Bring on the Nukes!

What is wrong with nuclear power?! Many environmentalists are strongly against nuclear power because there is a belief that every nuclear power plant is bound to go Three Mile Island on our asses and we’ll all either die or turn into mutant freaks. But this doesn’t make any sense. There have only ever been two meltdowns in history, Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. And this is among 436 active nuclear power plants in 31 countries, who have been producing power for the combined equivalent of about 14,000 years. Those are pretty good odds.

I consider myself a left-wing nut job and an environmental activist, and as such I am compelled to support nuclear power. Nuclear reactions themselves don’t produce CO2. In fact, the reaction that produces the electricity emits no greenhouse gasses whatsoever. The only waste is the spent fuel rods, which can be disposed of safely. This is the best argument I can think of for nuclear power. It is not as clean as wind or solar, but it pumps out a lot more electricity. However, it is much cleaner than coal or gas yet produces comparable amounts of energy. Nuclear power is safe and clean.

As an environmentalist, I support nuclear energy. While it has its flaws and an ideal world would be powered solely by wind and solar energy, nuclear power is practical and it is a much better alternative than our current dependence on atrociously dirty coal and gas plants. Like I said, nuclear is surprisingly safe and clean, and I think we need to demand a switch.

The Green Revolution

Why can’t America invest in clean energy? Can’t politicians, lobbyists and businessmen look past their own greed for just a second and realize that their actions along with their inaction, although nearsightedly profitable, will only lead to catastrophe? Politicians and businessmen alike should recognize the fact that striving towards truly renewable and “green” energy will lead to new jobs, increased profits, and a better world for the rest of us.

But, this whole global warming thing isn’t entirely the fault of these powerful few. I place much of the blame on myself and the rest of the American population. We need to stand up and demand clean energy and a swift and radical attempt to end climate change. We need to stop being manipulated by those few people who stand to make disgusting profits while ruining our planet. We need to reject the lies they feed us about biofuels, ethanol and “clean” coal. Americans need to find ways to reduce our consumption of both energy and resources. We must demand nuclear, wind, wave, solar and hydroelectric power. We can no longer be afraid of severing our ties with oil, gas and coal because oil, gas and coal tell us we can’t live without them. We can become a nation run on renewable, clean energy and we can establish ourselves as a forerunner in the green movement.

There is some progress being made, and there are some powerful people who are brave enough and selfless enough to make a stand for clean energy, but it is not nearly enough. The U.S. is still the largest consumer of energy in the world, and we are nowhere near the front in the race towards renewable, sustainable energy. I agree with our Energy Secretary Steven Chu, who told the Senate, “When the Starting gun sounded on the clean energy race, the United States stumbled, but I remain confident that we can make up the ground.