Zinnia Financial Points Out The Positives of Nuclear Power

April 6, 2011 - PRLog -- The recent explosions in Fukushima, Japan, have sparked a global debate about the future of nuclear power. With the recent media frenzy concerning nuclear energy, it is difficult to tell fact from fiction and marketing strategy. The arguments in favour of nuclear energy, as well as cold hard facts, are often overlooked for dramatic news stories.

The everyday man would seem in large part, against nuclear energy. But, the everyday man doesn’t hold all the statistics on nuclear energy. Common conceptions of nuclear energy are fed, in large part, by media propaganda and Hollywood fairytales. Explosions, government cover-ups and weapons of mass destruction are much more lucrative angles than reports of energy efficiency and reliability. But, just what are the advantages and risks of nuclear energy?

There can be no contestation that fossil fuels are in finite supply and finding a reliable source of alternative energy is paramount. 30% of Japan’s nuclear power was provided safely and efficiently by nuclear energy until a major earthquake rocked the country. Despite an earthquake of epic proportions, the nuclear reactors were some of the only buildings to withstand the earthquake and, let’s not forget that all meltdowns were successfully avoided with no fatalities. It is easy to forget that, the more socially accepted, fossil fuels are dangerous, causing mining and pollution related losses. The Energy Related Severe Accident Database reports that coal has killed over 32,000 people in the last forty years whereas nuclear energy has allegedly been responsible for only 43 deaths.

Nuclear power has been subject to a barrage of severe media coverage. As far as the general public are aware, nuclear power brings to mind images of a post apocalyptic nightmare, world war and unthinkable health risks spanning centuries. Those in favour of nuclear power will no doubt argue that it is important to see past this to the bare facts - and the facts do speak in favour of the safety of nuclear power.

It is also important to keep this tragedy in context. The Wall Street Journal has recently stated ‘Because a plane crashes, we don’t stop flying. Because an oil rig explodes in the Gulf, we don’t (or at least we shouldn’t) stop drilling for oil. And because the Challenger space shuttle blew up, we didn’t stop shuttle flights. We should learn from the Japanese nuclear crisis, not let it feed a political panic over nuclear power in general.’ A sentiment President Obama would seem to agree with judging by his continual support of nuclear power. It seems that, if anything the Fukushima explosions will only serve to advance technology and safety measures regarding nuclear energy.

Nuclear energy therefore would seem safer than expected but, why choose nuclear energy over other sources of energy that don’t carry such questionable health risks? The key factors to this are: reliability and cost. Nuclear energy is far cheaper than solar, wind or hydro power and it is much more efficient. Reliability isn’t to be underestimated at a time when nearly every business and every household on the globe is energy dependant. Moreover, nuclear is a great way to reduce the dreaded carbon emissions that are so hotly blamed for current climate conditions and severe weather.

The future looks set to house a mixture of nuclear and solar energy. The Fukushima explosions may act as a severe warning not to put nuclear power stations on fault lines and to sharpen up health and safety procedures but it is doubtful the future of nuclear energy has been quashed by recent events. Nuclear energy stocks may have been dented by recent events but corporate and government backing will ensure the future of nuclear energy is safe, even if it against public sentiment.

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Zinnia Financial, a division of Zinnia Services, Ltd. specializes in providing a range of financial advisory and brokerage services to personal and corporate clients. Regardless of what stage of life or business a client is at, Zinnia delivers comprehensive advice and services custom designed to address individual needs.

http://www.zinniafinancial.com