Yesterday, Barak Obama announced that $8 billion will be spent on building the countries first new nuclear power plants for 30 years, in Georgia. Obama has said that they are needed to meet energy needs and reduce the dependence on foreign oil. He has also stated that the programme is "only the beginning" of efforts to develop "safe, clean," energy efficient technologies. Energy has served as a major part of the president's agenda, but his focus on building a green energy economy has broadened in the past month to include nuclear power, offshore oil drilling and the development of clean-coal technology.
When I read this news headline “US Orders New Nuclear Power Plants”, the first thing that came to mind was, “seriously?” and then the total awe at the fact that this was even what I was reading. I straight away clicked on the link to the article and read in anticipation to read what exactly Obama had planned for his country. I was in total shock and annoyance at the fact that these 2 nuclear power stations are even being built. I can totally understand the fact that he is trying to keep up his promises and is trying to be ‘greener’ and point his country in the right direction but is building 2 nuclear power stations really doing that?
Although they are going to reduce the dependence on foreign oil, therefore reducing the strain between American and the Middle East, these plants are producing extremely high amounts of radioactive waste that is also highly dangerous. This is hardly “safe” or “clean”.
In my eyes these power plants are not the route to go down. They are a way of boosting economy and money but once again nature and the environment has been given the back seat. I just cannot say that these are a way of building a green economy, when they clearly are not.
I feel quite strongly about making our future greener and helping to save our planet. In my eyes this could be maybe do more damage than good.
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