1: That there is more than a 20 year supply of uranium
or
2: Overpopulation is the root cause of our problems

RWDB? If you wish… I’ll leave the name-calling and cutesy acronym’s to you
“mate”

It’s only just recently that companies have started exploring for uranium, the two mine policy put the mockers on it…Who’s going to spend money to find an orebody they can’t mine? As far as I’m aware, it’s still illegal to explore for uranium in NSW for instance. If the two-mine policy was changed, there would be an adundance of discoveries, certainly enough uranium here to power australia for +50 years.

the real root cause of Co2, land degredation, soil degredation, loss of water resources, pollution ect ect is infact an ever increasing population THAT is the issue that needs resolution no some soppy hand-wringing about Co2, nuclear power and Australia’s 1.5% co2 emissions.

The question of limits of uranium resources I can answer immediately. Uranium is plentiful. (Search for “availability of uranium deposits”). Unfortunately, hydrocarbons are also available in overwhelming supply. Even oil can be made from coal, with yet more CO2 emission.

The problem is not with our inputs but with our outputs. The article tries to terrify us with visions of radioactive pollution amounting to a small variation in natural radioactivity. At the same time, there is already 1.6 kg of CO2 pollution above every square metre. There is plenty of room to store spent fuel, but the atmosphere is full!

- There is a nuclear planning and building boom at the moment in the world. Its true that the current share of nuclear power is declining slightly, but the amount of nuclear thats about to come on board is quite large.

- The comparison Paul Howes makes between Australia and Saudi Arabia is valid - he is talking about the PROPORTION of exports that we have, which is roughly analogous

- I agree with comments about that the 4th generation reactors, these are extremely safe and can be rolled out in a standardized way.

- Its really really tragic, with global warming accelerating around the world, that so many greens have turned their backs on the genuine clean baseload power solution we have - nuclear power. In fact, on going to many green rallies I know that many people secretly do think nuclear is valid, but are afraid to speak out because of the luddite way its been stigamatized in the green community. Its really time to grow up and welcome nuclear power.

There’s no safe storage of high level radioactive materials anywhere in the world. The storage on site/s is building up each year, and it’s a wonder there hasn’t been another serious ‘incident’ with the dangers of Chernobyl. The recent practice of the US in using depleted uranium in bombs is just horrific. There’s plenty of evidence of increases in birth deformities and cancers in many countries in recent years, and will only grow in the future - it’s just horrific - Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia etc.The way our cities and towns are organised around this country means that the nuclear plants would be situated close to communities - they require access to large sources of water. Port Kembla, in the Illawarra, NSW, has been given as a possible site for a reactor? What? Next to Blue Scope Steel or the oil storage depots? Great stuff! We’ve already had a serious incident some time ago that thankfully didn’t involve a nuclear reactor, but a man died, and it was a very serious situation for some hours. The site was removed of all workers? One of my sons was working in the area, and it was frightening! We have a serious shortage of water, it’s just ridiculous to engage in any activity that would worsen this situation.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is in need of a serious overhaul. We have a situation where some countries have nuclear weapons without any accountability(Israel, Pakistan and India) but countries who’ve signed the Treaty, and have the right to enrich uranium for power generation are threatened with military action(Iran)? Pakistan gained their facilities some years ago, and even though a senior person sold materials and gave information to other people/countries, because it was useful and a ‘friend’ of the US, very little happened. Now we have a situation where those who we purport to be fighting against(Taliban & Al Qaeda)could get their hands on nuclear weapons in that country.Scary stuff!Iran was offered nuclear weapon information and assistance when the US ‘planted’ the Shah to power - thank goodness it didn’t happen!

Paul Howes can’t give any guarantee, that those who have access to nuclear materials today, will be the same people in power in a few years time; but more importantly, there’s no guarantee that they can be trusted anyway? It’s irresponsible to even contemplate putting more dangerous radioactive materials into the environment, when the amount there now is almost at crisis point; to take a chance on these materials being lost or stolen(plenty of incidents in the past); that there’ll be no long term damage to either humans or other life, either flora or fauna; that companies can be trusted to clean up their mess, and that governments can be trusted to tell the people the truth. I recall during the Howard Govt, when the then Minister, Julie Bishop was asked many times about the alleged leaks from Lucas Heights. She had to be ‘dragged’ to the despatch box with a half answer, which ultimately meant - yes! It took weeks!

When all these factors are taken into account, coupled with the fact that the source of nuclear power won’t last forever; that solar power for base load use is perhaps only a few years away, it would be madness to even entertain the idea of nuclear power. There’s enough energy derived via the sun in this country in one day, to supply the world’s energy needs for one year. (Professor IanLowe, ACF 7.30Report ‘o7?)If I had my way, there’d be no uranium mines in the country. Leave the damned stuff in the ground, and slowly close down nuclear reactors for solar or wind or ??When Bob Hawke gave the green light to another uranium mine in the 80’s, he gave the ‘middle finger’ to the hard working and committed members of the ALP - I never went to another meeting, nor did I work on a polling booth again! Such was my disgust with his arrogance over ‘no more uranium mines’ policy that had taken years to bring about!

Jim refers to ‘4th generation FUSION’ reactors are yet to generate a single watt of useful power, presumably following Howes similar error.

The 4th Gen reactors usually referred to are the 4th Gen FISSION reactors, or so called “fast breeders”. These reactors have the advantage of ‘burning’ different fuels and consuming the fuels that could be used to create nuclear bombs. They also ‘fail safe’ and are not susceptible to the run away reactions that caused Chernobyl to let go. As far as I know 4th Gen reactors are not commercially operating just yet.

FUSION power is entirely experimental and probably 25 years away from even a demonstration plant. But goodness, if we crack that one, a lot of problems will vanish.

None of this explains why people keep banging on about a nuclear industry in Australia. The Switkowski report was in my opinion pretty unequivocal on the topic; more expensive, too slow to be implemented and negligible CO2 savings. Further, it’s politically impossible. Sqitkowski advocated 15-25 reactors would be required to make the system cost effective; which party would go to an election with a “20 nuclear reactor” policy???

If the world’s environmental groups were to apply the courage of their convictions to rejecting funding from the fossil fuels industries, an entirely different rhetoric might emerge. Yes, “fossil fuels” does include gas.