Forum Archive Index - May 2004

[robin benson <rob@hammerheadmedia.co.uk>]

1. Prefixing claims with the word "Fact" doesn't make what follows 
factual.

2. Some of these "successful" nuclear power plants are being 
dismantled. In countries such as the UK there is continual debate, 
following incompetent management, lapses in safety protocols and in 
some cases, downright deception, about whether people want to live in 
proximity to nuclear-powered plants.

3. France is a country with huge economic issues to tackle and nowhere 
near the hydro capability that New Zealand has. If they did, the 
picture might look quite different.

4. In Europe many people are vehemently opposed to cellphone and 
electrical transmission towers -- especially when they turn up in their 
back yard -- despite there being no scientific proof (yet? maybe? maybe 
not?) that they cause damange to people. One of the reasons why is the 
affect these towers have on property values, which are based on both 
rational and non-rational perceptions. If people were purely rational, 
these perceived threats would not amount to much. The reality is people 
are not rational and would rather be safe than sorry. New Zealand has a 
clean, green, non-polluted (including nuclear) image, and would be 
well-advised to continue to capitalise on this perception. Would YOU 
raise a family right next to a nuclear power plant, or even a 
sewerage-treatment plant (the smell won't harm you)? Even if yes, does 
this mean other people should have to?

5. The bomb dropped on Hiroshima caused defects in children for decades 
following the event. How do you know no tourists who have been through 
Hiroshima have not died or been otherwise affected by their visit? 
Further, tourists spend relatively little time in places they visit. 
What about people who live there.

6. Sure the sun is a continual nuclear reaction but to somehow equate 
this with the potential damage caused by accidents or pure incompetence 
in connection with nuclear power or weapons is misguided at best. In 
case you hadn't noticed, the sun is some distance away (try buying a 
ticket to visit it). Medical use of radiation is very accurately 
directed and on such a scale so as to not cause massive and widespread 
damage and pollution should things go wrong.

7. You make claims of "obvious bullshit" and demand "real figures". 
This is really amusing in light of your own unsubstantiated assertions.

8. Commonsense sounds like a good idea. Where is the commonsense in 
using nuclear power, even with small amounts of risk, when perfectly 
clean alternatives exist?

Robin

On 6 May 2004, at 18:57, hugh webber wrote:

> There is a large amount of emotional claptrap in all that which a
> moments reflection and some wider reading should have made
> obvious. If you listen to a self appointed "expert" who is also
> emotionally prejudiced rather than objective then you are
> just reinforcing your own prejudices.
>
> Fact No 1: There are large number of nuclear power plants which
> have been successfully operating around the world for decades
> in a significant number of countries.
>
> Fact No 2: France for example gets most of its electricity from
> nuclear power stations. France is a competitive successful
> industrial country. i.e. the alleged uneconomics of nuclear
> power quoted are obvious bullshit. Get some real figures.
>
> Fact No 3: There has only ever been one nuclear power station
> disaster - Chernobyl, due to all the operating procedures being
> ignored. It is safer using nuclear power stations than driving a
> car or flying in a plane.
>
> Fact No 4: Many NZers have a religious blind spot when you mention
> nuclear. Its time they grew up, became mature.
> The sun is a continuing hydrogen bomb, the light from your watch in the
> dark is radioactive, cancer tumours are treated with radiation, when
> you fly high in an aircraft you are exposed to radiation.
> Plant and animal life at the epicentre of the Hiroshima bombblast had
> resumed within months. Millions of tourists have now milled through it.
> None of them have died, or even been affected by it.
>
>
> Lets have some common sense behaviour and attitudes instead of
> political correctness and state education system brain washing.


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