Nuclear Waste Muller Summary
Professor Kinkade
RWS 280
Analysis of “Nuclear Waste”
Richard A. Muller, an awardee of the MacArthur Fellowship and physics professor at UC Berkley, states in his 2008 essay “Nuclear Waste”, that Americans and the rest of the world are overly concerned with radioactive debris and the possibility of nuclear contamination. Muller first brings to light the most common fears of storing nuclear waste; volcanic activity in the Yucca Mountains, the area where the waste is stored, and the possibility of radioactive particles contaminating the water supply. Muller then goes on to entertain opposing viewpoints on how the waste should be disposed of. Muller then goes on to support his own claim by providing statistical data and explanations of radioactive …show more content…
It takes 10,000 for the waste “to decay back to the radioactive level of the mined uranium,’ (pg. 209). The reader is also informed that the waste is “carried in thick, reinforced concrete cylinders that can survive high-speed crashes without leaking,” (pg. 212). Providing data, Muller is able to comfort his audience by playing on logos and is able to provide statistical data. He states that the nuclear waste that is contained, in fact has less potential for harm than what is already in the ground naturally (pg. 212). Just as long as the containers leak less that 0.1% of their material per year, there is an overall lesser amount of radioactive material in the environment. At this point the author does not want to scare the reader too much and must reel them in and calm them down. While calming the reader this strategy also reinforces the author’s credibility to the audience. Without this section of the essay the reader is left to assume that the author has credibility but, by providing examples of radioactive decay and other data the author is able to show his knowledge of the subject. This reassurance of credibility further prepares the rest of the audience for Muller’s solutions and ensures that they will seem more
RWS 280
Analysis of “Nuclear Waste”
Richard A. Muller, an awardee of the MacArthur Fellowship and physics professor at UC Berkley, states in his 2008 essay “Nuclear Waste”, that Americans and the rest of the world are overly concerned with radioactive debris and the possibility of nuclear contamination. Muller first brings to light the most common fears of storing nuclear waste; volcanic activity in the Yucca Mountains, the area where the waste is stored, and the possibility of radioactive particles contaminating the water supply. Muller then goes on to entertain opposing viewpoints on how the waste should be disposed of. Muller then goes on to support his own claim by providing statistical data and explanations of radioactive …show more content…
It takes 10,000 for the waste “to decay back to the radioactive level of the mined uranium,’ (pg. 209). The reader is also informed that the waste is “carried in thick, reinforced concrete cylinders that can survive high-speed crashes without leaking,” (pg. 212). Providing data, Muller is able to comfort his audience by playing on logos and is able to provide statistical data. He states that the nuclear waste that is contained, in fact has less potential for harm than what is already in the ground naturally (pg. 212). Just as long as the containers leak less that 0.1% of their material per year, there is an overall lesser amount of radioactive material in the environment. At this point the author does not want to scare the reader too much and must reel them in and calm them down. While calming the reader this strategy also reinforces the author’s credibility to the audience. Without this section of the essay the reader is left to assume that the author has credibility but, by providing examples of radioactive decay and other data the author is able to show his knowledge of the subject. This reassurance of credibility further prepares the rest of the audience for Muller’s solutions and ensures that they will seem more