NUCLEAR ENERGY

BY: STEVEN ZHAO 8-2 Nuclear energy is a form of power which helps make our lives easier. Many people wonder if nuclear energy should or should not be used, even more wonder if its safe. Nuclear is safe, both for humans and for the environment in many ways. We have been using it for decades and there is no reason why we should stop using it as a power source. Using nuclear energy as an energy/power is safe and there are barely any downfalls, but nuclear weapons on the other hand is dangerous for humanity and the environment. Nuclear energy can guide us in the future, why would anyone occlude this? Nuclear energy is a powerful environmentally safe power because of many reasons. Environmentalist groups such as EcoJustice try to put a stop to the construction of nuclear power plants because they think nuclear energy damages the environment. Thats not true; in fact if coal was used instead of nuclear power, 2.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide would be produced each year. Many people think that nuclear energy contributes to the release of green house gases, it does not. The process of how nuclear energy generates electricity is known as nuclear fission. Nuclear fission is basically splitting up atoms to generate heat, or heating the water in the plant into steam. A single pound of uranium for nuclear energy can power the same amount of energy 3,000,000 pounds of coal can. Theres even 5,404,000 tons of uranium left in the world, (3,602,666.6 cars worth). Although nuclear energy isnt as environmentally friendly as solar, hydro, or wind power, it can power a much larger area. The waste of nuclear energy is also environmentally disposed of, with the process of PUREX. PUREX and modified PUREX safely recycle the waste of nuclear energy by extracting leftover uranium and plutonium. All the waste in a year from a nuclear power plant can be stored under a desk Ronald Reagan Nuclear energy is also safe for humans to use. Nuclear power plants take years or decades to build; it takes this long period of time for many reasons. One of which is so no radiation can radiate outside of the reactor and into the public. Nuclear power plants also undergo many inspections, from security to equipment. Radiation is everywhere, when we use a microwave, the computer, TV, and many more common house hold things;

they all give off a little bit of radiation. Having a nuclear reactor built near or in a city will not affect any civilians because the plants are reinforced to be radiation proof, and at the most will give off a minuscule amount of radiation. Employees who work in the power plant are given equipment to prevent high level radiation exposure, and are trained to prevent dangerous situations such as nuclear meltdowns. A nuclear meltdown is highly unlikely, even if one were to occur; methods such as pumping sea water into the chamber, or injecting boric acid could prevent such a disaster. Nuclear waste is disposed of in an environmentally and human friendly way. The waste will not be able to leak into areas that are inhabited, or into drinking water. When nuclear waste is dumped hundreds or thousands of feet underground, underwater, or under canyons, they are sealed in radiation proof containers. The real danger behind nuclear energy is how its used, not the energy itself. As humans, our choices are made based on our own thoughts, if people choose to use nuclear energy as a weapon, that doesnt mean nuclear energy is at fault. The threat of all out nuclear war is a reality by this day and age. This is because of countries developing nuclear weapons, but its not only countries. Extremist groups such as Al Qaeda try to acquire nuclear weapons and use them with malicious intent. Currently the United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, and North Korea have been registered to have nuclear weapons. A nuclear weapon isnt only feared for its explosive destruction, the radiation fallout is even worse. The Hiroshima incident was the use of an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima Nagasaki which led to the death of 66,000 people. Besides the explosive destruction, the radiation of the bomb led to even more people succumbing to diseases such as cancer. The economy fell, homes were destroyed, and families were torn apart. The use of a nuclear bomb can wipe a small country off the face of the earth. In conclusion, nuclear energy as a energy source is safe and should continue to be used, but nuclear weapons arent safe and shouldnt be used. Nothing good can come from the use of these weapons. We should strive to convince the government to outlaw the creation of anymore nuclear weapons, and to dismantle any remaining nuclear weapons. Instead of shutting down nuclear power plants, we should be stopping the creation of more weapons. If we do band together and protest nuclear weapons, we will be taking a step towards world peace.

NUCLEAR ENERGY ACTION PLAN

Although we arent adults yet, we can still make a change in the world. As the days pass, more nuclear weapons are being made, we can help change that. http://www.icanw.org/ ICAN (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear weapons) is an organization that helps students understand more about what they can do to help abolish nuclear weapons. They have many fun/creative ways to get people in the know and to help us take a step towards the abolishment of nuclear weapons. Starting off small is better than not starting at all.