| In principle, nuclear energy, whose share of covering | | | | radiation were observed in many locations. |
| the world's energy needs presently amounts to | | | | To avoid such an accident from taking place in the |
| around 5%, is one of the best methods how we can | | | | future, some countries have decided to stop |
| presently produce energy. Even so, this form of | | | | producing nuclear energy outright. Furthermore, many |
| energy has many great risks for mankind and the | | | | residents living near border regions neighbouring |
| environment. | | | | countries still operating or building nuclear power |
| The wasteful consequences of nuclear energy is not | | | | plants are protesting against it. |
| only in its military use, as was proven following the | | | | It can be generally stated that, even in light of many |
| atomic bomb dropped on the Japanese cities of | | | | safety and preventive measures, the use of nuclear |
| Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But, as was shown in the | | | | energy has many risks hidden within it in that |
| nuclear power plant accident in Chernobyl in 1986, the | | | | dangerous situations can occur at all locations along |
| peaceful use of nuclear energy also carries with it its | | | | its fuel circuit. The risks involved do not only relate |
| unexpected risks. Not only did thousands of people | | | | to, as it is often erroneously believed, the actual |
| die immediately following the reactor's failure but also | | | | fusion process, the storage of uranium or its recycling |
| due to the cancer illnesses clearly resulting from this | | | | and transport but also on the mining of uranium and |
| accident. Besides this, there is a clear rise in the | | | | the creation of radioactive dumpsites. The biproducts |
| number of miscarriages and birth defects in the area | | | | of nuclear fission, such as radioactive radon gas |
| surrounding Chernobyl. At that time, a radioactive | | | | created from waste containing remains of radium, |
| cloud engulfed all of Europe. Although the | | | | leads to greater occurrences of lung cancers, evident |
| consequences of this accident were not directly | | | | with miners or residents living near radioactive waste |
| visible in all parts of Europe, increased amounts of | | | | dumps. |