Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!caip!ll-xn!mit-amt!mit-eddie!genrad!decvax!mcnc!rti-sel!dg_rtp!throopw From: throopw@dg_rtp.UUCP (Wayne Throop) Newsgroups: net.politics,net.sci Subject: Re: Nuclear power: Petr Beckmann Message-ID: <460@dg_rtp.UUCP> Date: Tue, 22-Jul-86 12:33:39 EDT Article-I.D.: dg_rtp.460 Posted: Tue Jul 22 12:33:39 1986 Date-Received: Thu, 24-Jul-86 04:21:40 EDT References: <529@gargoyle.UUCP> Lines: 36 Xref: watmath net.politics:17601 net.sci:1341 > carnes@gargoyle.UUCP (Richard Carnes) > [quoting Paul & Anne Ehrlich] > Beckmann's chapter on coal contains a variety of confused assertions, > one of which is that "in the United States, for example, the > fertility rate has dropped below the `Zero Population Growth' level, > but its population is still expanding." ... What is confused about this? Seems straightforward to me. In fact, it seems likely that the Ehrlichs are confused here. > "[...] while glossing over an > annual billion tons (in the US) of coal wastes with an infinite > lifetime, a considerable part of which is diposed of into the > atmosphere." > > What billion tons could he be referring to? ... Only a tiny fraction > [of the overburden removed in surface mining] is either particularly > toxic or long-lived. If it is to be included in a coal-nuclear > comparison, so also must be the voluminous overburden from surface > mining of uranium and the bulky and toxic tailings from uranium > mills. [Paul and Anne Ehrlich] How about the billions of tons of (let us say) carbon dioxide, which may be damaging the thermal ballance of the whole planet? And a billion tons annually doesn't have to be very toxic to be dangerous. The point that nuclear wastes, while highly toxic, are small in quantity compared to those from chemically powered processes is still valid. I note that I personally don't find nuclear power a panacea, nor to I agree with Beckmann in all things. But some of what he has to say is quite valid, and weak attacks on valid points, such as these, don't do much to increase the credibility or perceived competence of his detractors. -- Wayne Throop !mcnc!rti-sel!dg_rtp!throopw