All posts by guest

Nuclear Energy

Global warming is now a very serious issue, the polar caps are melting and the earth
is now at a critical stage. Fossil fuels are non-renewable and we are looking for alternatives.

Nuclear Energy is the subject of discussion once more. Throughout Europe and other parts of
the world aging reactors that are reaching the end of their lifespan and licences are being
decommissioned and people are seeking more environmentally friendly options. However, there is a
strong body of argument to extend licences on these reactors and even build many more as they do
not damage the ozone layer or release greenhouse gases.

It is now more than twenty years since the Chernobyl Catastrophe, the long shadow of side affects
will continue to cause suffering indefinately. At present over 3 MILLION children in the Ukraine,
Belarus and Russia require treatment for cancers and other illnesses caused directly by fallout.
This does not include the 650,000 liquidators involved in the cleanup, all of which received very high
doses of radiation. It is estimated that up to 10,000 of these are now dead, the rest of which
have related illnesses.

The unborn are still suffering, the full extent of victims will not be known until 2016, 30 YEARS
after the accident. A 30 MILE exclusion still remains around the town of Prypiat, once the home of
45,000, now a ghost town.

Undeniably this was an unsafe plant which operating outside of normal safety regulations in a
Soviet era of negligence and corruption. However it is not an isolated incident. The UK, Germany,
USA have all had serious accidents, Russia and Japan are the most notable, Japan has had more
nuclear incidents than any other country.
France is often used a leading example in the argument for Nuclear Energy as a way forward. They
have had had no major accidents at any of their plants, although this is true, one significant
problem remains; the disposal of nuclear waste and used fuel rods.

At present we have no way of treating or ‘making safe’ the bi-products of the nuclear industry.
Currently they are being buried deep in the ground and we’re hoping for the best. For an industry
that claims to be cutting edge and hi-tec this is hardly safe or good science.

Countries which at one time rejected Nuclear Energy completely, for example, Ireland and Italy are
now reviewing the situation. In 1968 it was proposed to build not one, not two, but four reactors
at Carnsore point, Co. Wexford, but was dropped in 1981 after strong opposition from environmental
groups and flattening energy demands, important to remember this was BEFORE Three Mile Island or Chernobyl.

A strange hypocrisy has existed in Ireland, for years we opposed Nuclear Energy, issued iodine
tablets to the public and lobbied to have Sellafield shut down.
On the other hand, we have not developed enough renewable energy sources and buy energy off the
UK grid, the product of nuclear reactors.

In April 2006, a government-commissioned report by Forfas pointed to the need to reconsider nuclear
power in order “to secure its long-run energy security”. Relatively small-scale nuclear plants were
envisaged. In 2007, Ireland’s Electricity Supply Board made it known that it would consider a
joint venture with a major EU energy company to build nuclear capacity by 2015.

Ireland is a very small country, should a partial or full meltdown occur this island could become
an exclusion zone. Remember the release of liquid, gaseous, and solid radioactive wastes are
routine at any nuclear plant. Do we really want this on Irish soil?

The Nuclear Industry is a billion dollar one, the construction contract for one plant alone is
worth millions to contractors, investors and developers. Global warming is an ideal way of selling
this rancid apple.

THINK RENEWABLE ENERGY INSTEAD

  • Wind
  • Wave
  • Tidal
  • Solar
  • Geothermal

Name & Address of author with editor

Airport Security And Its Pointlessness

Ah yes since 911 we’ve had to put in all sort of tight measures to stop those troublesome
middle eastern people. Or have we?

As someone with a healthy dislike of authority going through airport security is a difficult
and humiliating experience. Oh shit I forgot to take my belt off, Oh wait now there’s still
change in my pocket!

Recently I went through security at Dublin airport, my bag was scanned and I was asked to open it.
The security person removed a small nail clippers from my hand luggage and told me he’d have to
confiscate it. Why? I asked, he then pulled out the small nail file piece measuring approximately
1 ½ inches and told me he was ‘concerned about it’ I too was concerned as my nails were a fucking
disgrace.

I then proceeded to buy a large bottle of whiskey, which is a highly FLAMMABLE substance contained
in a GLASS bottle. I boarded the aircraft with this in my hand.

I don’t think I need to explain the potential this item had as a weapon, broken it could easily
inflict GBH on cabin crew and could also be used to make an incendiary device. However all was
well because I didn’t have that deadly nail clippers!!
This is not an isolated incident, more recently security at a German airport confiscated a
bottle of facial scrub whilst allowing me to carry on a RAZOR and aftershave, again a flammable
substance in a glass bottle. Clearly they felt it was safe though, what might I do with the dreaded
facial scrub, take over the aircraft by threatening to exfoliate the captain’s pores!

Anyone who travel will have had similar experiences and will also have noted the total
inconsistency of security and what they deem as unsafe or even bother checking. Ultimately a
terrorist knows this and If he/she decides to carry out the unthinkable all these measures are
pointless.

Thank you Mr. Bush

Name & Address of author with editor.