As the general election gets underway and the price of gas has almost hit $5 per gallon, it is becoming increasingly clear that energy policy will be one of the most critical issues that the next U.S. President will have to address. In fact, both candidates have discussed alternative energy policies recently, and both candidates have discussed nuclear energy as a viable alternative. However, the ways in which both candidates approach nuclear energy differs. While Senator McCain has come out and called for the construction of at least 45 more nuclear power plants by the year 2030, Senator Obama has been more vague, but insisting nonetheless that nuclear energy remain a viable alternative when faced with such high oil costs.
You can read more about nuclear energy and the inherent proliferation risks that come with nuclear power plants and nuclear material in Steven Crandell’s Huffington Post blog here. While it would appear that both candidates consider nuclear energy as viable alternative energy solutions, the risk of proliferation stands as an obstacle in the way of achieving a nuclear weapons-free world. The world will never truly be peaceful with nuclear weapons. Furthermore, a peaceful world includes a clean environment. Nuclear power produces far too much waste – for which there is currently no adequate storage – and endangers the environment in which we live. In addition, reprocessing solutions proposed under the U.S. plan for a Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) will significantly increase proliferation risks.
In order to make the world more safe and clean, it is necessary to confront the fact that nuclear energy is not a sustainable solution. It is also necessary to appeal to the policymakers in Washington to make a safe and clean world a reality. Although NAPF’s Appeal to the Next President of the United States addresses nuclear weapons proliferation, the Appeal will influence policymakers by focusing their attention on nuclear issues and concerns about the proliferation of nuclear materials.
Sign the Appeal today!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Barack Obama, Election 2008, environment, Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, John McCain, nuclear, nuclear energy, nuclear materials, nuclear reactors, nuclear storage, nuclear waste, nuclear weapons-free world, oil, proliferation, reprocessing, sustainable energy
