Report on the Australian premiere of nuclear promotional film ‘Pandora’s Promise’
We gave out leaflets to those attending the film premiere last night. I was apparently the only anti nuclear person in the audience – a voice heckling n a pro nuclear wilderness.
In brief: The premise of the film is that global warming is so dangerous and urgent, that only an energy mix, led by nuclear power, can save the world.
- First part of the film: – established 4 or 5 speakers who all claim to have previously been anti nuclear, and shows the major nuclear accidents, faults etc. Sets up the bad things about nuclear power, and shows anti nuclear activists to be idealistc, but emotional and uninformed. Subtly denigrates and makes fun of anti nuclear activists, uses female speaker Gwyneth Craven a lot. Subtle put down of women – “brains hard wired to protect babies” Film’s protagonists changed their minds after learning from experts.
- Second part:Disillusion with environmental movement – rubbishing Kyoto Protocol, rubbishing renewable energy, rubbishing energy conservation. Stresses need for growing energy use. Harm from coal. (some good arguments here) Rubbishes fear of radiation – very poor information given here – inaccurate about radiation. repeats the “banana myth”. Misrepresents what WHO has said. Minimises Chernobyl, Fukushima’s health effects.
- Third part – safety and wastes History lesson on how USA nuclear power progress was stalled by politics, Democratic administrations. Integral Fast Reactors (Gen 1V) delayed by politics. IFRs so safe – they can use wastes as fuel, so in the meantime, Gen 3 reactors can go on, producing valuable fuel.
- Concluding part Present situation – nuclear France – hugely successful, Germany using more coal emitting more greenhouse gases. Nuclear is costly upfront, but will be much more economical than solar or wind. Nuclear wastes a valuable resource, nuclear warheads turned to fuel forreactors. especially exciting, Small Modular Reactors. Future energy needs for modern high energy resource rich lifestyle .
WEAKNESSES of the film:
- inaccurate portrayal of anti nuclear people – all shown to be uninformed, anti science, pro coal, and non-expert.
- not at all up to date on renewable energy development – inaccurate picture of France today, and especially of Germany
- wrong information on ionising radiation – ?deliberate ignorance on this.
- no mention whatsoever of terrorism risks – to nuclear reactors, nuclear waste fuel pools, transport of “valuable” wastes to feed reactors
- glosses over weapons proliferation risks
- almost completely ignores economics – no mention of costs of security, eventual waste disposal from Gen 1V reactors.
STRENGTHS OF THE FILM
- good presentation of climate change danger, and of health dangers of coal
- interesting presentation – at times amusing (though at times this is at the expense of anti nuclear people)
- music well used for emotional impact – dramatic at times, sentimental when showing happy Chernobyl residents.
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