may be grave enough to worry...

I believe that nuclear energy as we know it is the best solution... for now; I don't think it shall be seen as a definitive solution, even less as "the energy of the future"...

EDIT:
I think I would class the source of energy that are currently used to produce electricity into three categories:
-"fossil" energies: coal, oil and gas.
-renewable energies: solar, wind, "tide", hydraulic.
-nuclear energy (fission)

x10afreedom · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 12:37 pm Post subject:

i dont think we need nuclear power yet becuase it is too dangerous. one mistake and the cost is really high. besides it's not like we get black outs everyday. from where i live we barely get any black outs. so the use of nuclear power is not the best choice my opinion. company that relay a lot on energy has their own back up power plant and if your worried about your computer you can always get a backup power supply for it. there's many ways to get around it without the use of nuclear power.

Lysol · Heimin (Commoner) Joined: Jul 19, 2005 Posts: 78

I'm a rather strong supporter of Nuclear power until we're able to fully utilize other forms of reusable energy. The problem is, Nuclear power has been labeled with a stigma by the public (much of which is unfounded, for instance, a Nuclear plant could be taken over by terrorists and made into a nuclear bomb, which is simply not possible.) The user before me mentioned he was from France and if I'm correct, the French government goes a long way in educating its citizens of the benefits and negative aspects of Nuclear power. The whole issue with Nuclear waste is about the only negative aspect of Nuclear energy, but almost every form of power except for reusable ones has its disadvantages.

x10afreedom · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 12:50 pm Post subject:

yes but i heard there was an incident once where something went wrong and the nuclear reactor exploded. i heard this from my teacher when we had a disscussion in class. i rahter not risk having the whole city in danger.
_________________
No matter how much i fall. I'll stand right back up.

Lysol · Heimin (Commoner) Joined: Jul 19, 2005 Posts: 78

neothoron · Conscript Joined: Mar 19, 2005 Posts: 166 Location: France

x10afreedom · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 4:41 pm Post subject:

okay i went and did a little research on this and here's what i got. they did greatly improved on the security. they have ucs montoring system and they check if where their nuclear reactor affect the area surrounding them also. they also test the workers and their performance or even train them. so most the problems were detected fast and taken cared of. but the bad news is that only 15 out o 200 responses got a high score. the low score was because of equipment that was left uncorrect for many years. basically there were many problems reported.

so it seems to me that even though there are improvements they still have a lot to improve on. i guess they are trying their best though. but if i vote for nuclear reator or not i guess i would go against it for now.
_________________
No matter how much i fall. I'll stand right back up.

CGY · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 4:45 pm Post subject:

I was wondering if we should replace all the traditional, or rather say, the other ways of generating electricity, with nuclear power plants? Well, maybe costy to built those plants, but after that, the cost for and to produce electricity would be lower.

ladyarakune · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 12:19 pm Post subject:

yes! i live in california, with therisk of rolling black outs being blared over the radio every couple of days, we're all like "SCREW THE ENVIRONMENT, JUST BILD THE DAMN POWER PLANTS ALREADY!"
_________________
CAIN is MY whore. touch him and die.
current activity: rambling on about how trinity blood got licensed
[img:613:113:40986c2a8b]http://www.anime-source.com/upload/uploadFiles/thesignatureiwant.jpg[/img:40986c2a8b]

0343DeepBlack · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 12:26 pm Post subject:

Where I live, it might be more cost effective to place solar panels on the roof of your house 'cause for 300 days of the year the sun is out. Of course, when it is, the temps reach 110 for 3/4 of those days... But still, it beats blackouts, like the one that happened yesterday... right in the middle of class.
_________________

For I am Steven, King of Cretins! May all lesser Cretins bow before Me!!

ladyarakune · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 2:15 pm Post subject:

ual · Heimin (Commoner) Joined: Jul 12, 2005 Posts: 52

Yes altho nuclear power doesnt emit exhaust there is still the nuclear waste. Getting rid of the waste alone is a pain. Who knows I say when it is more refined then yes.

Lysol · Heimin (Commoner) Joined: Jul 19, 2005 Posts: 78