i03

How controllable is nuclear power?

Controllability of nuclear power is a broad notion with many different aspects. The nuclear energy system is not just a matter of technology: it has also military, political, economic, societal and safety aspects. The unique properties of the nuclear energy system, such as the generation of tremendous amounts of man-made radioactivity and the unprecedentedly long time frames (100-150 years) of causally connected sequence of events, hold a potential of uncontrollable developments.

How to deal with the many technical uncertainties and unknowns with regard to the completion of the nuclear process chain?

What are the causes why up until today the costs of construction of nuclear power plants still are badly controllable, after more than 50 years of civil nuclear power? Are the causes regulations, which are existing already for decades, or should one look for other causes, such as short-term financial interests, bad engineering, insufficient quality inspections? Why does nuclear power still need heavy financial state support, after 60 years development? What does the nuclear industry mean with 'free market'?

How is possible that the nuclear industry strongly advocates the construction of new nuclear power plants, without any solution to safely complete the back end of the nuclear process chain, except reassuring assertions refering to concepts existing only in cyberspace?

Why did politicians accept the responsibility for the completion of the back end of the nuclear process chain, with costs as high as the construction and operation of nuclear power plants jointly, to be payed by the taxpayer? How democratic are the decision processes concerning nuclear power?

What measures does the nuclear industry propose to eliminate the routine releases of radioactivity by nuclear power plants which are proved to cause cancer and leukemia with young childern?

Are the nuclear industry and responsible decision makers aware of the vastness of the irreversibly affected land areas, hundreds of thousands of square kilometers, with dangerous radioactive contamination? Are they aware of the consequences of these contaminations for the populations living there and who are chronically exposed to the radioactivity, generation after generation? Does the nuclear industry think these consequences are worthwile and are in proportion to the nuclear share of less than 2% of the world energy supply?

How do the nuclear industry and responsible decision makers deal with irreversibility of the effects and consequences of radioactive contamination? Apr�s nous le dŽluge?