No to nuclear power

This letter is in response to Will Marshall’s comments on National Public Radio’s (91.7 FM) Evening Edition (August 26, 2008) on nuclear power that were wrong from top to bottom. He claims that it is green. However, fossil fuels and therefore, carbon dioxide production, are required for the mining, milling, and transport of uranium and for the construction, operation, and eventual decommissioning of nuclear power plants. When the richer uranium mines are used up, the poor ones remaining will have prohibitive fossil fuel energy requirements. In addition, CFCs are required by nuclear plants. These are potent green house gases, more potent than carbon dioxide. Together, they will worsen global warming.

Private capital markets are not interested in investing in nuclear power. It’s too risky. There is a long history of accidents; very recently in France and Japan. There could be a future history of terrorist attacks. Marshall, of the Clintons’ Democratic Leadership Council and the so-called Progressive Policy Institute, takes no notice of these dangers or the dangers of radiation per se, but childhood cancer is greatly increased near existing nuclear power plants and that is well-documented fact.

There is no known method of safely disposing of nuclear waste, which will still be dangerous for thousands or millions of times longer than any human civilization has ever lasted.

Government backing is required, as up front investor and final guarantor. It’s a get rich quick scheme for some of the already wealthy and a ripoff for the taxpayer. Marshall did not mention any conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest. He should, considering his position in the top echelon of the Democratic Party.

Nuclear power is bad for America and bad for the world.