Entry #3. Nuclear's Typical Media Meltdown

Nuclear's Typical Media Meltdown

Nuclear energy has been a hot topic in the news for decades. The fear that the large-scale production of electricity using uranium would bring about a new age of terror or disasters has been on the minds of many since the first major nuclear incident. Though this strikes me as confusing, as it was met with hope and promise when the first nuclear reactor opened. It was believed that energy would be so plentiful that electricity would never be a worry for anyone, or how decades later nuclear would rid us of coal and oil. With huge promises like these, there has to be a reason greater than just fear that would prevent us from making these goals a reality.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/02/22/jacobson.nuclear.power.con/index.html

Due to the recent introductions of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal, nuclear energy is being forgotten by the media (all of its benefits that is). Articles like the one linked above from CNN are leading the reader to believe that nuclear energy is not relevant anymore to a society that wants clean, carbon-free electricity. This article speaks about how nuclear energy is not as clean as it has been made out to be, the research and mining of uranium would create the possibility for nuclear weapons to be produced, and that it is possible to get all of the world's power on renewable energy sources. 

Only so much of the information missing from this article can be attributed to a length requirement. This article is missing almost any sort of counterarguments/points. It leaves out how expensive renewable sources are in the long run, especially since they want to implement a worldwide renewable energy grid. Or mention that the carbon footprint nuclear energy has mining its uranium is nothing when compared to the monstrous carbon footprint of oil, coal, and natural gas. Or the article could have simply suggested that the US should experiment with nuclear energy due to being so worried about other countries developing nuclear weapons.

I am ashamed to find something so blatantly one-sided and close-minded be published on a reputable periodical like CNN. A lack of respect, or even acknowledgement of the other side's argument makes me question the journalistic integrity of the author and even CNN as an organization.