DOES NUCLEAR ENERGY HAVE BENEFITS OR NOT?

In the text “The Benefits of Nuclear Energy”, Bruno Comby (2008) mentions about the

advantages of nuclear energy. He believes that nuclear energy is the only source of energy; it has

an important role in people’s life. Comby explains that nuclear energy is safe reliable and also

environment friendly. Comby states that nuclear energy is an inexhaustible resource and nuclear

waste is safe and the waste created is small. I partially agree with the writer. I think that the

writer makes a relevant point when he mentions that energy resources will not be enough in the

future. However, the dangers of nuclear waste cannot be disregarded.

I agree with the writer’s idea that nuclear power must be used. The writer states that the Earth is

the best place to live on. If people want to live this place, to insure the comfort of their modern

lives and to continue their industrial civilization, then they must take in new styles and use

nuclear power (Comby, 2008, para.4). First, technological and industrial developments are really

fast. This causes that people’s need are becoming more and more. And also, world population is

increasing. Furthermore, nuclear power raises economic growth and backs jobs. According to

Casenergy (n.d):

• For each construction, manufacturing, or operations job created at a nuclear power

plant, four new jobs are created in the job market to provide goods and services.

• Each nuclear plant employs an average of approximately 500 employees from the

local community and generates an additional 500 jobs in local area.(para.2)

In addition to this, nuclear fuel is not expensive and it is transported easily. Second argument I

agree with in Comby’s article is that other resources are finite and cannot provide the needs

(2008, para.5-6). The energy in a little bit of uranium is equal to the energy in 100000 kilograms

of coal. Power stations which burn coal re extremely contaminating, which makes it dangerous

for the environment. Moreover, although solar energy makes no pollution and it is renewable,

solar energy has some disadvantages. For example, in cold countries the production of energy

can be completely limited due to harsh weather. Similarly, although wind energy is one of the

useful alternatives to nuclear energy, it has some disadvantages. For instance, the turbines are

susceptible due to environmental factors such as storms. And also, hydroelectric power is not

effective some regions where there is scarcity of water.

Even though I agree with the writer’s idea that nuclear power must be used, I disagree with the

writer’s viewpoints on nuclear waste. First of all, nuclear waste affects people’s health

negatively. People, subjected to radiation from nuclear waste, suffer from many diseases such as

cancer, abnormal growth and occasionally can cause immediate death. For example, one atom of

plutonium go in people’s lungs, it will create radiation to induce cancer and eventual death.

Secondly, Comby states that nuclear waste’s influence on the environment is minimal (2008,

para.10). However, the writer of The Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy explains

that nuclear waste cannot store long-term and storage of its’ is problematic. It takes long years to

misplace its’ radioactivity. Radioactive wastes cannot be collected safely. And also, storing

process for long years can be expensive (2004, para.6). Furthermore, nuclear wastes are buried

so that they can be kept deep underground however, there is no assurance that nuclear wastes

will not go into water supply.

To sum up, there are viewpoints that I both agree and disagree with in the text “The Benefits of

Nuclear Energy”. I believe that the writer makes an accurate evaluation when he mentions that

energy resources are finite and they cannot provide people’s needs. However, I believe that

nuclear waste has some dangers and it affects people’s health and environment damagingly. I

believe that people should research nuclear power’s benefits, and should produce some solutions

for its disadvantages.

REFERENCES

Anonymous, (2004). The Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy. Retrieved from

http://www.fictionpress.com/s/1640813/1/The_Advantages_and_Disadvantages_of_Nuclear_Ene

rgy

Casenergy, (n.d). Economically Beneficial. Retrieved from

http://casenergy.org/nuclear-energy/why-nuclear/economically-beneficial/

Comby,B.(n.d).The Benefits of Nuclear Energy.Retrieved November 13, 2008, from

http://www.ecolo.org/base/baseen.htm

MİHRİCAN YURTARSLAN