Nama : Mutmainna

NIM : 105119001
Kelas : CH’19

SUMMARY ANALYSIS OF ONLY NUCLEAR

POWER CAN SAVE THE PLANET

An article in the Wall Street Journal entitled "Only Nuclear Power Can Save the Planet" written
by Joshua S. Goldstein and Staffan A. Qvist talked about nuclear power as a substitute for fossil
fuels. This replacement is carried out to prevent potential earth disasters. Perhaps because of
limited information and knowledge, they did not consider many of the dangers that could arise
from nuclear power which could even make the potential for earth disasters increase again
compared to using fossil fuels. Not only that, Goldstein and Qvist were also impressed to weaken
the Chernobyl nuclear accident which claimed many lives. Even worse, in the article, Goldstein
and Qvist tried to get the reader to really believe that only nuclear power could save the planet.

According to the authors Goldstein and Qvist in their writings, "Only Nuclear Power Can Save
the Planet". They argue that only nuclear power is capable of meeting the world's energy needs.
What does "only" mean here? This is a wrong understanding and also a big mistake. There are so
many new renewable energy sources besides nuclear power that can be developed to meet the
world's energy needs. In fact, all countries are currently developing knowledge about safer and
more environmentally friendly renewable energy development technologies. Even environmental
activists make the statement that there is no need to think about nuclear power development, it is
better to optimize safe and environmentally friendly energy. The statement clearly said that
nuclear reactors are dangerous and have very high risks that need to be considered for their
development.

In Goldstein and Qvist's writings, it is also explained that nuclear power is the safest energy. In
their explanation, they seem to underestimate radiation, even though radiation is the biggest
reason for a country not to establish a nuclear reactor. This happens because there are many
effects of radiation that can be caused. First, it can destroy body cells. High doses of nuclear
radiation can cause body cells, causing damage to various complications. The areas of the body
most vulnerable to damage due to exposure to high-dose nuclear radiation are the stomach,
intestine, mouth, blood vessels, and cells that produce blood in the bone marrow. Damage that
occurs in the bone marrow will result in the body not being able to fight infection or disease.
When this happens, nuclear radiation is at high risk of taking lives. Secondly, radiation can cause
cancer. Many studies show that people who are often exposed to nuclear radiation, especially
children and young adults, are at greater risk of developing cancer. Some of these cancers are
blood cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, bone cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, and brain
cancer. Third, radiation can interfere with child growth and development. The effects of nuclear
radiation also adversely affect children's development, especially the development of the brain
and nerves. Exposure to nuclear radiation to the fetus can cause babies born with disabilities,
both physical and mental disabilities. The latter relates to Nuclear Energy Disposal. In order not
to pollute, landfills are quite expensive, so they must require special treatment to deal with
radioactive waste. So it cannot pollute the environment.

Goldstein and Qvist in their writings also seemed to manipulate facts. They did not want to admit
that the cause of hundreds of thousands of deaths in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion
was nuclear radiation, even though the Soviet Union itself had published that the cause of death
was nuclear radiation that occurred after the first explosion at the Chernobyl plant. The question
that arises is ‘Is it ethical to manipulate this fact?’ Why their writing can be published to the
public even though there are facts they manipulate? They may actually argue, but they should not
manipulate the facts to support their opinion.

Based on the dangers that can arise from this nuclear power and the facts that support and its
implications for the industrial world, the nuclear power does not need to be developed.
Moreover, there is a lot of renewable energy that can be developed because it is more
environmentally friendly and certainly safe for the industrial world.