chance for you to ask questions, page-6

The problem is that in the uranium industry... human error can never be eliminated. Apparently even the most well regulated operations experience problems...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-31/era-reports-loss-ranger-uranium-mine-and-clean-up/5230572

Time and time again, human error is the undoing of this industry, because of the inherent high risk nature of U.
That is the nature of the beast. It's half life decay is millions of years not hundreds or even thousands. It's potential impact on biology are as yet not fully understood.

Without going into more detail, or outlining my level of experience and exposure to the industry, I will just say that I find the promulgation of science rhetoric aka 'dilution solves pollution' just does not apply to radioactivity. The radioactive elements are in a class of their own - which makes them as dangerous as they are fascinating. I am for more and more research, not using our one earth as a test laboratory.

Any scientist who has expertise in chemistry, biology and environmental /ecosystem processes, who states that U is safe for use in whatever capacity - without acknowledging the inherent level of risk involved - is not credible imo. We do not yet fully understand the impact on our biology, because the exposure will occur over the course of millions of years.

The Fukushima disaster is only the beginning. One by one all nuclear power plants will eventually need to be decommissioned. That is a fact that can't be denied if you take a long-term view. also decommissioning is an extremely costly and challenging process for both U mines and reactor sites. And I ask you - who will pay? The Government? The companies? No the people that's who. They will pay with their homes and their lives, because to deal with the toxic legacy will be cost prohibitive. I anticipate that in 100 years time there will be an emerging crisis with companies defaulting on their responsibilities to decommission these sites. And all the money that was made in it's heyday? The profit takers will be long gone and unwittingly or perhaps knowlingly, leave the problems for future generations to deal with...

As for fukushima - the spread of radioactive plume already carries global implications. I will not accept that anyone would downplay the risks of this disaster for any reason other than selfish motives. It's one big experiment and we do not yet know the findings. Will they successfully decommission Fukushima? Remains to be seen doesn't it?

So you proponents of nuclear power - explain where we will put U or other radioactive materials once they are spent? I nominate your backyard for starters!

This is a case where the precautionary principle should apply - not the profit principle.