Humans are the only thing we can’t fix
So this is not actually good news:
The Fukushima nuclear disaster was the result of “man-made” failures before and after last year’s earthquake, according to a report from an independent parliamentary investigation.
A technical glitch, an unforeseen cascade of technical glitches, an accident exceeding design parameters, all those things can be dealt with, assuming money is no object.
But even if money can be spent like water (and if you have to, why use nukes to begin with when there are cheaper, better, cleaner alternatives?), but if you can spend no end of money, you still can never fix the fallibility of human beings.
We will always make mistakes.
It’s therefore insane to depend on a technology that must have perfection or else it kills us.
It’s unspeakably more insane when there are cheaper, healthier, and more effective alternatives out there. You don’t have to take my word for it. The evidence just keeps piling up (pdf).
Your definition of insanity would decree it insane to use airplanes, internal combustion engines, abortion or cesarean surgery, or electrical wiring.
High Arka on July 5th, 2012 at 22:40
High Arka, I’ve watched you troll and be banned on other sites. It’s having an effect on Akismet because your comment when straight to spam. Not moderation. Spam. You may want to reduce your volume of shit-stirring.
I let this one through because, in an ignorant way, it is a valid point. You’re ignoring the obvious risk-reward differences between the technologies you mention and nuclear power. Insurance companies with their professional actuaries refuse to insure nukes beyond a limited liability. That’s why there’s the Price-Anderson Act which puts the taxpayer on the hook for all costs above that.
I suspect you’re smart enough to know that and are being deliberately obtuse. But just in case your confusion is real, notice that the other technologies can be insured without difficulty.
quixote on July 6th, 2012 at 12:28