Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 20
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Flinders Shellharbour
    Posts
    0

    Default should we be a Nuke dumping ground

    It seems we are destined to be a dumping ground for nuke waste
    Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working. — Pablo Picasso


  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    In the shed, Melbourne
    Age
    53
    Posts
    0

    Default

    We make it, we have to put it somewhere.
    I make things, I just take a long time.

    www.brandhouse.net.au

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Lindfield N.S.W.
    Age
    63
    Posts
    1,644

    Default

    Also
    - we tend to be responsible when there are safety issues, others are not so safety conscious so our nuclear dump is likely to be well run
    - we can put the stuff where it will be very hard for other people to get hold of it to misuse it
    - Australia is geologically much more stable than other continents
    Cheers

    Jeremy
    If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Flinders Shellharbour
    Posts
    0

    Default

    Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working. — Pablo Picasso


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Glenroy (Melbourne)
    Posts
    14

    Default

    Should we be a nuke dumping ground (I read that as taking on the waste of others as well as our own)? I think not.

    Should be responsible for and safely (if actually possible to clearly define the term in this context) dispose of our own waste? Absolutely.

    Should we initiate a large scale increase in the amount of nucular (channelling George Dubbya ) waste we have to dispose of by power generation? Not if I was dictator.

    Some amount of radioactive waste is un-avoidable (medicine, research etc) but we don't have the right to make future generations stewards of our problems when we're gone. Instead of paying handsomely to build reactors and paying again to dispose of the waste, I'd rather sink money into renewable research and cleaning up coal.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Location
    in the outer reaches of Sth Oz
    Age
    75
    Posts
    228

    Default

    we sell it to others so we shouldn't say no to storing it. We will need more power if the PM's dream of 35mil pop is anything to go by and nuke is the answer. Its safe and long lasting europe doen't have a prob with it if they did they would not be using it. Green solutions are not sustainable as when the extra power is needed its either no wind or too much wind and solar ??what do you do in the dark?
    Cheers
    Pete
    What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.
    Edward Langley, Artist (1928-1995)

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    South of somewhere, west of nowhere,
    Age
    73
    Posts
    14

    Default

    Stick it Melbourne, it could do with a bit of a boost!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Glenroy (Melbourne)
    Posts
    14

    Default

    I don't think so, Pete.

    we sell it to others
    I don't think we should be selling Uranium - It's only a matter of time before U sourced from here is used in a dirty bomb here or elsewhere.

    so we shouldn't say no to storing it
    Going by that rationale, I'm responsible for the safe removal and long term storage/disposal of a car (or anything else for that matter) owned by somebody else just because they bought it off me at some point in the past?

    We will need more power if the PM's dream of 35mil pop is anything to go by
    I agree with you there . Not convinced about 35 M people either. Water is at least as big a problem as power.

    and nuke is the answer.
    Nuke is one answer. Even with a pop that size, alternatives exist.

    Its safe
    Well, cars are safe too; until you have an accident. Previous residents of Chernobyl may have something to say here.

    and long lasting
    Yep, that'd be my problem with it. (Although I know that's not the context you meant)

    europe doen't have a prob with it if they did they would not be using it.
    In many places, Europe has to use it. They don't use nuclear power just for the fun of it.

    Green solutions are not sustainable as when the extra power is needed its either no wind or too much wind and solar ??what do you do in the dark?

    This is probably where we diverge the most, Pete. A favourite technique of the pro-nuke set is to discuss the shortcomings of one alternative technology or another, in isolation, vs the constant supply from a reactor. Sure, solar on their (several types) own, or even solar and wind aren't gonna cut it when we want guaranteed continuous generation, but that's not the full story. Start accumulating the outputs of solar, wind, hydro, biomass, natural gas, geothermal, etc (promising system on the new inventors this week, too) and constant supply begins to look very likely.

    Hmmm. At this point, just as I'm about to hit "Submit Reply", it occurs to me that I'm really moving off topic from the original post now, but buggrit, here it is anyway.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    In the shed, Melbourne
    Age
    53
    Posts
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by fxst View Post
    we sell it to others so we shouldn't say no to storing it. We will need more power if the PM's dream of 35mil pop is anything to go by and nuke is the answer. Its safe and long lasting europe doen't have a prob with it if they did they would not be using it.
    Cheers
    Pete
    All the hype and hysteria of not in my 'backyard' it has to go somewhere, and it wouldn't worry me if it was in mine - be it storage or a plant. Like the desalination plant down here or dams, everyone agrees we need to make power or catch water but no-one wants them near them. A year or so ago now there were reports on programmes such as Quantum about Chinese n/power plants - pebble something or other, the safest in the world and China is putting them up by the bucket load - but you don't hear very long of the good things, only the negative, or perceived negative.

