chernobyl and nuclear power - your view

[linzig]

Hi

For a university project I'm looking into the perception of risk surrounding nuclear power and in particular whether an catasrophe such as Chernobyl could occur again. I'm based in england next to Heysham nuclear power plant so its an issue very close to home for me.

I need to gather information regarding the stance of various people friom various countries and backgrounds and whether they beleive that there is a risk of another Chernobyl happening and why.

I would be most greatful for the views of ukranians or anybody really who has an opinion on nuclear energy or the Chernoybl disaster

Thanks very much any information or point of view welcome!

[The_James]

In Sweden I know that in the nuclear facilities if there is a problem, it doesnЄt matter if it is a problem with the water on the way to cool down the reactor is leaking or if the nuclear reactor is leaking or any other error the Swedish government would shut down that facility.
If more countries would be like that and make their demands on the security on the nuclear power plants higher then maybe we might avoid some future incidents.
IЄm not saying the Swedish government should be a role model for other countries; for the Swedish government is actually really bad eg. they have been promising to shut down the nuclear power facilities for more than 20 years.
Now donЄt think that IЄm Swedish because I live in Sweden for I am not Swedish but born in Bristol, England with British and American nationalities.
I know a good deal about nuclear facilities in numerous countries, but this is all I shall wright down now.

[johnstruthers]

At least one of the plants at Chernobyl is producing electricity again. The problem that occured in 1985 was the result of a combination of factors that included two design problems, one of a technical nature, and the other the design of humans. Someone was foolishly conducting a technical experiment that should have been out of bounds, and faulty technology permitted it to have terrible consequences. Therein resides the fallibility of all nuclear reactors: They are run and monitored by humans, who have inherent design problems in their brains. So the likelyhood of further disasters, even worse in consequence, are great, and are prefigured by Murphy's law, which transcends all other laws where humans interact with technology. The basic flaw is the assertion that nuclear power is "clean", when it is the filthiest, most irresponsible form of energy creation possible. Its waste has a half-life of 24,000 years, and no one knows where to put it to keep it from eventually getting into the environment. It was assumed that "technology" would find a solution to this when the first reactors were built. Ukraine, ten years ago, wanted to declare itself a "nuclear free zone". Economics and politics, two disciplines driven by human design flaws, have interfered sufficiently with this idea to forestall it indefinitely.

[LURCH]

ANY field of endeavor beset by "human error" should be abandoned forthwith. This includes hunting and gathering, don't want to upset the delicate balance of nature, now do we? Of course, aviation, medicine, manufacturing, and agriculture will have to go out the freakin' window first. I do not intend to starve like an animal. You are, of course, free to do as you please, unless you have determined that your post is the fruit of "human error".

By the way coal-burning plants put out MORE radioactivity than nuclear plants. To what isotopes does your "half-life of 24,000 years" figure refer?

Also, not all of the "waste" of nuclear fission reactors is radioactive. For example, palladium can be, and has been extracted from this so-called "waste", which is ACTUALLY worth billions of dollars.

How so?

Reprocessing.

The U-235 and Pu-239 are fuel elements equivalent to billions of barrels of oil, cesium-137 can be used for sterilizing medical equipment, etc., etc., etc. The United States Department of Defense has been in the reprocessing business since the days of the Manhattan Project, they can tell you all that you need to know, which is plenty, pal. The TRIGA series of reactors made by General Atomic has a 40-year history of operation without a single mishap.

You are dead wrong, period, end of story.