Why I changed my mind about nuclear power | Michael Shellenberger | TEDxBerlin
Why Hacker News recommends it
Frequently linked in nuclear-power threads as an eye-opening pro-nuclear argument from a former anti-nuclear activist.
What it is
In this TEDxBerlin talk, environmental activist Michael Shellenberger explains why he changed from opposing nuclear power to advocating it, after looking at the evidence on Chernobyl, Fukushima and air pollution.
Recommended by 6 HN commenters across 5 different months, 2018 to 2021.
What Hacker News said
Recommends erentz · 2019-05 · on “Fukushima Nuclear Waste Mess is by No Means Solved”
Nuclear power proponents don’t let emotion and fear get in the way of the facts. Nuclear power kills far far (far far far) less people than other forms of power generation. When it goes wrong it’s super scary looking, terrifying really, but when you dig into the statistics of these accidents they wind up being less scary than is usually made out. It helps to learn about how nuclear power plants work, and visit one if you ever get the chance, once you get your head around it it becomes a lot less scary. For example take a look at the fatalities table here: [LINK] PS: A good starting point to start questioning the anti-nuclear narrative is a documentary called Pandora’s Promise, which is on Pr
Recommends smnplk · 2019-08 · on “Climate change: Marine heatwaves kill coral instantly”
1. Look into thorium-based nuclear power. Also, I think each country should have its own nuclear waste facilities, not a single barrel of nuclear waste should leave the border. Nuclear power kills fewer people than solar per unit of electricity. 2. Tricky. Educate kids. But of course, I am not delusional about human nature. Checkout this talk [this video]
Recommends cowmoo728 · 2019-08 · on “France Is Still Cleaning Up Marie Curie’s Nuclear Waste”
There has been a little bit of an update on views of chernobyl. Despite being considered the worst nuclear accident of all time, the actual death and damage toll from chernobyl is minimal compared to more boring things like coal dust and air pollution. This is a self-professed anti-nuclear hippy giving a talk about how rationally looking at chernobyl and fukushima made him a nuclear power advocate. [this video]
Recommends daenz · 2019-10 · on “Sea 'Boiling' with Methane Discovered in Siberia”
Go into this with an open mind, but it shows a number of ways that nuclear is superior to renewables, coming from someone who was staunchly against nuclear: [this video]
Recommends paulintrognon · 2020-08 · on “After 48 years, Democrats endorse nuclear energy in platform”
> Renewable energy sources have zero fuel costs. That's not true. It costs fuel to mine the resourses needed, to build the equipments, to install them, to maintain them. The IPCC states that globally, nuclear power emits _less_ greenhouse gases than hydro and solar, and emits about the same as wind. [1] [1] [LINK] Table A.III.2, page 1335 For more info, please see this eye opening TedX talk on the subject: [this video]
Recommends otikik · 2021-09 · on “Coal replaces wind as most important energy source in Germany in H1”
Give this a look [this video] The TLDR is: 7 million people die anually from air pollution. Fukushima and Chernobil combined don't even put a dent on that. And solar+wind alone is not enough.
Cites ageofwant · 2018-01 · on “What It Felt Like in Hawaii When Warning of an In-Bound Missile Arrived”
It's reasonable to assume that a adversary can and will use overreaction against perceived threads as a strategic 'unconventional weapon'. Unconventional defence would include educating a modern populace on critical thinking, thread model evaluation and even things like stoicism. [this video] is relevant, in which the fear of the thing killed 1500, while the thing in reality is benign.
Cites ageofwant · 2018-01 · on “U.S. tests nuclear power system to sustain astronauts on Mars”
The use of nuclear power should be encouraged and popularised whenever we can. Years of nuclear FUD needs to be unwound and humanity re-educated on the benefits of nuclear power. So much of our current climate change predicament could have been avoided. Its a crying shame. [this video]