SA Footy

Serious stuff this!

Exposé Courageously Demystifies Nuclear Science and Describes Why Nuclear Power Is the Best Energy Option for Australia

Long portrayed as the bogeyman in the closet, author argues that nuclear power safely addresses issues of climate change, energy security, ecologically sustainable development, and nationhood

Dr. Bernardine Atkinson has written a classic exposé -- an unbiased account investigating the nuclear power energy option juxtaposed with ecological sustainability principles. Her book ends confusion about energy alternatives and shows how nuclear power is safe, sustainable, and renewable. Nonetheless, says Atkinson, "almost the entire Australian nation has been misled on the issue of nuclear power and has succumbed to fear, ignorance, and what may have been deliberate propaganda."

Ecological Sustainability and the Nuclear Power Story: Three Letters to the Australian People turns this misinformation on its heel. It also describes how to halt and reverse climate change and in so doing provides subsequent generations with hope for a prosperous and peaceful future.

The book is written in three parts, as three letters to the Australian people, and is supplemented with important contextualizing information provided by Professor Leslie Kemeny, a leading Australian nuclear engineer. The three letters investigate the main points used to stifle debate about nuclear power, examine nuclear power in relation to five of the parameters required to ensure that developments are ecologically sustainable, and analyze the political implications of Australia's abandonment of nuclear power and its subsequent entrenched neglect.

While Atkinson acknowledges that the information in the book will gravely embarrass former political leaders, she believes the story itself is a wonderful one for Australia and indeed the entire world. Imagine, she says, being able to desalinate water and make Australia's rivers run again! Imagine being able to strategically reforest to begin reversing climate change! Imagine unshackling the nation from three-plus decades of uranium ore resource exploitation!

An independent researcher and daughter of pioneers, Dr. Bernardine Atkinson's book is courageous, vision-filled, and constructive.

I remember putting up those arguments in the 1970s and 1980s and being treated with hostility for my un-PC attitudes.
Of course I didn't have access to the technical data to support my case...

Now we should embrace the technology and follow India's lead into Thorium Reactor use.
http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/aug/25nuke.htm
http://www.larouchepub.com/eiw/public/2 ... 42_739.pdf
http://www.thoriumpower.com/default2.as ... thorium101

I doubt Nuclear power will ever get a start in Australia because of the largely irrational fears that politicians exploit (see last election) when it suits them.

Interceptor wrote:I doubt Nuclear power will ever get a start in Australia because of the largely irrational fears that politicians exploit (see last election) when it suits them.

Agreed and its a real shame.

Wedgie wrote:

Interceptor wrote:I doubt Nuclear power will ever get a start in Australia because of the largely irrational fears that politicians exploit (see last election) when it suits them.

Agreed and its a real shame.

Not really surprising...you refuse to recycle water like most of the planet does so nuclear power is probably a bit of a pipe dream.

Regards
JAS

JAS wrote:

Wedgie wrote:

Interceptor wrote:I doubt Nuclear power will ever get a start in Australia because of the largely irrational fears that politicians exploit (see last election) when it suits them.

Agreed and its a real shame.

Not really surprising...you refuse to recycle water like most of the planet does so nuclear power is probably a bit of a pipe dream.

Regards
JAS

Also agreed that its not surpising, Australia is so backward in some aspect, hopefully it'll improve as the population gets more education and some of the oldies die off.

Wedgie wrote:

JAS wrote:

Wedgie wrote:

Interceptor wrote:I doubt Nuclear power will ever get a start in Australia because of the largely irrational fears that politicians exploit (see last election) when it suits them.

Agreed and its a real shame.

Not really surprising...you refuse to recycle water like most of the planet does so nuclear power is probably a bit of a pipe dream.

Regards
JAS

Also agreed that its not surpising, Australia is so backward in some aspect, hopefully it'll improve as the population gets more education and some of the oldies die off.

I suppose it's easy for those of us that have lived with that sort of technology all our lives to sit back and say...huh? what's the matter with you?

Geez I can remember doing a school trip to Sizewell Nuclear Power Station to be shown how it all worked and the workers playing practical jokes on us as we left by setting off the radiation alarm...damn near c*apped ourselves...we were only about 13 years old

Brilliant place to go swimming too...they pumped the boiling water into the sea just offshore so it was always really warm even in mid-winter...always heaps of people there...and no I don't glow in the dark now

Regards
JAS

Interceptor wrote:I doubt Nuclear power will ever get a start in Australia because of the largely irrational fears that politicians exploit (see last election) when it suits them.

Well put Interceptor, you sure your a Crows supporter?

JAS wrote:Not really surprising...you refuse to recycle water like most of the planet does so nuclear power is probably a bit of a pipe dream.

Incorrect, the Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant processes 70% of Adelaide's wastewater of which currently approx 40% is recycled, mainly to market gardens in Virginia, and to a selected residential area in Mawson Lakes. This will rise to between 50-70% in the mid-term.

In addition, a pipleine is being built to recycle wastewater from the Glenelg Wastewater Treatment Plant to water the Adelaide parklands.

Not a bad effort for a backwater, hey?

Interceptor wrote:I doubt Nuclear power will ever get a start in Australia because of the largely irrational fears that politicians exploit (see last election) when it suits them.

The main rationale for not entertaining nuclear power in the short-mid term is not so much the technology or radiactive fears (there are some real and perceived issues to address) but the economics.

Australia has a vast amount of cheap and high quality coal which means from an economic perspective, no one in their right mind would invest in nuclear power generation whilst there is such a dominant and profitable existing competitor. The politics is the alignment to the coal lobby and the jobs associated with it.

Even though coal fired power generation is the most harmful to the environment, its very cheap and the factors above keep the industry in a very strong position.

