[tt] [SALT] True nukes TONIGHT at the Herbst, Sep. 14 (for forwarding)

[Eugen Leitl]

----- Forwarded message from Stewart Brand <sb at longnow.org> -----

From: Stewart Brand <sb at longnow.org>
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2007 10:58:46 -0700
To: salt at list.longnow.org
Subject: [SALT] True nukes TONIGHT at the Herbst, Sep. 14 (for forwarding)
Reply-To: services at longnow.org


   Whether for good or ill, a nuclear energy revival is under way, with
   long term consequences at stake.  What's actually going on, and why?
   Tonight's talk reports in vivid detail on the current realities of the
   nuclear power industry and technology in the US, full of news for both
   proponents and opponents.

   I'll add here some global context.  Nuclear energy technology is a
   half century old.  Some say it's in decline because it's too
   centralized, too expensive, and facing better carbon-free energy
   sources.  Others say it's now a mature, proven industry being steadily
   refined toward ever greater safety, lower cost, and higher efficiency,
   uniquely able to handle the scale needed for growing global energy
   needs such as in China and India.  The decision of which view is right
   is made by governments.

   China has ordered six large nuclear reactors, four from the US
   (Westinghouse), two from France (AREVA), and it is exploring
   next-generation meltdown-proof "pebble-bed" reactors.  India, whose
   electricity needs are growing 10% a year, plans to expand its nuclear
   capacity tenfold from its present ten reactors.  Green Finland is
   building two new reactors.  Green Germany is quietly reversing its
   decision to shut down the 19 reactors it has.  France gets 80% of its
   electricity from nuclear and is building another reactor.  England's
   Prime Ministers (Blair and now Brown) are pushing for nuclear
   expansion, and so is Australia's PM Howard.  Turkey and Vietnam are
   exploring nuclear programs, and South Africa and Argentina are
   expanding theirs.  Worldwide, 31 nuclear plants are currently under
   construction, adding to the present 439 reactors that provide 15% of
   the world's electricity.

   In the US, no new reactors have been built since the early '80s and
   several were shut down.  This year the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
   is considering applications for 12 new reactors and expects another 15
   next year.  The reprocessing of spent fuel in the US, which was banned
   by President Carter, has been relegalized, and a reprocessing plant is
   planned for New Mexico.  In California, two nuclear plants were shut
   down after Chernobyl (1986).  The four remaining provide 13% of
   California's electricity.  A new plant is being promoted for
   construction near Fresno.

   Nukes are hyperbole magnets, both from boosters and foes.  The debate
   needs gritty, ground-truth details.  Tonight we get some...

   "Power to Save the World," Gwyneth Cravens with Rip Anderson, Herbst
   Theater, San Francisco, 7pm, TONIGHT, September 14.  The lecture
   starts promptly at 7:30pm.  Admission is free (a $10 donation is
   always welcome, not required)

   NOTE:  This SALT talk is downtown at the Herbst Theater on Van Ness
   and McAllister.

   Tonight's talk is one of a monthly series of Seminars About Long-term
   Thinking (SALT) organized by The Long Now Foundation.  Audio downloads
   from all previous talks are available for free through the final link
   in this note.  If you would like to be notified by email of
   forthcoming talks, go [1]here to sign up online.  Any questions,
   contact Danielle Engelman at Long Now--- 415-561-6582,
   [2]danielle at longnow.org.

   You are welcome to forward this note to anyone you think might be
   interested.

                                           --Stewart Brand

   --

--

   Stewart Brand -- sb at gbn.org

   The Long Now Foundation - http://www.longnow.org
   Seminars & downloads: http://www.longnow.org/projects/seminars/

References

   1. http://list.longnow.org/mailman/listinfo/SALT
   2. mailto:danielle at longnow.org

----- End forwarded message -----
-- 
Eugen* Leitl <a href="http://leitl.org">leitl</a> http://leitl.org
______________________________________________________________
ICBM: 48.07100, 11.36820 http://www.ativel.com http://postbiota.org
8B29F6BE: 099D 78BA 2FD3 B014 B08A  7779 75B0 2443 8B29 F6BE