[Phys-L] Is Nuclear Power the Answer?

[Richard Hake <rrhake@earthlink.net>]

According to the Sierra Club (2014) at <http://bit.ly/1e3Gs5W> "Nuclear Power Doesn't Make Sense."

And Helen Caldicott (2006) <http://bit.ly/1eHhNoh> authored a book titled "Nuclear Power IS NOT the Answer" - see <http://amzn.to/1nWvobG>.

On the other hand, James Hansen (2014) <http://bit.ly/omiMY3> in "Renewable Energy, Nuclear Power, and Galileo" at <http://bit.ly/1goLfgs>, argues that nuclear power plus a carbon tax IS the answer.

 Any comments?

 Richard Hake, Emeritus Professor of Physics, Indiana University; Honorary Member, Curmudgeon Lodge of Deventer, The Netherlands; President, PEdants for Definitive Academic References which Recognize the Invention of the Internet (PEDARRII); LINKS TO: Academia <http://bit.ly/a8ixxm>; Articles <http://bit.ly/a6M5y0>; Blog <http://bit.ly/9yGsXh>; Facebook <http://on.fb.me/XI7EKm>; GooglePlus <http://bit.ly/KwZ6mE>; Google Scholar <http://bit.ly/Wz2FP3>; Linked In <http://linkd.in/14uycpW>; Research Gate <http://bit.ly/1fJiSwB>; Socratic Dialogue Inducing (SDI) Labs <http://bit.ly/9nGd3M>; Twitter <http://bit.ly/juvd52>.

 "Yes, a few scientists assert that renewables alone are sufficient, a position that gets applause. As for me, I would prefer to stick to science and tend my orchard. Unfortunately, the situation is different than it was in the 1600s, when religion pressured science. The urgency of now steals the luxury of silence. Galileo knew that the truth would come out eventually and no one would be harmed. So he could just mutter under his breath 'and yet it moves!' That, I cannot do." - James Hansen (2014, p. 15)



REFERENCES [URL shortened by <http://bit.ly/ and accessed on 02 March 2014.]

Caldicott, H.  2006. "Nuclear Power Is Not the Answer." New Press, publisher's information at <http://bit.ly/1jVKGgB>. Author's information at <http://bit.ly/1mA1tuO>. Amazon.com information at <http://amzn.to/1nWvobG>, note the searchable "Look Inside" feature. For adverse criticism see "Evidence Meltdown" [Monbiot (2011)]. See also Caldicott (2009).

Caldicott, H.  2009. " If You Love This Planet: A Plan to Save the Earth (Revised and updated)." W.W. Norton, publisher's information at <http://bit.ly/1hCq4tn>. Amazon.com information at <http://amzn.to/1bY0G24>, note the searchable "Look Inside" feature.  First published in 1992.

Hake, R.R. 2014. "Reich, McKibbon, & Hansen: Three Academicians Who Have Spoken Out on Social Issues," online on the OPEN! AERA-L archives at <http://bit.ly/1k9QuX5>.The abstract and link to the complete post are being transmitted to several discussion lists and are on my blog at <http://bit.ly/1cR8cdj> with a provision for comments.

Hansen, J.E. 2014. "Renewable Energy, Nuclear Power, and Galileo: Do Scientists Have a Duty to Expose Popular Misconceptions?" online as a 541 kB pdf at <http://bit.ly/1goLfgs>. For the insertion of references, hot-links. and comments into parts of this draft see Hake (2014).

Monbiot, G. 2011. "Evidence Meltdown: The green movement has misled the world about the dangers of radiation," The Guardian, 5 April online as a 29 kB pdf at  <http://bit.ly/NlRvgx>.

Sierra Club. 2014. "Why Nuclear Power Doesn't Make Sense," online at <http://bit.ly/1e3Gs5W>.