Category Archives: Nuclear
Best of times, worst of times
The annual ritual of seeing whether the famous Doomsday Clock moves closer to or further from midnight took a worrying turn this year, as it inched to its closest point to the witching hour in the last 75 years, in … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Nuclear
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Shadow of war throws new focus on nuclear energy
One source of near-zero carbon for energy production that is often overlooked and excluded from serious consideration is that of nuclear energy. In ordinary circumstances this might be understandable, but in a dire climate emergency, I find it baffling that … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Nuclear
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Science does not support rigid anti-nuclear stance
Below, my article, as it appeared in this Thursday’s Irish Times. To date, it has attracted over 180 comments on the site, with a strong pickup on both Facebook and Twitter. Having grown accustomed to having the online discussion of … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Nuclear
21 Comments
The devil or the deep blue sea – our nuclear conundrum
Twenty five years ago, in the early hours of April 26, 1986 a botched safety test led to a massive explosion at one of the four nuclear reactors at Chernobyl in Belarus. This was the world’s most serious nuclear event … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Nuclear, Sustainability
Tagged cancer, Chernobyl, Fukushima, nuclear, radiation, thorium
9 Comments
More power to us if we choose nuclear option
Time to shake the ‘drill baby, drill’ debate on Ireland’s energy future up a little? here’s my piece in today’s Irish Times OPINION: Instead of seeking partners to exploit hoped-for offshore fossil fuel resources, Ireland should consider building some medium-sized … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Nuclear, Sustainability
Tagged Fintan O'Toole, Fukushima, Irish Times, nuclear, radiation
17 Comments
Fukushima a godsend for anti-nuclear bandwagon
I’ve been following the unfolding nuclear “crisis” in Japan with growing alarm. People who call themselves environmentalists have been jumping up and down with thinly disguised glee, pointing and waving and saying: “there, we warned you, nuclear is GONNA KILL … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Nuclear, Sustainability
Tagged Coal, earthquake, Energy, Fukushima, Japan, nuclear, radiation, tsunami
45 Comments
Do you believe in miracles?
Bill Gates is for many the Dr Evil of the corporate world. His Microsoft behemoth has had a stranglehold on the world’s personal computer market for the last two decades, and wrung hundreds of billions out of users in the … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Nuclear, Sustainability
Tagged climate, collapse, Energy, nuclear, Peak Oil, Sustainability
7 Comments
21st Century Swords to Plowshares: From Megatons to Megawatts
Currently, hydropower provides 6% of the USA’s electrical power, and solar, biomass, wind and geothermal combined provide 3%. Dismantled nuclear weapons provide 10%. The ‘Megatons to Megawatts’ programme was instituted in the 1990s as a means to secure the weapons … Continue reading
To the last drop?
Take a minute or two to study the chart below. It is just issued by the International Energy Agency, an industry-centric organisation not prone to engaging in eco-alarmism. But this is alarming, truly shocking in fact. The dark blue chart … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Nuclear, Sustainability
Tagged carbon, climate change, emissions, Energy, global warming, nuclear, Peak Oil
31 Comments
It has to be Yes to Lisbon
On June 11th, 2008, the day before what we now call Lisbon 1, my Irish Times piece was headed: “If you care about climate change, vote Yes to Lisbon”. There are those who’d say I got my answer. I’m not … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Nuclear, Sustainability
Tagged climate change, CO2, deBurca, Duncan Stewart, electricity, environment, Gormley, Lisbon, referendum
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Where will you be when the lights go out?
Prices in Ireland have, mercifully, started to ease back from the highs of a year or two ago, yet some things remain extraordinarily cheap. The two things that contribute probably more than anything else to our overall well-being, comfort, security … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Nuclear, Sustainability
Tagged carbon, climate change, electricity, emissions, extinction, famine, global warming, John Gibbons, MacKay, nuclear, Sustainability
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Spirit of Ireland – Divine wind or hot air?
Last week, something pretty unusual showed up in a number of national newspapers. This was a full-page advert under the title ‘Spirit of Ireland‘. This tied in with the launch of a website and a big PR push through the … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Irish Focus, Nuclear, Sustainability
Tagged carbon, CO2, electricity, Energy, Ireland, John Gibbons, nuclear, Spirit of Ireland, Sustainability, Walton
7 Comments
Life on the far side of the Rubicon
“Electric word life – It means forever and that’s a mighty long time”. Eighties music aficionados will probably recognise this line, from Prince’s Purple Rain. It came to mind when reading a report from the US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Habitat/Species, Irish Focus, Nuclear, Sustainability
17 Comments
ESB finally sees the light
Ireland, it appears, is at last starting to get serious about tackling our huge energy requirements, and the dagger that our massive dependence on imports of oil and gas in particular holds to our collective throat. We are reckoned in … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Nuclear, Sustainability
Tagged climate change, CO2, Coal, Eamon Ryan, ESB, Ireland, Moneypoint, Peak Oil
3 Comments
Who’s the real enemy in the nuclear war?
Four years ago, in January 2004, what was then a startling claim was made by the UK Government’s chief scientific adviser. Climate change was a far greater threat to the world than international terrorism, according to Sir David King. He … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Nuclear, Sustainability
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