We should not use the nuclear power by Shiori

              In recent years, the use of nuclear energy has picked up as the world's problem. It's because the severe earthquake which occurred two years ago in Japan caused a nuclear accident and many people had to evacuate from their hometown. After this accident, whether we should use nuclear energy or not has been discussed. In my opinion, Japan should remove nuclear power plants. The first reason is that materials for nuclear power contain radiation, which has a bad influence on creatures. The second reason is that there is the problem of nuclear wastes.

              Materials for nuclear power contain radiation, so if the strong earthquake occurs and power plant collapsed, radiation leaks outside. Then the air and ground will be contaminated by radioactivity and creatures will be not able to live in that place. According to Madhura Pandit (2011), "The Chernobyl disaster that occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986 in Ukraine was the worst nuclear power plant disaster. One of the nuclear reactors of the plant exploded, releasing high amount of radiation in the environment. It resulted in thousands of casualties, mostly due to exposure to harmful radiation." The radioactive accident occurred two years ago in Fukushima, too. In Japan, earthquakes occur frequently, and it is said that a severe earthquake will occur within the next few years. So the possibility of nuclear accident is high.

              There is the problem of nuclear wastes, too. Nuclear waste is the material that nuclear fuel becomes after it is used in a reactor. It also contains radiation, it has to dispose properly. According to Kansai Electric Company (2012), "The waste produced after fission reactions contains unstable elements and is highly radioactive. It is very dangerous to the environment as well as human health, and remains so, for thousands of years. It needs professional handling and should be kept isolated from the living environment. It is very difficult to store radioactive elements for a long period." To construct the radioactive waste disposal facility needs a lot of money and a special place. If a facility is built, to dispose nuclear wastes need about 20 billion yen per year.

              Nuclear power generation has a lot of problems such as leak of radiation and dispose of high level nuclear wastes, so I against the use of nuclear energy. I hope the development of alternative energy resources.

References

Madhura Pandit. (2011, May 7). In Buzzle. Retrieved 9:22, February 21, 2013, from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-nuclear-energy.html

Kansai Electric Company. (2012 , December 12). Retrieved 9:30, February 21, 2013, from http://www.kepco.co.jp/s-ryoukin/document/document12-6.pdf