Glowing Green

Dr. Patrick Moore, co-founder of Greenpeace, demonstrates that it's okay to change your mind once in a while, so long as the facts support you.

Climate change is now high on the global agenda, and I believe nuclear energy holds the greatest potential to arrest the dangers we face from global warming. It is the only non-greenhouse-gas-emitting power source capable of effectively replacing fossil fuels and satisfying growing demand.

Hmm, but isn't nuclear power dangerous?

Worldwide, nuclear energy is one of the safest industrial sectors. Here in North America, no one has been harmed in the entire history of civilian nuclear-power generation. Indeed, it's proven safer to work at a nuclear power plant than in the finance or real-estate sectors.

I never knew I was in a dangerous profession, although, what exactly killed those daring finance workers is beyond me. The good doctor goes on:

Nuclear energy also makes economic sense. The cost of producing nuclear energy in the United States is on par with coal and hydroelectric. That's a very important consideration in New York, which has the country's second-highest elec- tricity costs.

So, that's a big tick for environmental, safety and economic benefit. No wonder most greenies don't approve nuclear - it's the pragmatic choice. Now, if we could only have a decent and reasonable debate on nuclear power in Australia....