Mike Sliwa believes negotiating with Mother Nature is a losing battle.
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CNN aired a documentary aptly named Pandora’s Promise. The film collected several “environmentalists” who have switched their stance from that of anti-nuclear to pro-nuclear power. Needless to say, the film should be called, Propaganda’s Promise. Some of the claims and stances taken in the film include:
- Nuclear energy will help mitigate climate change
- The anti-nuke crowd uses the same irrational reasoning as the climate denier bunch
- If you are anti-nuke then you’re basically pro-fossil fuel
- Radiation exposure isn’t all it’s cracked up to be
- The nuclear accidents that have happened thus far have been overblown by fear and ignorance
- Cover ups of this magnitude are unlikely
- Nuclear power is clean energy
- Finally, the film gives the impression that nuclear energy can somehow replace the scale of fossil fuel use
Besides the unchallenged claims throughout the film, it also makes the opposition look like the lunatic fringe. They show clips of one anti-nuclear activist — Helen Caldicott — looking like a screaming idiot on the streets. They never actually sit down with anyone who opposes the nuclear industry. Instead they provide the opposing view point through their “born-again” environmentalists who now see the light. How did this transformation happen? Simply listening to experts in the field of course. Oh, well now I feel better.
Nature doesn’t cut deals and she doesn’t negotiate.
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What’s fascinating to me is not the arguments made for the overall safety of nuclear energy or even the insane notion that it could possibly replace the scale of fossil fuel use (it provides about 13% of world’s electricity with 434 plants… do the math). It’s the inability for most to look at the situation for what it is. Whether it be fossil fuels, renewable energy sources (which this film claims nuclear energy somewhat is) or nuclear power, they all have the same mission and the same end game. Their mission is to keep the destructive global economy running. Their end game unfortunately is reality. All of these energy sources increase population while devouring the living planet. All of them continue to set us on a collision course between population growth and energy consumption as well as energy production. When those streams collide we can say hello to what those in poverty call everyday life. The problem is that many of us lack the fortitude and the skill set to live such a life.
No one ever considers the choice of scaling back. The film briefly touches on it but then quickly reminds us that we can’t scale back forever. Why not? Because those of us born and raised in the era of growth at all costs can’t possibly comprehend such a notion. The reason we cant comprehend such a thought is simple. First, people will die. Fossil fuels have allowed us to grow to over 7 billion. Nothing is in cue to replace the scale of this industry. The other reason is normality. Many of us know nothing other than the opportunity to use abundant energy at a whim. Therefore this train wreck will continue until it doesn’t.
Nuclear energy is just another negotiation in a long line of negotiations by industrial humans with Mother Nature. Even as we continue to contain… sorry, “clean up” Fukushima two and a half years later, we refuse to face the Fact that growth is limited. Pretending we can go on forever at this pace won’t make a difference. We are part of nature. We might want to consider acting like it by taking what we need and no more. Nature doesn’t cut deals and she doesn’t negotiate. Moving towards the exit of abundant energy use would be advisable. Our Pandora’s Box isn’t nuclear energy but rather the belief that we are different and the laws of nature don’t apply. Silly industrial humans, tricks are for kids.
–Photo: Roadsidepictures/Flickr
@ Alan Gosh, if we possess no knowledge about how the world works, how could we possibly know anything about how resilient Mother Nature is to our actions? What is your belief in Her resiliency based upon, a gut feeling? Yes, it is true, Nature is not only more complicated than we think; it is more complicated than we can think, but that doesn’t mean we know nothing. Humanity has clearly become a geophysical and a geochemical force at the global scale and our actions have consequences. We might not understand those consequences perfectly or even very well, but understanding… Read more »
I love how people think mother nature is somehow not resilient to the change we’re putting on it, as if they somehow possess some knowledge of how the world works.
Oh she’s resilient but one, that doesn’t mean we should abuse that resiliency and two, you don’t need to be a genius to do basic math. Infinite growth on a finite planet doesn’t add up. If you take on math you will lose.
Nice post Mike. For twenty some years I’ve been telling anyone that would listen that the worst thing that could happen to our planet would be if scientists and engineers actually figured out a way to make nuclear power safe and affordable. Of course, it’s not, and probably never will be, but that’s never been the real danger. The real danger is having unlimited energy at our species finger tips. Unlimited energy equates with unlimited destruction. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. We can’t handle he juice.
You said it all Mike…appreciate the comment.
Thanks for a spectacular waste of bandwidth. You clearly understand nothing about global systems, and about nuclear power technology. It’s ignoramuses like you that are the real problem.
Global systems are the problem. Nuclear power technology is another avenue to keep that end game alive. I understand perfectly … many people love the global economy. What they fail to see is it has no future for anyone or anything. Infinite growth on a finite planet…hmmm