DOES NUCLEAR ENERGY HAVE BENEFITS OR NOT?

In the text The Benefits of Nuclear Energy, Bruno Comby (2008) mentions about the advantages of nuclear energy. He believes that nuclear energy is the only source of energy; it has an important role in peoples life. Comby explains that nuclear energy is safe reliable and also environment friendly. Comby states that nuclear energy is an inexhaustible resource and nuclear waste is safe and the waste created is small. I partially agree with the writer. I think that the writer makes a relevant point when he mentions that energy resources will not be enough in the future. However, the dangers of nuclear waste cannot be disregarded. I agree with the writers idea that nuclear power must be used. The writer states that the Earth is the best place to live on. If people want to live this place, to insure the comfort of their modern lives and to continue their industrial civilization, then they must take in new styles and use nuclear power (Comby, 2008, para.4). First, technological and industrial developments are really fast. This causes that peoples need are becoming more and more. And also, world population is increasing. Furthermore, nuclear power raises economic growth and backs jobs. According to Casenergy (n.d): For each construction, manufacturing, or operations job created at a nuclear power plant, four new jobs are created in the job market to provide goods and services. Each nuclear plant employs an average of approximately 500 employees from the local community and generates an additional 500 jobs in local area.(para.2) In addition to this, nuclear fuel is not expensive and it is transported easily. Second argument I agree with in Combys article is that other resources are finite and cannot provide the needs (2008, para.5-6). The energy in a little bit of uranium is equal to the energy in 100000 kilograms

of coal. Power stations which burn coal re extremely contaminating, which makes it dangerous for the environment. Moreover, although solar energy makes no pollution and it is renewable, solar energy has some disadvantages. For example, in cold countries the production of energy can be completely limited due to harsh weather. Similarly, although wind energy is one of the useful alternatives to nuclear energy, it has some disadvantages. For instance, the turbines are susceptible due to environmental factors such as storms. And also, hydroelectric power is not effective some regions where there is scarcity of water. Even though I agree with the writers idea that nuclear power must be used, I disagree with the writers viewpoints on nuclear waste. First of all, nuclear waste affects peoples health negatively. People, subjected to radiation from nuclear waste, suffer from many diseases such as cancer, abnormal growth and occasionally can cause immediate death. For example, one atom of plutonium go in peoples lungs, it will create radiation to induce cancer and eventual death. Secondly, Comby states that nuclear wastes influence on the environment is minimal (2008, para.10). However, the writer of The Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy explains that nuclear waste cannot store long-term and storage of its is problematic. It takes long years to misplace its radioactivity. Radioactive wastes cannot be collected safely. And also, storing process for long years can be expensive (2004, para.6). Furthermore, nuclear wastes are buried so that they can be kept deep underground however, there is no assurance that nuclear wastes will not go into water supply. To sum up, there are viewpoints that I both agree and disagree with in the text The Benefits of Nuclear Energy. I believe that the writer makes an accurate evaluation when he mentions that energy resources are finite and they cannot provide peoples needs. However, I believe that nuclear waste has some dangers and it affects peoples health and environment damagingly. I

believe that people should research nuclear powers benefits, and should produce some solutions for its disadvantages.

REFERENCES Anonymous, (2004). The Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy. Retrieved from http://www.fictionpress.com/s/1640813/1/The_Advantages_and_Disadvantages_of_Nuclear_En ergy Casenergy, (n.d). Economically Beneficial. Retrieved from http://casenergy.org/nuclear-energy/why-nuclear/economically-beneficial/ Comby,B.(n.d).The Benefits of Nuclear Energy.Retrieved November 13, 2008, from http://www.ecolo.org/base/baseen.htm

MHRCAN YURTARSLAN