anti-nuclear

11 reasons against
(then there are the others)
by ElektrizitätsWerken Schönau (EWS)

We report here the tabs for 11 reasons.
Choices a bit at random (less the ones about earthquakes).
Sufficient. It still lacks about ninety ...

 

8. Lack of uranium
The uranium mines are no longer able to cover the consumption of nuclear power plants already for twenty years.

Since 1985, it is clear that nuclear power plants use from year to year, more and more uranium than it is extracted. The uranium mined in 2006 in the mines around the world is less than two thirds of the amount needed to operate the plants. The plant operators have now received the missing nuclear fuel from civilian and military stockpiles, but they are running out. To ensure the supply of nuclear fuel needed to existing power plants, the amount of uranium mined in the coming years is expected to increase by more than 50%. To achieve this end should be put into operation a lot of new uranium mines, with the disasters that would follow for the environment and health.

12. Risk of Cancer
Nuclear power plants do not only make sick children.

The closer a child is growing at a nuclear power plant, the higher the risk you run of getting cancer. Children under five years who live within five kilometers from nuclear power plants get cancer 60% higher than the national average. The rates of leukemia are actually more than double (+120%). The radioactive radiation can easily cause the onset of leukemia. Data from the U.S. indicate that the adults in the vicinity of nuclear power plants get cancer with higher than average rates.

21. Age-related risk
The longer a plant is in operation, the more it becomes unsafe.

Technology and electronics do not stand forever. Let alone a nuclear power plant. The pipes become brittle, freeze controls, valves and pumps break down. The cracks widen, metals corrode. In the Davis Besse nuclear power plant (Ohio, USA) due to corrosion is open, without being noticed, a hole in the steel booster often 16 cm. Only a thin layer of stainless steel on the inside has prevented the formation of a leak.

25. Earthquake Hazard
The nuclear plants are not safe enough in case of earthquake.

The recent case of disaster is demonstrated by Fukushima. Despite the Japanese nuclear power plants were built to withstand major earthquakes which has always been the subject land of the Rising Sun, one that was deemed statistically improbable hypothesis is realized. On 11 March at 14:46, a devastating earthquake measuring 8.9-9 on the Richter scale hit central Japan and the Fukushima Daiichi, in north-eastern Japan. You are immediately driven systems shutdown of three reactors in the active center, as well as those of the other reactors of the country affected by the earthquake. Through the insertion of control rods inside the core, the reactors were made subcritical. However, at least 1 unit, one or more safety bars are not sufficiently penetrated into the core: this is indirectly confirmed by the fact that several hours after the accident, the plant managers have sought to inject boron in the core (which is a strong neutron absorber) in order to prevent power trips precisely localized due to imperfect insertion of the safety bars. Concurrently, the emergency cooling systems were put into operation, starting to lower the temperature inside the reactor, where the highly radioactive fission products continue to generate a significant amount of heat. 55 minutes after the first violent shock of an earthquake, a tsunami generated by earthquake struck the central putting out the use of diesel generators which ensured the operation of the cooling pumps. After several unsuccessful attempts to try to maintain a high level of water in the reactor cores, engineers have begun to enter the reactor sea water mixed with boric acid, in order to cover the fuel rods and lower the temperature , thereby removing part of the merger. Nevertheless as reported by the company that operates the plant, TEPCO, the fuel rods contained in the active reactors at the time of the earthquake (1, 2 and 3) and those contained in the cooling pool of reactor number 4 off the first earthquake, have been discovered for a long enough period to bring the temperature of the fuel rods at levels that make possible the rapid oxidation of zirconium metal that makes up the outer part of the fuel (if the metal reaches a temperature high when it comes into contact with water or steam producing large quantities of hydrogen). In nuclear reactors must be constantly assured that there is a water level sufficient to cover all fuel elements. Otherwise, as happened in Fukushima, the decay heat produced by radioactive elements contained in the fuel can cause the production of hydrogen and damage to the bar, resulting in leakage of radioactive isotopes that have contaminated the water cooling, and in partial melting of the fuel. Italy is one of the four EU countries with the highest seismic risk (earthquakes over 7 on the Richter scale). In Italy, earthquakes with magnitude above 6 on the Richter scale, which have made a lot of damage and casualties in the Peninsula since the beginning of last century to the present, are at least seven, including the most devastating of all was that of Messina and Reggio Calabria (1908), followed by a tsunami with real waves up to 13 meters, and about 120,000 deaths. A tragedy that should be mindful of those who say in Europe are not possible disasters such as the Japanese. First L'Aquila (2009), then there were the earthquakes in Irpinia (1980 and 1930, with 2,570 deaths and 1,400 respectively) of Friuli (1976), with 989 victims, that of Belize (1968) with 236 and the deaths of Avezzano (1915) with 32,610 deaths.

