When healthy fear becomes unhealthy – Nuclear Waste
This is an article from guest contributor Robert Rock. There are a lot of things that we’re afraid of. Some with good reason. Healthy fear can save your life, unhealthy fear can limit your life.
Is there a line between healthy and unhealthy fear though?
Recently I participated in what was presented to me as a debate about a Deep Geological Repository (DGR) for either low and intermediate level waste or high level spent nuclear fuel. I was shocked at the one sided nature of the debate and how anyone who had positive things to say about the science or nuclear in general was very rudely treated. What I saw during this debate was healthy fear, which leads to solid research and developing a plan that covers known eventualities, give way to unhealthy fear. The debate was made worse by the misinformation, half truths, and outright lies shared by some individuals. It had the effect of agitated everyone who participated in the debate.
There should be a healthy fear of placing highly irradiated material anywhere. That healthy fear will lead to ensuring that every possible scenario is explored, tested, and retested. That healthy fear leads to making considered and responsible decisions based on the best available facts.
Unfortunately; like all things that are connected with nuclear it seems, that healthy fear goes out the window.
Here is just a small sample of the types of “facts” that were shared during the debate:
– Geological science were puppets of the nuclear industrial complex in Canada (What?)
– Rock formations that have existed for hundreds of millions of years, can’t be trusted.
– Poor communities are being preyed on by the nuclear industry with promises of money
– Nuclear plants only operate to generate plutonium for weapons
– There are plans to use DGRs as nuclear labs
Like in all things, I think those who have these unhealthy fears can never be made to believe the truth that science presents. My hope is that their myths and conspiracies don’t manipulate those of us who don’t share those unhealthy fears.
Look for the appropriate information, find out the science behind the concept of Deep Geologic Repositories, and make informed decisions that’s all I ask. Ontario Power Generation has created a website to answer some of these questions, www.opgdgr.com
Get informed, and truly understand the issues of energy production and remember, not all environmentalists are against nuclear. Follow us on Twitter @efncanada or on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/efn-canada
Robert Rock
President, Environmentalists for Nuclear, Canada