
Nuclear Roulette
The Truth About the Most Dangerous Energy Source on Earth
Gar Smith(Author)
Chelsea Green Publishing Co
Published on 1. March 2013
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-1-60358-477-7 (ISBN)
Description
Nuclear power is not clean, cheap or safe. With Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima, the nuclear industry's record of catastrophic failures now averages one major disaster every decade. After three US-designed plants exploded in Japan, many countries moved to abandon reactors for renewables. In the US however, powerful corporations and a compliant government still defend nuclear power, while promising billion-dollar bailouts to operators.
Each new disaster demonstrates that the nuclear industry and governments lie to avoid panic and to preserve the myth of safe, clean nuclear power. Tokyo and Washington both covered up Fukushima's radiation risks and, when confronted with damning evidence, simply raised the levels of 'acceptable' risk to match the greater levels of exposure.
Nuclear Roulette chronicles the problems of ageing reactors, uncovers the costly challenge of decommissioning, explores the industry's greatest seismic risks, and explains how solar flares could black our power grids, causing the world's 400-plus reactors to self-destruct. This powerful expose concludes with a roundup of proven and potential energy solutions that can replace nuclear technology with a 'Renewable Renaissance', combined with conservation programmes that can cleanse the air and cool the planet.
Each new disaster demonstrates that the nuclear industry and governments lie to avoid panic and to preserve the myth of safe, clean nuclear power. Tokyo and Washington both covered up Fukushima's radiation risks and, when confronted with damning evidence, simply raised the levels of 'acceptable' risk to match the greater levels of exposure.
Nuclear Roulette chronicles the problems of ageing reactors, uncovers the costly challenge of decommissioning, explores the industry's greatest seismic risks, and explains how solar flares could black our power grids, causing the world's 400-plus reactors to self-destruct. This powerful expose concludes with a roundup of proven and potential energy solutions that can replace nuclear technology with a 'Renewable Renaissance', combined with conservation programmes that can cleanse the air and cool the planet.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
White River Junction
United States
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-60358-477-7 (9781603584777)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Gar Smith is editor emeritus of Earth Island Journal, a Project Censored award-winning investigative journalist, and co-founder of Environmentalists Against War. He has covered revolutions in Central America and has engaged in environmental campaigns on three continents. He lives a low-impact, solar-assisted lifestyle in Berkeley, California.