33. Human Risk
Humans make mistakes in a nuclear power plant is fatal.

Valves operated incorrectly, ignored warning signs, switches forgotten, misunderstood orders, wrong reactions - nuclear power plants there are dozens of cases in which not the technology but the man is responsible for dangerous situations. The risk of human error can not be calculated.
It is just the man instead, the team of power plant operators, who must, in the event of an accident, implement emergency measures to prevent a meltdown. The nuclear claims men without flaws, but it does not exist, especially in stressful situations very strong as in the case of an accident..

41. Collapse of the economy
An incident atomic of large scale leads to a serious political and economic collapse.

The worst scenario imaginable nuclear accident would cause in a country like Germany to damage from 2.5 to 5.5 billion euros. This according to the calculation of the Prognos AG company 20 years ago, in a study for the Ministry of Economy. Given the change in inflation, the sum would now surely be even higher. In comparison, short-term packages of 20 largest economies to address the current economic crisis have a total volume of 3.5 billion euros. In the recent case of Japan, most of the damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami occurred in the Tohoku region, which represents about 8% of national GDP. In particular, coastal cities have been hardest hit Fukushima, Miyagi, Ibaraki and Aomori. These prefectures combined to produce a little less than 6% of the GDP of Japan. The Standard & Poor's believes that the earthquake in Japan is probably the most expensive catastrophe in history. The most costly earthquake ever recorded so far was the Northridge, California occurred in 1994, which caused $ 15 billion of losses. It is believed that the Sendai earthquake could exceed the economic damage is the tsunami of 2004 (10 billion dollars) is that of Kobe in 1995 ($ 100 billion). But all these figures are expected, however, to grow in the coming months when you can make a precise statement of the damage.

69. Energy Prices
Nuclear power raises prices.

Prices go up from the current year, in Germany as in all other countries, despite the electricity produced by nuclear reactors. One of the main reasons is the market force of the four major complexes that dominate the energy supply to the Power Exchange in Leipzig. From 2002 to 2008 EnBW, E. ON, RWE and Vattenfall have earned 100 billion. At the same time the current prices have increased by over 50%. The nuclear power plants provide more strength in the market of nuclear power companies and ensure their profits of billions.
Already the renewable energy working against the market, lowering prices. Thanks to wind energy consumers save billions of euros every year (the so-called "merit-order effect"). Not borne out enormous benefits for the current nuclear power (through the introduction of a realistic amount of insurance coverage in the third nuclear power plant, a tax on funds, or a tax on fuel), the electricity produced by nuclear energy would inaccessible: Prognos AG in Basel, the company has already calculated a realistic price in 1992 of approximately EUR 2 per kilowatt hour.

77. Deception of the masses
The fable that "without nuclear power the lights go out" to tell the energy companies have for more than 30 years.

"Sun, water and wind can also cover long-term not more than 4% of our current needs." It is announced that the groups of electricity in the middle of 1993 the newspapers in general circulation. The reality is this: in 2009 more than 16% of the electricity used in Germany comes from renewable energy in 2020 could reach almost 50%. By mid-century it is possible that the power supply comes from 100% renewable energy. This tells matter how industrial complexes, which are fighting to postpone the closure of their nuclear power plants, and still tell the tale of a long day blackout. Those who still believe in it?

