Nuclear Power Plants and the Danger they pose to the Nation

NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Introduction

There are several dangers that come through the use of the nuclear power plants. The most significant of all the dangers are inclusive of the nuclear meltdowns. Nevertheless, there are several others dangers that arise. Indeed, there have been several cases where the dangers of the nuclear power plants have resulted into real disasters and this has led to the establishment of safety and regulatory agencies. While the nuclear power plants are reported to offer a very significant source of power, there are several dangers are actually associated with its use. The reported dangers have resulted to the general fear of the nuclear plants not only in the U.S. but also globally. The nuclear power plants are actually dangerous right from the initial stages of the mining operations to actually gather the uranium all the way to the final stages where the byproducts are disposed safely. Nonetheless, scientists are increasingly trying to address the dangers despite the fact that the risks are increasingly becoming prevalent. This paper will present annotated bibliography of nuclear power plants and the danger they pose to the nation.

Annotated Bibliography of Nuclear Power Plants and the Danger they pose to the Nation

Benjamin K. S. (August 2010). A Critical Evaluation of Nuclear Power and Renewable Electricity in Asia Journal of Contemporary Asia, Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 393–400.

            The journal has indicated that globally there have been approximately 99 accidents that have occurred at the nuclear power plants from the year 1952 to the year 2009. These accidents have been defined in the article as accidents that either led to the loss of the human life or simply a loss of more than $2.5 billion in the property damages. Further, the article has indicated that fifty seven of the accidents are reported to have occurred since the famous Chernobyl disaster and an estimated two-thirds which is 56 out of the total 99 of the accidents caused by the nuclear power plants occurred within the United States. Nonetheless, the article indicates that there have been comparatively very few fatalities that could be associated with the accidents caused by the nuclear power plants. Indeed, the article indicates clearly that nuclear power plants are extremely dangerous and have been responsibly for causing several accidents globally and particularly in the U.S.

Lightman, D. (Mar.16, 2011). ”Japan Crisis Intensifies Debate Over Safety of Nuclear Power.” www.standard.net. web.

            In this article, David Lightman has based his argument on the safety as well as the debate that is happening now as the crisis caused by the nuclear power stations is worsening in Japan specifically at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex. Further, the author argues that the administration of Obama is looking for money that it can use to build the nuclear power plants from six to approximately eight new plants within the U.S. alone. However, the article indicates that currently the main focus is on the pros and cons of the nuclear power plants especially the dangerous that has been posed by the plants. The article actually discusses the rekindled debate on the catastrophic nuclear disaster in Japan. Moreover, the article indicates that radiation is likely to increase the dangerous of the nuclear power plants and recommends a critical look at the safety of the various nuclear reactors.

Welch, D. (1992). The Organizational Process and Bureaucratic Politics Paradigms: Retrospect and Prospect. International Security, 17 (2): 112–146.

The article indicates that for each and every war that has been fought, there is a political reason and justification behind it and of course it brings with it its own political implications. It is a fact that International Relations do not just take place or happen without an explanation or powerful force behind them. The events come up as a result either intended or unintended decisive action taken by powerful individuals in the government. The article draws its arguments from the Second World War decision by the US to drop two nuclear bombs on two different Japanese cities needed some political response and decision from President Harry Truman. The nuclear power plants are the ones responsible for the development of the nuclear weapons and therefore increases a danger of political disharmony as a result of the attacks through the use of the weapons.

Brecher, M. & Jonathan, W. (2000). A Study of Crisis. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press, pp.266-274.

The article discusses the dangers of the nuclear power plants by Indicating that any time weapons are employed, there is an environmental effect. In Japan, there is an effect today caused by the 1945 nuclear bomb. In Iraq, there was the destruction of structures, oil fields and fires. Other environmental effects include chemical spraying and military transport movements which have a devastating effect on the environment. The most commonly affected in terms of pollution are air, water and soil with both man and animals dying as a result; this is not inclusive of the health effects this has on the living. Oil wells if put on fire like in the Gulf War of the 1990s cause serious air pollution, not to mention the damage caused to the Ozone layer. The persons living in places where pollution rates are high will face a serious drop in life expectancy and for some, either fertility or total infertility. Indeed, the nuclear power plants pose a serious environment to the environment.

