Today, April 22nd, is Earth Day and we at Cool Hand Nuke are big fans of the Earth.
We live here. We work here. Some of us were even born and raised here.
But we think it's time people began to think critically about what it will actually take to Save the Earth. To that end there are questions that have to be answered and many may not like the answers.
Some will have a passionate dislike for the answers, but it's time to care for our planet in the same manner in which we care for a loved one. You put their interests above your own.
You want to eliminate or at least minimize Smog, Carbon Fuels, Pollution, Global Warming, etc?
Then you need to understand the implications of your actions.
FACT: Nuclear is Baseload and Baseload is life. Wind, Solar are Not and Never will be. At least not in my lifetime and my half-life is considerably less than the Uranium you worry so much about. I'm willing to wager, so is yours.
Don't understand the need for baseload? Think Children's Hospital ICU on a cold, dark, windless night.
And don't start with battery technology. When rechargeable batteries can power my daughter's toys for more than 20 minutes at a time, I'll be willing to listen. Until then "ain't gonna happen."
FACT: Homer Simpson is not a real person. And even if he was, he would NOT be able to get a job in the U.S. Nuclear industry.
Just trust me on this one, he get lost somewhere between the first and second E's in the EEI employment tests.
These tests are as heavily guarded as some state secrets. The testing sessions are more heavily monitored for cheating and more strictly proctured than the SAT, ACT, MCAT or LSAT.
I had a nuclear company employed, EEI qualified Test Executive walk through a desktop drill for EEI testing when a fire breaks out.
His suggestion, after Safety First, was to calmly collect the tests and throw them all into the fire. This in order to ensure the integrity of the test.
To this day I believe that he was only half-joking...and I still do not which half he was joking about.
FACT: If you think stunting Nuclear growth in the U.S. will stop peaceful expansion of nuclear power globally, then you are sadly mistaken.
Side note, if you do believe this then call me immediately.
I have some lunar beachfront property that I think will be the perfect vehicle for your retirement money.
And I am willing to help you part with, errr, invest your money. I’ll even waive the sales commissions, just for you.
We’ll call this a personal favor. Amongst us friends….but I digress.
FACT: Nuclear is going & growing globally.
FACT: The IAEA has disclosed 50 countries in talks with them about developing peaceful, commercial nuclear power for their people.
FACT: So called Developing Countries could not care less what <Insert Name Here> Environmental group thinks about nuclear.
They have schools and they have hospitals. Both need power.
They have people who need clean water and decent food to eat. And they will do whatever they need to survive.
In FACT: You only increase the risk of non peaceful proliferation and clearly unsafe generation practices. This means the world is more dangerous on multiple levels and here is the bullet
- You are the cause. Or at least a contributing cause.
Here's the simple reason. If we don't help these countries, if we do not have the cleanest, safest technology AND the absolute best in training and safety practices to share with them; then they will get it from somewhere else.
Think of this - the former plant safety manager from Chernobyl circa 1985-86. She'll be in high demand. With her choice of next jobs in some new plant in a developing country somewhere because we will have failed in our obligation and in our ability to help.
Is that what you want? Because that is, what you will get.
Safe, clean Nuclear Power is our first, best option for rolling back climate change and decreasing pollution.
You name a problem with nuclear, I can name innovation in nuclear. You say Three Mile Island? I say INPO. You say waste. I say recycle and storage. You say half-life. I say you're probably already there.
Here's the bottom line: I believe in Humanity. I believe in the Earth. I believe in Nuclear.
I believe that together we can work to overcome. To persevere. To do better. I believe in innovation and creativity.
You want to Go Green? You need to Go Nuke!
You want to save the planet? You start by Saving the Nukes!
Welcome to Planet Earth, Century 2.1.