84. Uranium munitions
The waste of uranium become radioactive munitions.

Many armies, including the USA, using depleted uranium ammunition obtained. In the event of an impact you pulverize them, they explode and contaminate the environment. The radioactive particles cause serious damage to health of soldiers and civilians. The military advantage of the great power of penetration of this extremely dense material, while the nuclear industry takes advantage of a low cost "disposal" of its radioactive waste. In Italy it was possible to verify the health consequences of the spread of depleted uranium on soldiers who have participated in various missions abroad, especially in the former Yugoslavia. In fact, they called "Balkan syndrome" disease that has affected many young Italian soldiers of which many died. It was always suspected that the cause of the deadly diseases could be linked to the infamous depleted uranium. During the Kosovo war was launched, as admitted by the Pentagon, well 11 000 projectiles with depleted uranium. They were thrown against the armored vehicles to punch, thanks to the enormous force of impact of depleted uranium. The committee chaired by Professor Mandelli came to the conclusion that the number of deaths was in the national average. However, the list of deadly diseases and the military who have died in the last decade has stretched alarmingly. "Indeed - says Falco Accame, who was chairman of the defense - to trace with certainty the death of depleted uranium is impossible. But not even have the certainty to the contrary, that depleted uranium is innocent, a stranger to the tragic end of so many young people. " In Bosnia and Kosovo were killed 28 Italian soldiers and more than 150 were suffering from malignancies. They have lost their lives in military operations, have died because afflicted by incurable diseases during their mission in the territories of former Yugoslavia. The impressive data is contained in the annual reports that the Ministry of Defense has submitted to Parliament. Sentence having been pronounced on December 19, 2008, the Court of Florence, following the request of the plaintiff, said the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence for diseases contracted by military service as a result of exposure to depleted uranium. In this case the officer had participated in the Ibis mission in Somalia.

90. Obsolete model
Nuclear power is now an old model around the world.

18 of the 46 European countries are using nuclear energy. Only two of these are actually building new reactors. Within the 27 EU states the percentage of reactors, as well as the percentage of energy used in nuclear power production, is declining. Over the past ten years, all over the world were connected to the network 35 reactors, for a total capacity of 26 gigawatts. Of the 438 existing reactors, 348 (for a total capacity of 293 gigawatts) have more than 20 years. Just to replace these nuclear plants should connect to the network a new reactor every 18.5 days, from now until 2030. We are clearly very far from this goal.

93. Chernobyl and Fukushima
The nuclear reactor accident at Chernobyl has destroyed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. On the recent incident in Fukushima we have not yet certain information, but we can imagine how many thousands of people will suffer the effects for a long time.

After the Super-Gau (the maximum conceivable accident at a nuclear plant) from Chernobyl, in Ukraine, some 800,000 "liquidators" were transferred to the Soviet Union to provide relief and help in the clean-up work. Over 90% of these people is now invalid. Twenty years after the Ukrainian nuclear disaster 17,000 families receive state funding because the father has died while serving as a "liquidator". The cancer rate in Belarus has increased by 40% between 1990 and 2000, the World Health Organization states that in the Homel region of more than 500,000 children are suffering from thyroid cancer during their lifetime. After the accident, miscarriages, premature births and births have increased dramatically with a dead fetus. 350,000 people living near the reactor had to leave their land forever. Even more than 1,000 kilometers away, in Bavaria, were found up to 3,000 cases of malformations due to radiation. The increase in neonatal mortality after Chernobyl has claimed nearly 5,000 victims in the European countries. It is well established that a given compares the incident of the power plant in Fukushima in Japan to that of Chernobyl in Ukraine. The nuclear disaster in Japan is classified as level 7 according to the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES). 7 is the highest level of severity for nuclear accidents, reached earlier, in fact, only during the accident at Chernobyl in 1986. What we leave to future generations can not be assessed without regard to genetic damage and other consequences of such incidents. Certainly, however, the catastrophes of 1986 as one of 2011 are not yet finished.