Hello! Here comes DSKUSSS! We want to discuss why people use nuclear energy even though they are aware of the problem of it. If you agree or disagree, let us know through the comments! Enjoy the reading :)

Nuclear Energy: Why People Use Nuclear Energy

                                                                                                                     

Yunzee Kim

Graduated from Dongseo University

Broadcasting and Media Studies

             Since nuclear energy has developed gradually from the 1970’s, there have been continuous controversies about using it. The main factor of anti-usage of it is about safety. People who are against using nuclear energy usually mention the Three Mile Island incident, the Chernobyl incident, and the Earthquake of Dohoku in Japan. They say the nuclear energy could be terminated and changed with another alternative form because this energy could threaten people’s safety.

However, their argument seems hard to be done. Do you know what the number 4,157,000,000,000 represents? This huge number means the amount of energy consumption (unit: kilowatt hours of electricity) in 2007 in U.S.A (Widder, 2010[1]). Much worse, needs of energy have never stopped increasing since the Industrial Revolution. People have extracted more energy from various sources to satisfy their needs.

In this situation, nuclear energy becomes one kind of alternative energy. That is because it can satisfy huge amounts of electricity demands. Aronson (2009[2]) says nuclear energy usually supplies electricity steadily and stably unlike fuel fossil energy that has limited amount. Echdvarri (2006[3]) also shows that more and more OECD(Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries use this nuclear energy. In other words, countries are using this energy because the nuclear energy is effective in supplying increasing energy amounts to people. For this reason, people should realize how an important role nuclear energy plays in covering soaring demands of electricity.

             Based on this, nuclear energy is effective in meeting increasing demands of electricity. However, there are still controversies on using nuclear energy. Despite the controversies, people cannot deny the truth that nuclear energy is useful in meeting huge demands of electricity. As long as people stay aware of the risks of using nuclear energy and cautious about the safety of it, they can use it as a useful alternative energy.

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[1] Widder, S. (2010). Benefits and concerns of a closed nuclear fuel cycle. Journal of

 renewable and sustainable energy 2. 062802. 1-10

[2] Aronson, R. B. (2009, February). The Emerging Energy Industry. Manufacturing Energy-

Related Products. 142(2).47-54

[3] Echavarri, L. E. (2006, December). Nuclear energy: Towards sustainable development.

 OECD Obsever. 258/259. 17-19.