The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 67, No. 21, Ed. 1, Friday, February 29, 1980 Page: 4 of 23
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A-4I IFOSCSImIo Should we pursue nuclear energy?
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By YVETTE MOORE
Optimist Staff
Last week the government reported that
nuclear waste materials were being dumped
in barrels in the Pacific Ocean. This disposal
system could endanger millions of lives.
Earlier this week a nuclear plant in Florida
built by the Three Mile Island company was
shut down for safety reasons.
I don't like nuclear energy and would rather
see the nation research other energy sources.
From what I know the danger involved with
the production of nuclear energy is equaled
only by that in the disposing of its wastes.
Many of the students who answered this
week said that all forms of energy are
potentially dangerous. One cited as an
example mining and oil refining accidents.
True many people haven been killed
gathering coal and oil. But what scares me
more than death is what can be done to life
when exposed to these radioactive particles.
Considering the dangers of nuclear energy
production and disposal should we pursue this
form as a major source of energy?
TED NEIL PhysicsMath "Right now we
should stick with nuclear because solar is so
expensive.. If the government would put
enough money into solar energy research it
would be a more viable energy source. Right
now we've got nuclear energy cheap enough
where the waste factor isn't as tricky as some
other ideas for energy that we have."
MAURINE ANSWORTH. Physical Therapy "I
think that in order to answer this question we
have to look at what type of natural resources
we have and how much.
"We probably need to consider means of
improving the disposal of nuclear wastes. If
those means of disposal couldn't be improved
then it would be better to switch to another
energy source such as solar. We have to really
weigh the benefits."
HIRAM BROWN PhysicsMath "I really
think that any kind of energy can be
dangerous. All forms of technology are
dangerous. But this being a technological
society we have to have energy. I do not
believe that there is any form of energy that
can keep this country running that is any safer
than nuclear.
"I believe that if we're going to keep our
technology we're going to have very little
choice. We should also make the most of every
kind of energy that we have too. I think if
we're destroyed by nuclear energy it'll be by
nuclear warheads. I would stress making
nuclear energy as safe as possible."
ALLEN ROSE Physics "I live in Carlsbad
N.M. In Carlsbad the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission and Sandia Laboratories are
working together to put nuclear waste
deposits into the salt beds a thousand feet
under ground. That is a safe way of depositing
waste.
"Nuclear wastes are most dangerous when
in liquid form. That's when it can get into your
body system. When you put it in the salt which
is very absorbent in itself it contains it so that
it doesn't go outside of this confined area. If
you place it in a container and then inside of
the salt if it every gets out of the container it
would still be contained by the salt.
"Dumping in thesea in barrels is not very
safe if you want to contain it so that it doesn't
get into the environment in places that you
don't want it. If you pursue safe ways of
depositing nuclear energy there'll be no
problems using it.
"Solar energy is going to be limited if you
want a higher quality of energy and in large
quantities. Solar energy can be used butit's
going to be very expensive until its production
rate becomes profitable. Nuclear energy is
very profitable and relatively inexpensive to
develop. The means of obtaining nuclear
energy are naturally less expensive than those
used for solar.
"One more thing I'd like to say is that the
news media is very sensational in theirhan-
dling of nuclear energy."
JAMES STEVENS Math Physics "Nuclear
energy I realize is dangerous. All of our
sources of energy are dangerous. For
example many people have died getting
petroleum out of the ground with flares and
also in refining accidents. The same with coal.
Many people have died in mining accidents
but that has never stopped us as a nation from
getting coal. Our country is based on energy
DAVID MARLER Chemistry I believe the
basic choice still lies with the general public.
If they want to keep their present lifestyle
they're going to have to go with nuclear
energy.
"Once you realize that you need to go with
nuclear energy there are a couple of things
that need to be done. First the American
public should be educated about nuclear
energy what it is how it works and its
dangers. Also better safety management
should be used within the plants themselves.
"These accidents which have been oc-
curring shouldn't have happened. The ac-
cident at Three Mile Island has been at-
tributed to the failure of some person to turn a
valve off or on I don't know which. That
shouldn't have happened.
"When you're dealing with this type of
thing which is dangerous there should be
more safeguards built into a system than just
one person forgetting to turn one valve. All
forms of energy are potentially dangerous.
While nuclear energy presents a different kind
of danger I still believe it can be worked out."
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so we go ahead and get the energy out.
"The main problem with nuclear energy is
getting rid of the waste deposits. Using some
kind of underground containment system is
the only way I can see to safely store nuclear
waste. Storing it in the ocean or above ground
would not be safe because of long half-life of
the particles themselves.
"With upcoming space exploration one
other possible safe storage place would be
sending our waste into the sun. That way we
could be rid of it forever. This maybe possible
within the next 50 to 100 years if we put a
power plant in outerspace.
"Solar energy would be efficient for homes
but its not strong enough to be used for industry."
from page A-3
Nukes no music yes
Danny Kortchmar Rosemary Butler and
numerous others the album wouldn't have
been much.
But it is an impressive album. The photo
collages throughout it contain excellent shots
of the concert backstage life and menacing
nuclear reactors. You even get a MUSE
booklet with testimonials from all the artists
on the evils of nuclear energy.
Whether you're anti-nuke or not the "No
Nukes" concert album is a fine collection of
good music. As far as I'm concerned "No
Nukes" is good news.
4&
4
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 67, No. 21, Ed. 1, Friday, February 29, 1980, newspaper, February 29, 1980; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth91990/m1/4/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.