Sorry for invading this topic but I've worked in both the water and power utility sectors.

dedja wrote:Sorry for invading this topic but I've worked in both the water and power utility sectors.

Go right ahead and invade you little rolly poly one eyed green guy. Informed comments make it that much better.

This topic reminds me of a James Lovelock book I read a while back.He examines the plight of the environment and strongly suggests nuclear energy as the best solution to our energy needs while contributing virtually zero to pollution.

automaticwicky wrote:

Interceptor wrote:I doubt Nuclear power will ever get a start in Australia because of the largely irrational fears that politicians exploit (see last election) when it suits them.

Well put Interceptor, you sure your a Crows supporter?

Haha, quite sure about that mate!

dedja wrote:

Interceptor wrote:I doubt Nuclear power will ever get a start in Australia because of the largely irrational fears that politicians exploit (see last election) when it suits them.

The main rationale for not entertaining nuclear power in the short-mid term is not so much the technology or radiactive fears (there are some real and perceived issues to address) but the economics.

Australia has a vast amount of cheap and high quality coal which means from an economic perspective, no one in their right mind would invest in nuclear power generation whilst there is such a dominant and profitable existing competitor. The politics is the alignment to the coal lobby and the jobs associated with it.

Even though coal fired power generation is the most harmful to the environment, its very cheap and the factors above keep the industry in a very strong position.

Sorry for invading this topic but I've worked in both the water and power utility sectors.

Yeah I was going to mention the economic 'con' to nuclear, but was too lazy at the time.
On CO2 emissions alone nuclear is a winner, but taking everything into account, it can't compete with coal.
There's hundreds of years of coal left in this country, hence the push for 'clean' coal burning power stations -greenies don't like it too much, but politicians and existing coal interests do.

dedja wrote:

Interceptor wrote:I doubt Nuclear power will ever get a start in Australia because of the largely irrational fears that politicians exploit (see last election) when it suits them.

The main rationale for not entertaining nuclear power in the short-mid term is not so much the technology or radiactive fears (there are some real and perceived issues to address) but the economics.

Australia has a vast amount of cheap and high quality coal which means from an economic perspective, no one in their right mind would invest in nuclear power generation whilst there is such a dominant and profitable existing competitor. The politics is the alignment to the coal lobby and the jobs associated with it.

Even though coal fired power generation is the most harmful to the environment, its very cheap and the factors above keep the industry in a very strong position.

Sorry for invading this topic but I've worked in both the water and power utility sectors.

Ahh but the pre-fabs are here as I highlighted last week..
"A Preassembled Nuclear Reactor - http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/22867/ "
They'll hold us until they become redundant through Helium 3 fusion, but I expect those who get to the moon for the He3 supplies will hog that, whereas we and India have the Thorium.

Psyber wrote: Ahh but the pre-fabs are here as I highlighted last week..
"A Preassembled Nuclear Reactor - http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/22867/ "
They'll hold us until they become redundant through Helium 3 fusion, but I expect those who get to the moon for the He3 supplies will hog that, whereas we and India have the Thorium.

Yes I did read that and the lack of reference here was no oversight!

dedja wrote:

JAS wrote:Not really surprising...you refuse to recycle water like most of the planet does so nuclear power is probably a bit of a pipe dream.

Incorrect, the Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant processes 70% of Adelaide's wastewater of which currently approx 40% is recycled, mainly to market gardens in Virginia, and to a selected residential area in Mawson Lakes. This will rise to between 50-70% in the mid-term.

In addition, a pipleine is being built to recycle wastewater from the Glenelg Wastewater Treatment Plant to water the Adelaide parklands.

Not a bad effort for a backwater, hey?

I'll thank you not to twist my comments like that.

I have never called Adelaide, or anywhere else for that matter, 'a backwater' so please don't try and give the impression that I have.

I was referring to what I believe certain presenters on 5aa call the 'poo water' debate. If they and other media and politicians can get people scared of recycling for domestic use then doing the same over nuclear power would probably be even easier. If anything I was criticizing my own surprise due to taking such things for granted in my own life. But just because a country or state hasn't adopted one form of technology does not make them a backwater.

We had similar scare tactics thrown at us when microwave ovens first appeared in the shops...'they'll make your food radioactive'...'they'll make men sterile' (still a popular one in the military where they use microwave beacons as intruder alarm systems) etc etc so it's no different and now almost everyone has a microwave oven...they're saying the same thing about phone transmitter masts on buildings and near schools now but soon they'll be everywhere too and we'll take them for granted.

There will be people for and against every option even wave power (being developed up here) might frighten the little fishes. You just have to look at the facts and not the stupid scare tactics used by attention seeking media types and thier sycophants.

Regards
JAS

Regards
JAS

= don't take the comment seriously, which was the case here as the comment was tongue in cheek.

I'm sorry you took it seriously.

While I'm thankful that nuclear power won't be a serious part of our society whilst I'm alive I'd just like to point out what an obviously good job the nuclear lobby are doing in regards to selling nuclear power. Ziggy and Ron Walker certainly hope it gets up soon.

dedja wrote:;) = don't take the comment seriously, which was the case here as the comment was tongue in cheek.

I'm sorry you took it seriously.

I took it seriously too, Adelaide is the best place in the world eva!

Gozu wrote:While I'm thankful that nuclear power won't be a serious part of our society whilst I'm alive I'd just like to point out what an obviously good job the nuclear lobby are doing in regards to selling nuclear power. Ziggy and Ron Walker certainly hope it gets up soon.

Don't be an old fogey!
Even senior people in the Green movement around the world have been showing willingness to come around over the last 12 months.
They seem to be admitting it is cleaner than fossil fuels, and more able to supply sufficient power than traditionally PC green options.
Modern meltdown proof nuclear technology is gaining credibility all over the world - it is not just local politics related to the last government.