Dear Puffin
Here are some graphs, presented (mostly) without comment.
What do Burma, Liberia and the United States have in common? They are the only three nations that still refuse to adopt the metric system. Can we please get over ourselves? Please?
And on a more serious note
And finally
Seriously people. Get over it.
Love
MacGuffin
3 comments
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April 3, 2011 at 7:01 pm
Snow White
Awesome collection of graphs. Is it bad that I still want to own a real lightsaber?
Besides the death rate differences with the various methods for producing power it is also worth looking at:
- amount of pollution produced
- other uses for the raw materials
The problem with coal is that most of the worlds supply is brown coal, aka ‘dirty’ coal. Australia has one of the largest supplies of black (clean) coal, and despite our reliance on coal based power supply we export most of the coal we mine (to China if I remember correctly).
Both oil and coal are used as the raw material behind many many items we use daily. Just look at how much oil is used to make a plastic bag!
Nuclear power is cleaner and generally safer (despite the potential long term effects IF an actual full melt down was to occur – the likely hood of a full melt down such as Chernoby is incredibly low. The advances in containment techniques and disposal methods for radioactive waste have advanced to the point that a disaster of that magnitude is incredibly unlikely.)
The whole world needs to stop freaking out.
April 3, 2011 at 7:11 pm
Snow White
I should point out that “The whole world needs to stop freaking out.” is not in reference to peoples reactions to the situation in Japan. I AM disappointed in the medias miss-communication of the facts of the situation as it currently stands and I think that the public should be better informed of the actually level of contamination, the half-life of the nuclear particles being vented AND an understand of why dousing the reactor in sea water isn’t the optimal solution to the problem.
I am concerned that the world is now backpedaling from nuclear power in a big way. Australia had been at a point of discussing implementing nuclear power – that topic is now off the table for the foreseeable future. Yes there are things that can and occasionally do go wrong, but that’s the same with everything. You can’t avoid disasters.
Just thought I should clarify my previous comment
April 3, 2011 at 7:24 pm
RedHerring
I agree. Im actually a fan of nuclear power. I think its the best alternative to fossil fuels that is actually practicable. (Altho I’d prefer wind power, which is criminally underused).
The funny thing with the coal vs nuke debate is that its so misleading. Yes, a LOT of people died after Chernobyl, and a LOT will die as a result of Fukushima. But we are seemingly very happy to forget about the THOUSANDS of coal miners who die every year, and have been dying every year for more than 100 years. The invisible cost of coal is measured in human lives, but those stories are buried in poor mining towns and apparently no one cares. I dont know the numbers, but I think that a lot of nuclear plants would have to melt down in pretty spectacular ways to even begin to approach the number of people who have died of black lung in the last 100 years. But of course, they were coal miners and we forget about them. The nuke is a much more immediate threat across socio-economic boundaries. And thats before you even factor in the efficiency issue.
Either way, I agree, its a pity that nuclear will never take off now.
Also hi! Nice to make a new friend!