14th March, 2014

The Disadvantages of The Implementation of Nuclear Power

Name :	STELLA ANNE TEOH MING HUI
Class :	K3C
School Num. :	12231
Title :	THE DISADVANTAGES OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NUCLEAR
Type of Writing :	Critical Writing
Mentor Teacher :	Ms Mabel Lim

THE DISADVANTAGES OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NUCLEAR POWER

What is nuclear? Do you know what nuclear is? Is it even renewable? No, of course not! Would the world be better off without nuclear power? Definitely yes!

Allow me to quote Pierre Schaeffer, “It’s ridiculous that time and time again we need a radioactive cloud coming out of a nuclear power-station to remind us that atomic energy is extremely dangerous.”

I would like to define a few important key terms, and also touch on the first point which is the occurrence of radiation and its effects on humans.

I would like to define the key terms, firstly the term nuclear energy; it is defined from The New World Encyclopaedia as the energy contained in the nucleus, or centre, of an atom. The word implemented means, to imply or to carry out.

It is said that nuclear energy should be implemented because it proves to be a pretty reliable source of energy. I ask you, do you think nuclear energy is much safer than wind or solar generated energy? Yes, solar energy might produce some minor radioactive products but is it more dangerous than a running NUCLEAR POWER PLANT?

Ladies and gentlemen, my first conviction, that health effects caused by leakage of nuclear waste and by-products; also known as radiation. Radiation occurs when unstable nuclei of atoms decay and release particles. There are many different types of radiation. When these particles touch various organic materials such as tissue damage may and probably will be done.

Radiation can cause burns, cancers and death. Radiation can affect humans and cause nausea, serious vomiting, splitting headaches and loss of white blood cells. Does hair loss sound like a recurring issue in your life?

Cancer and hair loss are also side-effects of radiation. Just to get electricity faster and more effectively are you willing to risk your health? And with the birth rate in Malaysia dropping, do you want those precious few pregnant mothers to have embryos in their uterus born with thyroid cancer?

How can you make sure that all those “qualified” people have the guts or experience and instincts to react in a way that can save thousands of lives?

Radiation alone killed 33 fire fighters in the Chernobyl Disaster 9^th April 1986 on the very day, that nuclear reactor 4 experienced a core melt-down. Can you actually substantiate your statements of safety guidelines with concrete evidence? The slightest error in communication can be the difference between a complete disaster and a successful safety test.

You might have the most up-to-date nuclear reactors but can all that technology prevent human-made errors? Or errors in the very programming of the base systems that run the power plant? If you can’t achieve total control in the auxiliary department how can you control the entire power plant?

Returning to the point that nuclear energy is a clean source of energy; when you think about the “vast” expanse of land we have, which I mean small, how can we afford to build a power plant environmentally? The only places that aren’t densely populated are Sabah and Sarawak but to build power plants there, one needs to execute deforestation activities, and natural habitats of certain animals and plants will diminish rapidly. Do you want even more flora and fauna to face extinction?

We can’t implement nuclear energy without risking the national security and safety of our nation’s people. Yes, you’re right, one can’t achieve anything without trying first, but do you really want to risks the lives of hundreds and thousands, the legacies left behind by our ancestors just for a minor development in technology?

We needn’t rush into the race of revolution; after all slow and steady wins the race. If we sit back discuss this for a few more years or maybe build good relations with those countries that have already built nuclear power plants so that we will understand more about the nuclear world instead of rushing head-long into something we don’t know.

We as the younger generation, the pioneers of tomorrow and heirs to the rich land of Malaysia, have responsibilities to take measures to ensure the national security and safety of our people, animals, and plants, economic and industrial growth.

Nothing is stronger than a united nation full of hearts as one.

Posted at 8:45 am | Comments (3)

3 Comments

On July 1, 2014 at 9:28 pm f3.ppc@smjk.edu.my said:

July 1, 2014 at 9:28 pm

Name : Yeap Yu Xian
Class : K3C
Schl. No. : 12136

I agree with your conclusion, that nothing can defeat a united nation. As for the body of your article, I beg to differ. You see, only with nuclear power and its implementation can we hope to see the dawn of newer cleaner and faster technology. Then we can be on par with other fast-moving countries like U.S.A and U.K. Perhaps nuclear energy has a bad reputation that precedes itself, true, when and if an accident occurs, its effects will be disastrous, but there is always the prevention of such an occurrence that is infinitely better than the cure of the aftermath.

Working together with other countries who know how to run efficient nuclear power plants, might help us to have our own clean energy generation program. Take Japan for instance, if it was not for the tsunami and terrifying earthquakes, I could hazard a guess that their nuclear power plant would still be in good shape. Since we are a country free from earthquakes, we have less to worry about and with our large expanse of land, we have more land to do things with.

I was intrigued by your article and hope to share more with you. Don’t forget, there are always two sides to a coin!

And as for the Chernobyl Incident, we will never forget it and we will and have begun to learn from it!
On September 25, 2014 at 4:33 pm f3.ppc@smjk.edu.my said:

September 25, 2014 at 4:33 pm

Name: Ding Kah Wen (3)
Class: K3C
School No.: 12148
Mentor Teacher : Ms Mabel Lim

I agree with the last statement. Unity really is a powerful thing. As for my views on nuclear power, they are not unlike yours Stella, I too have done research on the effects of nuclear power, namely radiation. I believe that nuclear power is both a weapon of mass destruction and a source of energy that can push us well into the future. for all we know, by 2200, we could have atom-powered factories, and radiation-curing facilities set up to combat the after-effects of nuclear power usage.
On September 25, 2014 at 4:36 pm f3.ppc@smjk.edu.my said:

September 25, 2014 at 4:36 pm

Name: Koay Yi Yun (8)
Class: K3C
School No.: 12218
Mentor Teacher : Ms Mabel Lim

I always felt nuclear was something dangerous and beautifully interesting at the same time. I personally think nuclear can be the power that launches a country to a whole new global standing.
Many of us have witnessed in movies, the threat having nuclear power attracts, yet we still have nuclear power in some countries. As a science lover, I often wonder what life would be like if there was a way to wholly prevent and cure radiation, but if there was, it would be nuclear powered everythings in our life.