Research Question Should nuclear energy be banned?

1.0 INTRODUCTION
Nuclear energy occurs from the splitting of uranium atoms in a procedure which is called nuclear fission. Fission procedure is used at the power plants to produce heat for generating steam, and then steam is used by a turbine to generate electricity. Nuclear fission, happens when the nuclei of atoms are split, causing energy to be released. Recently, Nuclear energy has been growing in popularity as an alternative to fossil fuels and a way to fight global warming. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) conducted a study on the future of nuclear power as a belief that this energy source is an important choice for the world to meet future energy needs without emitting carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants. In contrast, there are certain disadvantages that people need to look into to understand the energy and these can actually change your outlook on nuclear energy. Nowadays, concern regarding this issue is that if nuclear activities should be allowed to be continued and get processed or not? To decide the truth of this statement, it is important to consider the views that support this statement as well as the views proposed by those who do not agree that Nuclear energy should be banned.

2.0 BODY OF REPORT 2.1 Nuclear energy impact negatively on environment

There have been problems with safety, security and environment impact in the nuclear industry. Nuclear power plants produce extremely toxic radioactive wastes that are long-lived and have no safe means of disposal. Therefore, this is the main concern of people who believe Nuclear energy impact negatively on environment.

2.1.1 Waste disposal

Those people who are in support of banning nuclear energy, claims that nuclear reactors have waste disposal problems. Reactors turn out nuclear waste which emits dangerous radiation. The by-product of uranium stay radioactive for thousands of years, therefore they are required to be kept away from society until they lose their major radiation values. Many underground sites have been constructed, only to be filled within months. Storage facilities are not enough to store the worlds nuclear waste, which limits the amount of nuclear fuel that can be used per year. Transportation of the waste is risky, as many unknown variables may affect the containment vessels. If one of these vessels were compromised, the effect would be deadly. Nuclear waste cannot be disposed like regular garbage because if it is touched by humans it can be fatal. Currently, many nuclear wastes are stored in special cooling pools at the nuclear reactors. Many countries around the world plan to move its nuclear waste to remote underground dumps in the future. It has to be carefully looked after the waste from nuclear energy for several thousand years, due to its extreme danger.

2.1.2 Radiation
Supporters of this argument also claim that nuclear energy produces radiation which is dangerous. They support this argument on the fact that it can harm the population. Nuclear energy can be unsafe because nuclear explosions produce radiation. Human cells are the main target of this radiation and people can get sick or even destroyed from it. Illness can show up within people years after they are exposed to this radiation. In 1986 in Ukraine, the worst nuclear power plant disaster occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The environment was affected by high amount of radiation which was released in result of explosion of one of the nuclear reactors. It resulted in thousands of casualties, mostly due to exposure to harmful radiation. The repetition of such disaster in future cant be denied according to supporters of this argument.

2.2 Nuclear energy also have their benefits

Beside those people against Nuclear energy, some people believe that nuclear energy can help in preserving the environment. Nuclear power plants produce no controlled air pollutants, such as particulates and sulfur, or greenhouse gases. The use of nuclear energy in place of other energy sources helps to keep the air clean, preserve the Earth's climate.

2.2.1 Reduces the release of greenhouse gases

They base this argument on the fact that nuclear energy reduces the emission of greenhouse effects. One of the main benefits of nuclear energy is that during nuclear reaction, there is no release of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, ozone, chlorofluorocarbon, and methane). The greenhouse gases are the major concern in the current scenario, as they cause climate change and global warming. As there is no emission of these gases during nuclear reaction, there is very little effect on the environment. Nuclear energy production does emit somewhat low amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2). The emissions of greenhouse gases and therefore the contribution of nuclear power plants to global warming is therefore relatively little.

2.2.2 Reliable energy source

Another point is that nuclear energy should not be banned because nuclear energy is a reliable and affordable energy source. Nuclear energy can be used to make electricity through the processes of nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, nuclear plants are the lowest-cost producer of base load electricity.(2011).

3.0 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the statement that nuclear energy should be banned cannot be accepted at its face value. This statement needs to be analyzed and all arguments need to be examined carefully before this charge can be laid at the door of nuclear energy.

References
1- Motherearth.org. (2007). Nuclear power and greenhouse gas emissions. Available: http://www.motherearth.org/energy/nuclear2.php. Last accessed 19th Aug 2011. 2- Nuclear Energy Institute. (2011). Electricity Supply. Available: http://www.nei.org/keyissues/reliableandaffordableenergy/electricitysupply/. Last accessed 19th Aug 2011. 3- Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. (2010). Nuclear Waste . Available: http://www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/keyissues/nuclear-energy/issues/waste/index.htm. Last accessed 19th Aug 2011. 4- World-nuclear.org. (2011). Chernobyl Accident 1986. Available: http://www.worldnuclear.org/info/chernobyl/inf07.html. Last accessed 19th Aug 2011.