Ramana. M.V. (2009), Nuclear Power: Economic, Safety, Health, and Environmental Issues of Near-Term Technologies, Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 34, p. 136.

This article has discussed the economic, safety, health, as well as environmental issues regarding the nuclear power plants. However, the paper found the economic aspect significant in relation to the dangers posed. On the aspect of cost, the article indicates that many would not contemplate the losses experienced through nuclear power plants and merely questioning it would evoke a feeling of not coming to terms with the factors surrounding the war itself. Most of the time, the cost incurred is almost always overlooked whenever debates to do with nuclear power plants are brought forward. However, the cost in terms of money and in particular blood is only conceivable if the cost is kept at the lowest levels possible. Whenever casualty levels move into 4-figure digits, the nuclear power plants brings the economy to its knees forcing it into steep critical recession.

Matthew, W. (February 29, 2012). “The Nuclear Ups and Downs of 2011”. New York Times.

            The article indicates that there is absolutely no perfect source of energy that does not pose any danger. Each source of energy has its own advantages as well as compromises. Indeed, the article indicates that nuclear power plants have increasingly been considered a very prominent alternative despite the various disregards that it met in the 1970s. Moreover, the nuclear power plants have been touted as the most environmentally friendly beneficial source of ensuring that electricity is generated. The nuclear power plants are reported in the article to be emitting very few greenhouse gases during the process of generating the electricity as compared to the coal or any other form of traditional power plants. Indeed, the article as opposed to the various articles indicated in this paper shows that the dangers caused by nuclear power plants is minimal as compared to the benefits.

U.S. News Staff. (March.14,2011). ”Should U.S. Stop Building Nuclear Plants After Japan Earthquake?”U.S.News..web.

This U.S. news article discusses the issue of the disaster in Japan that was caused by the nuclear power stations leaving several individuals asking whether such a disaster could happen in the U.S. The article has indicated that there are an estimated hundred nuclear power generators in the U.S. and consequently 3 million Americans are living within approximately 10 miles of an operating plant. The article indicates that the Republicans and Democrats have been pushing for the expansion of the nuclear power plants within the U.S. The article indicates that due to the disaster that took place in the U.S., some of the senators in the U.S. are pushing for a brake in the building of the nuclear power plants.

Diaz Maurin, F. (26 March, 2011). “Fukushima: Consequences of Systemic Problems in Nuclear Plant Design”. Economic & Political Weekly 46 (13): 10–12.

The article indicates that the effect that the nuclear power plants had on Japan is that social platforms of interaction, transport and communication declined on a steady note, if not totally destroyed. It is common-place for analysts and the world alike not to focus on the social effect it has on the native populations. There may be side-shows brought about by leaders to try and change the focus and attention of the world from the matter but the indifference that it caused is definitely unmistakable.. There is little coverage or documentation in the shape of novels or films that make efforts to try and capture the suffering. The article indicates that the nuclear power plants have the ability of killing several individuals incase there is a radiation. In nutshell, the article indicates that nuclear power plants are extremely dangerous.]

One of the most distinct characteristics of this indifference is the lack of credible accounting for the destruction and mortality coming as a result of war. The governments themselves do not talk about it and the press restricts the reports of the casualties or destruction the lowest possible statistics. In Iraq, for example, the statistics used by the media was in 5-figure digits whereas actual audited and analyzed indicate the figures were into hundreds of thousands. This is a clear indication that the statistical figures of fatalities are significantly higher and there is a need to properly research and audit the figures in order to sensitize the relevant personnel of the implications of this war.

There is also little account on the number of orphans, widows, maimed and disabled people that it left in its wake. With the estimates of the war related deaths going beyond 0.6 million and most of them being adults, there is a chance that the possible number of orphaned children should be really high (Mofid,1990). The total number of affected persons especially the civilian population is a figure we can be sure that the United States politicians would not want to look at for long. The most puzzling issue of this war is the media’s reluctance to report on the devastation caused by this war that has left the future of the Arabian country in doubt, despair and little hope for political or social existence. There is actually very little information on how this war has affected the social life of the Iraqis.