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Nuclear Disasters: the Prevention and Aftermath

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Nuclear Disasters: the Prevention and Aftermath
Running Head: NUCLEAR DISASTERS

Nuclear Disasters:
The Prevention and Aftermath

Katey Thomas
NMT, English 111-04
December 7, 2012

Abstract

This paper discusses nuclear disasters and their permanent scar on society. The paper starts by describing the transition society is making to nuclear power in order to meet stated goals for cutting carbon emissions. Also, the possibility of a nuclear accident occurring is explained. Next, the paper explains the events of the three most well-known nuclear disasters of all time: Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima Daiichi. The paper continues with the aftermaths of the three accidents. The aftermath includes: the health effects on the refugees and workers, the economic struggle to make up for the lost energy, and the future public outlook on nuclear energy.

Introduction and Background

Nuclear engineering is an expanding field with everybody desiring to “go green” and cut carbon emissions to slow global warming. With the climate change, many countries are dedicating themselves to cutting back on carbon emissions, which usually includes an increase in nuclear power. But the nuclear power tends to scare the public away from the possibility as a result of nuclear disasters. These nuclear disasters led to the death of thousands of people from anywhere in the proximity of a day to decades later. The major issue with nuclear energy is the fear people have associated with it because they are not fully educated on the topic and simply fear what they do not understand.
Going Green As the knowledge of global warming is spreading across the globe, many countries are deciding to cut back on carbon emissions by meeting certain goals every few years up until they meet the final goal in the far future. The UK passed an act called the Climate Change Act 2008 which “legally commits the Government to reducing the UK’s carbon emissions by 35% by 2020 and by 80% before 2050” (Goodfellow et al., 2011). So to meet



References: Balonov, M. I. (2007). The Chernobyl Forum: major findings and recommendation. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 96 (1-3), 6-12. Fushiki, S. (2012). Radiation hazards in children – Lesson from Chernobyl, Three Mile Island and Fukushima. Brain and Development. Retrieved from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.braindev.2012.09.004 Goodfellow, M. J., Williams, H. R., & Azapagic, A. (2011). Nuclear renaissance, public perception and design criteria: An exploratory review. Energy Policy, 39 (10), 6199-6210. Huenteler, J., Schmidt, T. S., & Kanie, N. (2012). Japan’s post-Fukushima challenge – implications from the German experience on renewable energy policy. Energy Policy 45, 6-11. Kawashima, S. & Takeda, F (2012). The effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident on stock prices of electric power utilities in Japan. Energy Economics, 34, 2029-2038. Srinivasan, T. N. & Rethinaraj T. S. G. (2012). Fukushima and thereafter: Reassessment of risks of nuclear power. Energy Policy. Retrieved from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2012.12.036 Vivoda, V. (2012). Japan’s energy security predicament post-Fukushima. Energy Policy 46, 135-143.

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