ETHICS

NUCLEAR ENERGY

Future Energy or Future Danger

Introduction

As we all know by now, the need for renewable energy source exceptionally high. This is basically due to the increasing number of world population as well as the needs of electricity to light up our nights. We can't rely heavily on fossil fuels as the reserve are depleting and how the generation of electricity by this method would cost the environment that inflict more problems. The most suitable solution right now for this problem are nuclear energy as they say that it is reliable, stable and yet cost-effective. This however, concern major population of the earth as nuclear would bring more negative impact due to its waste and radiation problems of like what happen in Chernobyl and also Fukushima, Japan recently.

The urge to find new energy source comes to this. As we can see on the diagram above, the anticipation of this renewable energy have to start now or else we wouldn't make it through the depletion of fossil fuels over time. "Clearly fossil fuel reserves are finite - it's only a matter of when they run out - not if.  Globally - every year we currently consume the equivalent of over 11 billion tonnes of oil in fossil fuels. Crude oil reserves are vanishing at the rate of 4 billion tonnes a year – if we carry on at this rate without any increase for our growing population or aspirations, our known oil deposits will be gone by 2052". (Ecotricity, (n.d), para. 4).

But there is still questions on this renewable energy these days. Most people would ask why choose nuclear energy ? Why not wind or solar energy as the primary source. Brook (2009) describes that the diagram above speaks itself. Based on the research done using the data by International Energy Agency in 2007 proves that other renewable energy such as wind, tidal, solar and geothermal doesn't have significant contribution towards the world energy consumptions. Even though those energy is combined up in the renewables category, but these energy needs to be sum up in order to provide new and clean energy to the world which is not enough alone to be the primary source when gas, oil and coal are finished. Meanwhile on the bright side, nuclear energy with 6.5% have already establish a notable presentation on its capability as a stable and reliable renewable energy. 

Ethical Consideration

Nowadays, there is right and wrong in whatever choices or decisions that we made and there must be reasons behind it. This is also applicable to nuclear energy. Most of the people would not accept the nuclear energy plan while others demand it. This somehow due to many reasons behind it. Firstly, people reject this nuclear energy because they afraid that results of a tragedy that happen at the nuclear plant in Fukushima, Japan could happen again. Sample (2011) describes that the plant was struck by an earthquake and cause explosion in some of the building. People would afraid that it might been a bigger explosion and had to evacuate the residents nearby. Besides that, there also people that have been exposed with radioactivity which could cause high cancer risk and deadly radiation sickness. The results is the plant were shut down to avoid more exposure to the public and accidents.

Due to that, Clendaniel (2011) stated that now the number of people that agree to build a nuclear plant in America is decreasing at 43% compared to 58% three years ago. He clearly describes that due to what happen in Fukushima has led this level of public negativity rather than thinking how nuclear energy can save the planet from global warming due to coal power. While on the other side, Greenheart (2007) argues that it is unethical for us to live in such disgrace because the question is why we demand for more power. It is better if we insists on saving power and decrease our individual carbon footprint. He also added "for many people, nuclear power is a problem because it leads to nuclear weapons and possibly nuclear holocaust. But we humans are far too selfish to do the honourable thing and deliberately wipe ourselves off the face of the planet. In any event, we don’t need missiles to deliver a holocaust; humanity is already enacting many, many holocausts on the planet" (para. 2).

On the other note, the closing down of nuclear plants on the summer would prove costly for Japan. Migi (2011) defines that in her analysis that the political solution over the Japan energy policy would later causing a long term economy defect for the country. She clearly stated that the world's third largest economy provider could be in danger as public companies would leave Japan for other alternatives due to the country uncertain future over the reliable nuclear energy source. But on the other side of the world, the move to shut down all nuclear activity seems to be a bright one. Germany have decided to close down all their nuclear plants by 2022. Evans (2011) analysed that what happen in Fukushima and the mass anti-nuclear protest made them to review the policy. They will concentrate more on other renewable energy sources as they wanted a 'greener future' for the country and if they shut the plants phase by phase could slow down the negative impact on their economy.

Conclusion

The video above, titled 'Debate: does the world need nuclear energy' from Youtube clearly give you some ideas and from other perspective on how nuclear energy be seen as a good reliable energy source or how other renewable energy sources could take down the responsibility to lights up your house in the future. The debate would show how much people that want nuclear energy and how much people that changed their mind after that. It's clearly up to your choice whether this nuclear energy would be safe, reliable energy in the eyes of the public. The earth have already provided us with its rich natural sources and its down to us as human to take advantage. Now, it's only down to us to take care of the planet or care too much on public perspectives on how nuclear energy could change the world. You decide.

Reference List

Brook, B. (2011, April 9) Climbing mount improbable [ Bravenewclimate ]. Retrieved from http://bravenewclimate.com/2009/04/11/climbing-mount-improbable/

Clendaniel, M. (2011, April 13) Half of Americans now too scared to build nuclear power plants. [ Fast Company ]. Retrieved from http://www.fastcompany.com/1746829/half-americans-now-too-scared-build-more-nuclear-power-plants

Ecotricity (n.d.). The End Of Fossil Fuels. Retreived http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/our-green-energy/energy-independence/the-end-of-fossil-fuels

Greenheart, E. (2007, May 24) Is it ethical to use nuclear power? [spiked]. Retrieved from http://www.spiked-online.com/site/article/3404/

Evans, S. (2011, May 30) Germany: Nuclear power plants to close by 2022. BBC News UK. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13592208

Mogi, C. (2011, August 4) Analysis: Energy policy chaos threatens Japan's economy. Reuters. Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/04/us-japan-energy-idUSTRE7731GS20110804

Sample, I. (2011, March 13) Japan's nuclear crisis: the causes and the risks. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/13/japan-fukushima-nuclear-power-station-explosion