Against:
Here are 4 reasons why the energy crises can be solved sans Nuclear technology.
1. Marquee equity firms are investing in India.
Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs recently signed agreements to fund over $1.5 billion worth of clean energy projects in the country. With new laws mandating that states meet a quota of their power needs through clean energy sources, the future is bright for business in this sector.
2. Alternate renewable energy is on the rise.
The US oil company Exxon Mobil recently discovered a way to profitably extract oil from shale rock deposits present all over the world. It is now the 2nd most powerful company in the world [Fortune 500] with a $487 billion turnover.
3. EVERY country can benefit.
From the harsh winds in Greenland to the sunny deserts of northern Africa to the perennial river flows of Eastern Europe, EVERY country has a natural resource they can exploit to satisfy their energy needs. In contrast, how many countries have considerable uranium or thorium deposits?
4. Overall cost of renewable energy is low.
Take into account the cost of installation of a nuclear power plant with all the extra safety features as well as the cost of importing raw material every year and proper disposal of nuclear wastes. Compare that to the one-time installation cost of renewable energy resources and minimal maintenance requirements. It’s obvious what makes economic sense!
Everyone knows the massive threat nuclear power plants pose to humanity – as mentioned by other comments, Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, Fukushima, etc. are capable of causing large scale destruction. But, looking beyond the obvious, here are 3 major harms caused by over-reliance on nuclear technology.
1.Health Hazards
Scientists have shown that people living near nuclear power plants have a greater chance of contracting fatal diseases such as leukaemia. This is because nuclear power plants are dangerous, not only during breakdown, but also during normal times because of the nuclear waste produced. We still haven’t found a way to properly dispose of these toxic wastes.
2.Power bloc formation
As the uranium and thorium deposits are highly disproportionate, localized to a few countries, a power bloc similar to the OPEC [Oil and Petroleum Exporting Countries] could be formed. If the world were dependent on nuclear power, then this bloc could raise prices as it wished and enjoy unhealthy power over other nations.
3.Danger of misuse
Even if the developed countries invested in nuclear power in other countries, there is a high possibility of misuse. For example, nuclear facilities in Pakistan are always under red alert status because of the imminent danger of terrorist groups taking over the facilities. If they were to succeed, there is no telling what could happen to the world.
When compared to the rejuvenation of the Qatari deserts using the combined technology of wind and solar energy, it is plainly obvious that nuclear energy is not needed to solve our energy crisis
