“To nuke or not to nuke……….that is the question”
Lots of talk in my home country re the pro’s and con’s of nuclear energy.
In addition to selling uranium from three mines in Australia, should we be looking at value adding????
Should we be establishing “tips” for spent nuclear waste and being paid by other countries for taking their garbage???
Should we be investing in nuclear power plants to address the issue of fossil fuel usage and consequently our contribution to global warming?
These are all big questions with very political implications, but questions we should be discussing, never the less.
I, for one, want to retain our three mine policy (no more than three active mines to be in operation at any one time) and must say if I had my way, all of our uranium would stay in the ground where it belongs. I am however, a realist and like other enlightened souls, fearful of the implications of global warming for the future of our planet …………and our country is notoriously poor in addressing reductions in emissions and fossil fuel usage.
It seems to me that policy makers either have their ‘head in the sand’ and won’t acknowledge the problem, have personal investments or interest in maintaining the status quo or are scared of alienating powerful allies who fall into one or both of the previous categories (our Prime Minister is a classic example of the latter).
I don’t profess to be a climate scientist or economist, however understand the financial implications of reducing our fossil fuel exports BUT can’t help but wonder why the COST of NOT doing anything isn’t being addressed during the current debate.
We could be leaders…………we could dramatically cut our usage of fossil fuels, reduce our exporting of coal, gas, timber and uranium and invest in the one thing we have extensivce access to SOLAR ENERGY.
We live in a wide, brown, sunny and drought prone country……..we have sun coming ‘out our ears”……….we have advanced solar technology that at present is poorly supported by big business investment and has potential to be the technology of the future……………and we’re doing nothing about it.
The time has come to invest in our future. Next time you think about how you’re going to heat your new house…………consider solar energy. When your gas hot water service leaks or needs replacement……….think about a solar hot water service.
Explore the options…………..look at renewable energy sources and do your bit for the planet you are leaving for your kids!
I have no pecunary interest in solar or renewable energy…………..just a huge concern for the future of our planet.