Nuclear Power, is this our best option to save the planet or destroy the planet?  The question everyone asks when thinking about this subject.

Is this irrational and ill-informed in the 21^st Century?

Australia has one of the largest stock pile of Nuclear fuel (Uranium, “Yellow Cake”) in the world, we sell it to everyone, including Pakistan (thankyou P.M. John Howard).  With such an important resource as this, I feel we have a responsibility to the world.  Should we really be selling it to anyone who can afford it?

How far does our responsibility go?  Does it also include the waste products?  As much as I would personally like to ensure that this is managed well, responsibility has to be in the hands of the consumer.

Personally I would like to see Australia only sell Uranium to 1^st world countries (that can afford to build safe facilities and manager the waste products).  This is a problem in that it is really 2^nd world countries that need Nuclear Power the most because they are the ones that are most likely to cause the most pollution without it.  The reason for this is they will use coal and fossil fuels in an unregulated way producing massive pollution as a result of their growing manufacturing.

This is impossible, for a number of reasons.

• There are already long contracts in place with foreign powers and businesses, which would cost a fortune to break.
• There is a huge industry in Central Australia in mining Uranium.

This does not stop use from not renewing contracts and being more selective in the future.  After all Mr Howard was not the most responsible global citizen, when he struck a deal with such an irresponsible country as Pakistan.

(Next I will be discussing should Australia use Nuclear Power.)

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