Antinuclear

Australia’s pro nuclear advocates getting nervous about the industry

Anxiety, fear – these are the emotions that bring about anger, hatred, and extreme statements.

Today’s AUSTRALIAN gives a fine example of this, in a pro nuclear article by Brendan O’Neill. It appears against a backdrop of news that must be very worrying for the nuclear/uranium industries.   (BHP possibly going to scrap Olympic Dam uranium expansion, or certainly delay it, at least –  Japan looking as if it mightget through the summer without nuclear power (shock horror) – thorium reactor debate suggesting that uranium sales would plummet, renewable eenergy getting cheaper.   it’s all a worry for nuclear power proponents.)

So – Brendan O’Neill comes out with “The risks of dumping nuclear are too great”.  He tells us that:  “green campaigners scream”     “anti-nuclear hysteria poses a far greater threat to life and limb than does nuclear power itself”     “eco-activists canrole-play being brave warriors”

He is very enthusiastic about the extremism of the anti nuclear side.

But – very low key about nuclear disasters –   ” Progress, especially of the nuclear variety, can sometimes have less
than desirable consequences. But as we saw in Fukushima, and also in Chernobyl before it, it is entirely possible to contain those consequences and to limit the downsides”     – Less than desirable consequences !-   what a lovely way to dismiss the accidents at Chernobyl and Fukushima

On the effect of Fukushima  on Europe – O’Neill says ” it has unleashed a metaphorical tsunami of anti-nuclear panic” – quoting German Chancellor Angela Merkel  as the example of such panic. (Last I heard Germany was doing very well in the current global economic problem, and a global leader in renewable energy)

He bemoans the  “real lethal danger” of   the “hysterical turn” against nuclear energy.

I thought that it was the anti nuclear activists who were supposed to use emotional, panicky  language. It looks as if Brendan O’Neill, bereft of facts, is in  a bit of  a panic himself. – Christina Macpherson

May 19, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina reviews, spinbuster