| Neither McCain nor Obama oppose nuclear power, | | | | and it has to be carefully looked after for several |
| their differences of opinion aren't on the background | | | | thousand years (10,000 years according to United |
| facts of nuclear power, but on impact on the | | | | States Environmental Protection Agency standards). |
| environment. McCain focuses on an aggressive | | | | And what happens if nuclear waste falls into the |
| expansion of nuclear power plants, while Obama | | | | wrong hands? |
| focuses nuclear power playing a only a part of the | | | | - Despite extremely high security standards, it is |
| overall energy portfolio. | | | | technically impossible to build a facility that is 100% |
| McCain is campaigning for "cheap, clean, secure | | | | secure and accidents can still happen. The |
| energy for America" and the need to "transform | | | | consequences of an accident would be absolutely |
| electricity" through nuclear power. Nuclear power is a | | | | devastating both for human beings as for the |
| proven, reliable, zero-emission source of energy, and | | | | environment. The more nuclear power plants (and |
| he is campaigning that it is time to recommit to | | | | nuclear waste storage shelters) that are built, the |
| advancing our use of nuclear power. McCain also | | | | higher the probability of a disastrous failure (and/or |
| supports the idea that nuclear power is a major | | | | terrorist attack) somewhere in the world. |
| contender in climate control. | | | | - The energy source for nuclear energy is Uranium, |
| Obama on the other hand, is adamant about the fact | | | | which is a scarce resource; its supply is estimated to |
| that nuclear energy is not optimal. He has stated | | | | last only for the next 30 to 60 years depending on |
| that, "there are no silver bullet solutions to our | | | | the actual demand. |
| energy crises. Our economy, security and | | | | It is equally important to look seriously at |
| environment will be best served through a sustained | | | | sustainability; is nuclear energy sustainable? For |
| effort to diversify our energy sources." Obama has | | | | several reasons, nuclear power is neither {green} nor |
| not ruled nuclear power out, but only as long as its | | | | sustainable: |
| clean and safe. | | | | - Both nuclear waste and retired nuclear plants are a |
| The researchers at Paradise Earth decided to take a | | | | life-threatening legacy for future generations. |
| closer look at the impact that nuclear power | | | | Sustainability is blatantly contradicted if generations to |
| generation will have on, not only our economy, but | | | | come have to deal with dangerous waste generated |
| also our environment. How would constructing these | | | | from preceding generations. |
| nuclear power plants benefit our troubled nation? | | | | - Uranium, the source of energy for nuclear power, is |
| - Nuclear power technology is already in the works | | | | available on earth only in limited quantities. Uranium is |
| and operating throughout the world, so an | | | | being consumed during the operation of the nuclear |
| investment in research and development won't be | | | | power plant so it won't be available any more for |
| necessary. | | | | future generations. This again contradicts the principle |
| - Nuclear power generation emits somewhat low | | | | of sustainability. |
| levels of carbon dioxide; the contribution of nuclear | | | | The debate over nuclear power plants has been |
| power plants to global warming is minimal. | | | | going on for decades, worldwide. Politicians, activists, |
| - One single plant can produce high levels of electrical | | | | environmentalists and the average citizen cannot |
| energy. | | | | longer turn a blind eye to the consequences of our |
| But at what cost? | | | | existence on Planet Earth. Our future and the survival |
| - Radioactive waste is still an unsolved problem. The | | | | of our natural resources depend solely on our ability |
| waste from nuclear energy is extremely dangerous | | | | to support sustainable living. |