# nuclear power should abandoned **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 18, 2011, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335 "2011-11-18T13:19:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/21 "2011-11-18T16:30:03Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Could you please provide some evidence that only half of Japan is inhabitable, and that this fact has been covered up? Thanks in advance. Well, the majority of the Japanese islands’ mass is below water. 😃 To the OP: How many people have died as a result of Fukushima? ---
**Author:** ![randomface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@randomface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randomface)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/22 "2011-11-18T17:01:40Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Not to sounds too stupid but… is that a lot? One bit of googling tells me that China is releasing 20 million tons of SO2 each year, but I’m not sure the source is accurate or if I’m reading it correctly. > > Well, we could always email him and ask him when he intends to return. That’s not stupid in the least bit. No, it’s not a lot on a global scale, but I did use some factors that are pretty generous. From some EPA websites, I found figures of 5.11 million tons of SO2 being released in 2010 by the US. That very conservative figure I gave would be a 3% increase of the US emissions, which are currently going down. A more realistic figure would be hard to determine unless you have a better description of the process proposed to burn the hemp. Pollution from, say NOx, would be roughly 2.75 million tons/year (133% of total 2010 US levels). It would be a shame to trade a long term localized problem (risk of radiation) for a long term diffuse problem (global warming, acid rain, surface ozone). ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/23 "2011-11-18T17:31:56Z")
> [@celnorvik\_yahoo.com](#): > > …If they would let them grow hemp they could steadily feed the boilers and do away with coal, oil and nuclear. It always comes down to hemp… and ball bearings too. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/24 "2011-11-18T17:44:00Z")
> [@hdc\_bst](#): > > It’s actually worse than the OP suspected - best estimate are that only 21% of Japan is habitable. Inhabitable means habitable? What a country! ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/25 "2011-11-18T18:28:21Z")
The OP is correct though. Nuclear power can not compete without massive government financial aid. It is too damn expensive and not competitive. Solar creates many more jobs. It also suffers from human design and maintenance failures. Take it out of the hands of for profit companies and it might be better. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/26 "2011-11-18T18:46:35Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I vote for amending the second law of thermodynamics to allow energy producing perpetual motion. While we’re at it, can we do something about entropy ? I know it was grandfathered in at the last symposium, but it’s really a dreadfully backwards law. It might have been OK in the days of the Founding Fathers of Physics, but in this day and age all it really does it hold society back. I’m sure the Unions are all too happy at all the extra work it generates, but isn’t that just breaking windows at this point ? ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/27 "2011-11-18T19:00:49Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I hereby nominate this as funniest GD post of the week. Especially in light of the poster. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/28 "2011-11-18T19:38:19Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > The OP is correct though. Nuclear power can not compete without massive government financial aid. It is too damn expensive and not competitive. Solar creates many more jobs. > It also suffers from human design and maintenance failures. > Take it out of the hands of for profit companies and it might be better. Which for-profit company was responsible for Chernobyl? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/29 "2011-11-18T19:47:53Z")
Yeah, I think the problem here is not _too little_ hemp, if you get my drift… ---
**Author:** ![David42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@David42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David42)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/30 "2011-11-18T20:22:42Z")
> [@campp](#): > > Hemp replacing nuclear, coal, and oil. Wow! Actually this is a somewhat feasible idea. A renewable resource with a huge biomass/growth time ratio; and of course whether we could completely replace nuclear, coal and oil with it is a question of how much acreage is devoted to it. It’s not a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![David42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@David42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David42)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/31 "2011-11-18T20:25:15Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Well, the majority of the Japanese islands’ mass is below water. 😃 And they’ve been covering it up (with water) so the world will not learn this fact. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/32 "2011-11-18T20:40:47Z")
The “yahoo” in the OP’s name is very apropos. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/33 "2011-11-18T22:12:09Z")
> [@David42](#): > > Actually this is a somewhat feasible idea. A renewable resource with a huge biomass/growth time ratio; and of course whether we could completely replace nuclear, coal and oil with it is a question of how much acreage is devoted to it. > > It’s not a bad idea. Plus with all the hemp smoke being released into the atmosphere…no more wars! ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/34 "2011-11-18T22:21:47Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Welcome to the SDMB. It is customary to provide evidence for claims that are not commonly accepted. Well there was [this](http://media.pc.ign.com/media/480/480467/imgs_1.html) heart wrenching documentary about the effects of Chernobyl, clearly showing the terrible aftermath. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/35 "2011-11-18T22:24:17Z")
> [@celnorvik\_yahoo.com](#): > > The truth is we don’t need nuclear power. If they would let them grow hemp they could steadily feed the boilers and do away with coal, oil and nuclear. Why hemp, in particular? Are you claiming it is the best source of biomass for burning in power stations? If so, please provide a rigorous citation for this. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/36 "2011-11-18T22:51:03Z")
> [@celnorvik\_yahoo.com](#): > > Chernobyl has probably killed 10,000 or more. But who knows how many it killed. It killed hundreds of firemen. It killed hundreds of people who built the doom to cover the mess. It’s probably given cancer to tens of thousands. Not to mention an area 150 mile radius from Chernobyl will be a 500 years , before anyone can live there. If the stuff got into the water table it might give millions cancer. Chernobyl killed considerably less than 10k, and that 150 area around it? perfectly habitable, there are places on earth where the Natural background radiation is higher than at Chernobyl, places with Cities built on them. welcome to the dope, you might want to do your homework before posting though. > **[veoh](https://www.veoh.com/index.html)** thats the only online version I could find but the BBC Horizon episode called “Nuclear Nightmares” is the one I have in mind. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/37 "2011-11-18T23:51:10Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > The OP is correct though. Nuclear power can not compete without massive government financial aid. It is too damn expensive and not competitive. Solar creates many more jobs. > It also suffers from human design and maintenance failures. > Take it out of the hands of for profit companies and it might be better. Oil and Coal are both subsidized, at least here in the US. Nuclear might be as well, but I’m sure the subsidies aren’t enough to make up the millions upon millions of dollars that must be spent to fight legal challenges based on fear and ignorance. I would be very interested to see the cost of building a plant if you remove the legal costs of fighting lawsuits from “environmental” groups and “concerned citizen” groups. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/38 "2011-11-18T23:57:26Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The “yahoo” in the OP’s name is very apropos. I think you mean “appropriate” not “apropos.” ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/39 "2011-11-19T13:52:41Z")
The Germans plan to shut their nuclear plants, by 2020. Just what will replace them is unclear…I nderstand that they will wind up buying electricity from France…prodced by French nuclear power plants. What this accomplishes is unclear.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335/40 "2011-11-19T14:34:59Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > The Germans plan to shut their nuclear plants, by 2020. > Just what will replace them is unclear..I nderstand that they will wind up buying electricity from France..prodced by French nuclear power plants. > What this accomplishes is unclear.😃 I thought that Germany was switching to a mass coal plants plan. Though IIRC Germany does buy more electricity from France than the reverse; given that electricity cant be stocked, there’s a lot of electricity sells between those two countries. There are a lot of concerns in France over the closing of the German nuclear plants program, as that German electricity tends to be bought by France during winter. And that, if Germany closes its plants, France might no be able to cover its energy needs this winter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-power-should-abandoned/603335.md?page=3)