    And what does nuclear power put in the atmosphere? Squat.
    I make things, I just take a long time.

    www.brandhouse.net.au

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    140

    Default

    We should take and store for it a price a very big price Australia could be the next dubai, and while we are are it we should be building Nuclear power stations, and stop prttling on about sola and wind power which will never cut it, wind power is one of the least effcient ways to generate power, sola power works, so long as you have enough space to build the huge arrays that are required

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Glenroy (Melbourne)
    Posts
    14

    Default

    It's all about risk management to me. I think the risks associated with responsible and financially solvent nations running reactors are, to me at least (I suspect the aforementioned Chernobylites are likely to disagree), acceptably low, but I think waste disposal is a very different kettle of fish. Designing and building a safe fission reactor is a walk in the park compared to guaranteeing a containment structure/system for the required multiples of hundreds of thousands of years to achieve safety.
    Also, estimates have been made predicting useful Uranium reserves to run out in 85 years or so at the 2004 rate of electricity production. With the impressive rate of construction of Chinese reactors, we'll easily run out before then unless major improvements are made to reactor efficiency.
    I don't think the future penalty is worth only 100 years or so of carbon free power. Bring on fusion, I say.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    In the shed, Melbourne
    Age
    53
    Posts
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by mikm View Post
    Bring on fusion, I say.
    But isn't that pie in the sky stuff like clean coal for years to come yet?
    I make things, I just take a long time.

    www.brandhouse.net.au

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Glenroy (Melbourne)
    Posts
    14

    Default

    But isn't that pie in the sky stuff like clean coal for years to come yet?

    Yeah, I don't imagine we'll see fusion for 50 years or more, unfortunately. Tying back to the original question: being a waste dump for fusion waste could be interesting. A very short half-life (compared to fission waste) apparently means safety after about 300 years (instead of a million or so) which could be commercial opportunity for Aus once we run out of resources to sell off.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Armidale NSW
    Age
    53
    Posts
    299

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by mikm View Post
    Also, estimates have been made predicting useful Uranium reserves to run out in 85 years or so at the 2004 rate of electricity production.
    Quote Originally Posted by mikm View Post
    Yeah, I don't imagine we'll see fusion for 50 years or more, unfortunately.
    Sounds like a plan. Use fission until we develop fusion, then switch.
    Cheers.

    Vernon.
    __________________________________________________
    Bite off more than you can chew and then chew like crazy.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Thailand
    Age
    63
    Posts
    90

    Default

    Nuclear Energy is the most dangerous discovery of all time!
    Not only using it is incedibly risky but the disposal of the waste is a huge proble.

    As far as I know, everybody is very concerned about the lives of their grandchildren...but 'concern' stops right there with 'grandchildren'! The attitude seems to be, "Whilst I'm alive, I'll 'care' for people. When I'm dead, they're on their own."
    If this is how some people think, why don't they simply 'not care' about anything or anybody? The reason why they don't do this is because that they will 'lose face' (lose brownie points) if they don't 'appear' to be 'caring folk' whilst they are living.

    Nuclear waste takes a very long time to decompose (to something 'safe'). A nuclear power station may seem to be the 'answer' for the current global energy problem but as usual, people only think about 'their next generation' & not for anybody else (future generations).

    There is, however, a simpler & safer solution to the world's energy problem, although most of you will not like to hear it.
    The solution is to reduce the number of people on the planet & also to reduce this idiotic thing known as 'consumerism'.

    Flame on.
    “I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the inventor as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success... Such emotions make a man forget food, sleep, friends, love, everything.” - Nikola Tesla.

Similar Threads

  1. Getting Off The Ground
    By marct in forum G'day mate - THE WELCOME WAGON -Introduce yourself
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 3rd February 2010, 02:22 AM
  2. Dumping Rubbish
    By fred.n in forum NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH RENOVATION
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 22nd October 2006, 09:11 AM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •