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Perceptions of nuclear power are influenced by nightmares of mushroom clouds, the spectre of Chernobyl and movies like the China Syndrome where an out-of-control nuclear reactor was boring through the earth’s crust. What is more terrifying is that the power of these misconceptions may destroy the last chance humanity has of saving the Earth from its own excess. This sounds apocalyptic, but before you dismiss it, look at the growing tide of evidence that shows power stations are the greatest cause of global warming. And read The Revenge of Gaia by James Lovelock. Gaia Enters The Mainstream The Gaia theory was introduced by Lovelock over 30 years ago. He sees planet Earth, from rocks to plants, animals and humans, as one giant self-regulating mechanism. Everything is interconnected to promote a stable existence, beneficial to life as we know it. The theory was generally dismissed at its birth as part of new age mysticism, but gradually it is becoming a part of mainstream thought. Lovelock is now regarded as one of today’s greatest scientists, but not content to rest on hardearned laurels, at the age of 86 he has written a book that says the end is nigh. The central thesis of The Revenge of Gaia is that Earth’s self-regulating mechanism has been severely compromised by our unthinking pursuit of the good life. Global warming has reached a critical state. We are at the tipping point. One example: the ice-sheets at the poles reflect sunlight. As they begin to melt they expose darkcoloured rock that absorbs sunlight, creating more heat, melting ice-sheets more rapidly.
Meanwhile newly industrialised nations rapidly increase the burning of fossil fuels, and treaties like Kyoto, even if they were adhered to, are like treating tuberculosis with cough syrup.
Urban Green Follies ‘Let’s replace fossil fuel power stations with wind, solar and wave power’, say Urban Greenies. It’s a romantic and deeply impractical notion that Lovelock ruthlessly dissects. The problem with wind, for instance, is that it doesn’t blow all the time. Or it blows too strongly. Approximately 75% of the time wind power needs the back-up of conventional power stations. They’re noisy, a blot on the landscape and are lethal to birds. Plus with global warming wind patterns can shift so we’ll end up with banks of unemployed wind farms, which are incidentally made out of toxic, unrecyclable materials. Solar energy anyone? Well, you can cover your roof with solar panels to heat your pool by a degree or two, but efficient solar cells and storage is somewhere on the horizon. It takes about 40 years for a new technology to become commercially viable, and Lovelock says time is not on our side. Hydro-electricity is a partial solution and Eskom are investigating the potential of the Congo River to double their power capacity. Lovelock claims there are not enough rivers to replace fossil fuels. And water shortages already expose our reliance on this scarce resource. Well-meaning, ill-informed Urban Greenies hasten the breakdown of Gaia by promoting theories that owe more to emotion than science, whilst damning the one energy source that makes economic and environmental sense. But what about the dangers? 
Chernobyl & Other Myths Another urban myth is that over 30 000 people died in Europe and Russia from radiation following the Chernobyl accident. The World Health Organisation estimates the death toll at 45-75 people (mainly those who fought the blaze). Compared with the number of coal-miners who die every year, nuclear energy is far safer. How about Three Mile Island, say nuclear sceptics – in 1979 a nuclear reactor in Pennsylvania suffered a meltdown with perfect timing, just two weeks after The China Syndrome opened. In fact, the containment structure did its job, no radiation escaped, no-one was hurt. In fact nuclear reactors such as the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) currently being designed in SA is as different to that used at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island as a 1930’s aeroplane is to a rocket ship. How about using the uranium to make nuclear weapons? Although the technology is vastly different, it is theoretically possible. Terrorist bombs are made from fertiliser – must that be banned too? Regulation and monitoring will mitigate the risk – and according to Lovelock, the risk of not going nuclear is far greater. He is no longer a voice in the wilderness. Patrick Moore is the co-founder of Greenpeace. He says he originally believed nuclear energy was synonymous with nuclear holocaust. Now his views have diametrically changed: “Nuclear energy may just save our planet… it is the only large-scale, cost-effective energy source that can reduce CO2 emissions, while continuing to satisfy a growing demand for power. Needed: A Nuclear Makeover Since Three Mile Island and The China Syndrome, America has not built another nuclear plant. In Germany, where the cold war was coldest and green is a political weapon, the government is a massive sponsor of wind power. In the ‘70’s they quietly sold their existing nuclear know-how to SA. With our legendary ‘volk’ mentality, a little more negative world opinion was neither here nor there. Hence we are now the world leaders in nuclear technology with the PBMR. In our image driven world, perception is reality. And the misperceptions surrounding nuclear could be the most catastrophic mistake humanity will make. Nuclear power needs an extreme makeover. The myths need to be busted, blind emotion must be enlightened by knowledge and the costs of delay must be made manifest. In April this year the final scoping report for the proposed PBMR was published. All 445 pages of it. The challenge is to instill a sense of urgency by creating a national and global debate around the issues. It will take the most skilled in the communications industry plus a few billion dollars in the war-chest. Would Bill Gates and Warren Buffet consider re-allocating 10% of their philanthropy to save the planet? If not, and we continue to doubt while Earth burns, we will mourn not nuclear waste, but the waste of life as we know it.  A suggestion: Renewable energy has to be the next big thing for investors, and Cape Town would make the perfect global centre for renewable energy research. It has lots of weather…waves, wind and sun. It has world class intellectual capital in the form of academics at UCT and the University of Stellenbosch, as well as many private consultants. It also has good communication links, technology, infrastructure, cultural and historical significance and talented people.
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