Wise public policy is central to a society. It should be based on such principles as the greatest good for the greatest number for the longest time. The policy to allow nuclear power is, by these principles, the greatest evil in history.
Nuclear power creates many toxic products, including plutonium 239, the deadliest substance known. One ounce, evenly distributed, could kill every human being. It has a half life of 24,000 years and takes at least 10 half lives to become somewhat safe. That’s 240,000 years—a long time considering that modern humans haven’t been around that long.
How can such a substance be kept out of the environment and away from terrorists for 240,000 years? Just think, if ancient Egypt had nuclear power when the pyramids were built, we would still be guarding their waste and have 235,000 years to go. No atrocity, genocide, or war has ever threatened every future generation with annihilation. Public policy that permits nuclear power generation is simply madness.
This article appears in Mar 31 – Apr 7, 2011.
