I'm Kim B... I'm your pusher
So, the Federal ALP has decided they are not in favour of nuclear power to solve Australia's power consumption woes and alleviate our shocking greenhouse gas emission levels. Obviously, they have considered nuclear power generation too dangerous, not cost effective, and a generally bad idea politically and environmentally.
But, good old Kimbo the White Elephant has given the green light to increase Uranium sales to other countries so they may use it for exactly that purpose. This kind of hypocrisy is usually only found in the seedy underworld of drug culture, and in fact, the parallels of behaviour are quite interesting.
A drug dealer, (let's say for argument's sake a heroin supplier), is usually not addicted to the product he sells. He has decided, for whatever reason, that using the drug he distributes is not a good idea. He is well aware of the risks involved, and the dangers, yet happily sells the substance to other people who are addicted to it, and cannot control their cravings for the substance.
Looking at the supply of uranium for power generation, we see that extremely rarely, if ever, has any country's power demand gone down over time. Global power use continues to rise over time, like a kind of addiction. The more people have, the more they want, in terms of power availability. We have a fuel supply for a system we have deemed too dangerous, but will happily sell it to other countries, while being fully aware of the risks.
A dealer may say he is not doing any harm, it is up to an individual to make their own decisions, and he is just meeting a demand in the marketplace, which would otherwise be filled by someone else. The government may use the exact same justification for the sale of uranium. The only difference being that the dealer doesn't clean up after his customers, while we are offering to be garbage collectors and dumping ground to the customers we would sell to. Shiploads of radioactive waste passing through some of the most populated areas on the planet doesn't seem like the most intelligent solution to any problem.
Do we want our national conscience tested in this way? Would we do the same with substandard produce, or drugs, or other materials? We would not, I hope. And yet this issue is being kicked about like it is just another political football. This has the potential for permanent environmental destruction on a local and regional scale. Where does our responsibility lay? With our balance of payments? Or concern for our fellow inhabitants of the earth?
But, good old Kimbo the White Elephant has given the green light to increase Uranium sales to other countries so they may use it for exactly that purpose. This kind of hypocrisy is usually only found in the seedy underworld of drug culture, and in fact, the parallels of behaviour are quite interesting.
A drug dealer, (let's say for argument's sake a heroin supplier), is usually not addicted to the product he sells. He has decided, for whatever reason, that using the drug he distributes is not a good idea. He is well aware of the risks involved, and the dangers, yet happily sells the substance to other people who are addicted to it, and cannot control their cravings for the substance.
Looking at the supply of uranium for power generation, we see that extremely rarely, if ever, has any country's power demand gone down over time. Global power use continues to rise over time, like a kind of addiction. The more people have, the more they want, in terms of power availability. We have a fuel supply for a system we have deemed too dangerous, but will happily sell it to other countries, while being fully aware of the risks.
A dealer may say he is not doing any harm, it is up to an individual to make their own decisions, and he is just meeting a demand in the marketplace, which would otherwise be filled by someone else. The government may use the exact same justification for the sale of uranium. The only difference being that the dealer doesn't clean up after his customers, while we are offering to be garbage collectors and dumping ground to the customers we would sell to. Shiploads of radioactive waste passing through some of the most populated areas on the planet doesn't seem like the most intelligent solution to any problem.
Do we want our national conscience tested in this way? Would we do the same with substandard produce, or drugs, or other materials? We would not, I hope. And yet this issue is being kicked about like it is just another political football. This has the potential for permanent environmental destruction on a local and regional scale. Where does our responsibility lay? With our balance of payments? Or concern for our fellow inhabitants of the earth?