this new nuclear reactor in Somerset?

[OoozingCervix]

How is something that produces dangerous waste, that needs storing for half a million years, a good idea?

[sleeplessbunny]

I believe this is the best decision this government has made so far. (Mind you, not much to compete with )

Nuclear power has to be part of any plan for the future of the UK's energy supply. There is just no realistic alternative and I honestly believe that anyone who thinks otherwise just hasn't done the necessary amount of research on the topic.

Yes there are other energy sources and they should be invested in, but there is nothing that will supply us with a solution for the next 2 or 3 generations.

And of course there is the alternative of going back about 200yrs, without electricity, hot running water, etc. With all of its economic and social consequences. Not something I am hoping for, personally.

I am very sad that it has taken 20yrs of dilly-dallying by successive governments to finally recognise the need and take steps to ensure our future energy security. Now, the only way to build a nuclear reactor in the UK is using foreign investment and expertise, which I deeply regret. 20 yrs ago it would have been a different story, but now the expertise has (mostly) been lost.

For those of you worried about accidents at nuclear plants: take a look over the channel. France generates 80% of its electricity using nuclear power. Its major nuclear waste reprocessing facility (which is reprocessing far more than Sellafield ever did) is situated right at the tip of the Cherbourg peninsula, closer to British population centres in Alderney and the Channel Islands than to any French town. An accident there would have huge consequences for the southern UK. The plant was built decades ago, presumably to lower safety standards than we have now, and is processing far more than it was designed for. If you want to worry about something, go and worry about that.

[sleeplessbunny]

And for the (frankly weird) cars v. nuclear power debate that seems to be ongoing, if we had had the same attitude to health and safety 120yrs ago as we do now, there is NO WAY cars would have happened at all. Can you imagine

oh, i've got this great idea, we can put 4 people in a tin shell, right next to a large quantity of flammable (explosive as well in the right conditions) liquid, and just behind a really hot heavy spinning thing with flames in. We can stick some wheels on it and whizz about really fast.

The reaction would be "WTAF, are you out of your mind? Can you imagine the number of people who will be killed?!"

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I think it's the leaving huge swathes of land uninhabitable for the foreseeable future aspect if it goes wrong that sways a lot of people against nuclear.

[ApocalypseCheeseToastie]

Im not just about powerstations Jenai, I was also referring to all the nuclear waste they dump here.

[PatoBanton]

' An accident there would have huge consequences for the southern UK. The plant was built decades ago, presumably to lower safety standards than we have now, and is processing far more than it was designed for. If you want to worry about something, go and worry about that.'

Yeah I already do - that was kind of my point.

[DrSnowman]

I think that the new nuclear reactor will be the best thing since sliced bread !

It will pollute the air less than coal, oil or even solar power.

It will make less of a radiation threat to the general public than some nasty dirty coals.

It will make less mining waste than a windfarm would make.

It will generate power and lots of jobs

Used nuclear fuel is less soluble in water than a pyrex casserole dish when it is stored underwater deep underground.

The amount of high level waste formed is very small, if all your energy needs of you lifetime were meet by nuclear it would hardly give you the glass required to make an ash tray.

The medium active waste from a nuclear plant is mainly beta/gamma and shortlived, which is much less nasty than long lived alpha from the oil / gas / coal industry.

I would be happy to buy a house on the land above a radioactive waste store (used fuel), I would be glad for my wife and kids to live there. I guess that junior will not be able to dig 500 meters down and thus intrude into the waste store.

I would be happy for my kids to get jobs in the nuclear sector.

[specialsubject]

bad news, PatoBanton (good name, though) - you have a 100% risk of death.

to see the odds on what will cause it, take a look at this. American risks but you get the idea. Our car crash death risks are maybe a little lower as we wear seat belts.

muller.lbl.gov/teaching/physics10/old%20physics%2010/physics%2010%20notes/Risk.html

[DrSnowman]

Maybe you should have a look at www.kav100.narod.ru/ex-e.htm

These are very funny cartoons about the joys of being a nuclear worker, I like the one about the snake going down a pipe best of all.

[JenaiMorris]

Fairy muff, Apo

[JenaiMorris]

Arf at 'catastrophes (all)', special

[PatoBanton]

Welcome to Mumsnet, Dr Snowman (I see your posting history is not at ALL biased in threads about fracking and nuclear power, oh no indeed)

[PatoBanton]

Ah I see you are a professor of industrial waste and recycling.

That might explain the bias

Thankyou for the reassurance. It isn't working very well for me but no disrespect...I thought you might be a government spambot for a moment...!

[imofftolisdoonvarna]

patobanton (great name by the way!) what is your alternative to nuclear power?