As the population of the world grows continuously from year to year, the consumption of finished goods and services grows respectively; however, the factors of production are limited nowadays, and the humanity is currently in a desperate repeating search of more sources, technology and information. One of the main sub-divisions of the sources` question is the one of energy supply. Contemporary scholars agree that the most potential in supplying the humanity with energy has the nuclear energy; however, they accept that it should be treated with the highest possible responsibility and safety measures. The argument of implementing such energy and letting it be the main source of electricity keeps going, as this question is of the most controversy nowadays. Taking into consideration the last events in the world, the hidden threats of the nuclear energy must be accepted; however, the future perspectives of the development of such energy shouldn`t also be neglected.
First, the sustainability of the nuclear energy is proved by various researches and experiments. For example, the research made by Dr. Bernard Cohen states that the world`s supply of the uranium resources that last for thousands of years are available at competitive market price. With the use of advanced nuclear reactors, it will become more rational and cheaper to retrieve the uranium from the oceans and maintain the cost of the fuel below one percent to the price of electric energy. Such fuel is sustainable because the waters of the seas and rivers deliver this uranium in approximate amounts of 6,500 tonnes per year. The amount is more than adequate to create the ten times world`s electricity usage for millions of years. The cleavage of uranium can be similar to a term of renewable energy source due to all this (Cohen).
Second, the nuclear plants also proved to be one of the cleanest energy productions for the environment. Under the typical circumstances and the strict regulations of the plant operation, the emissions of radioactivity are mostly a hundred times lower than the expected figures for those; moreover, the environment around the plants is also clean including air and soil around. The opponents of the nuclear energy state that it`s almost impossible to utilize the nuclear waste; however, such amount of waste is comparatively small with the same amounts of waste from other electric plants. The discharge period of the nuclear waste is also longer and can take years for the nuclear fuel to be exhausted. Moreover, even after that, the nuclear waste is stored and locked in special boxes made of reinforced steel and concrete that remain locked and can sustain the radioactivity inside of the box for hundreds of years. It is also expected that before that the future generations will learn how to recycle the nuclear waste making it less hazardous and more useful for energy demands (Cutler).
The last section of the essay is dedicated to the consequences for the common people. The modern studies show that people living near the nuclear plants have fewer risks in having a cancer disease; however, it`s not the plant itself, it`s more of high standards of living of the people living nearby (MacDonald). They usually have high-paid jobs; that`s why they have their medical care and can afford themselves to be healthy. The main issue of living near the nuclear plants is the constant fear of the management of the plant that can lack the skills and responsibilities to run it. However, it has nothing to do with the power itself.
The information mentioned above demonstrates that the nuclear energy is the future energy of humankind because of its potential and the energetic power inside. However, while using that such a great energy, it should be adequately controlled, as nobody wants to have Chernobyl or Fukushima near his or her home. The people should take the responsibility for the consequences of the usage of nuclear energy, as the energy itself has neither good nor bad qualities; however, the hands of people can attach these characteristics to the energy.
Works Cited
Cohen, Bernard L. "Breeder reactors: A renewable energy source." Am J Phys 01 1983. http://sustainablenuclear.org/PADs/pad11983cohen.pdf.
Cutler, J.M. A case for using more nuclear energy. n.d. http://atomicinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/Cuttler-Case-for-nuclear.pdf. 09 03 2014.
MacDonald, Jay. The cost of living near nuclear power. n.d. http://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/the-cost-of-living-near-nuclear-power-1.aspx. 09 03 2014.
