The film entitled “Pandora’s Promise” attempts to answer the complicated question, ‘how do we continue to power modern civilization without destroying it?’.  Pandora Promise provides detailed insight into the controversial debate of nuclear power, a clean source of energy with potential to be extremely efficient.

Most individuals who oppose nuclear energy, primarily environmentalists, often argue that nuclear energy is a lurking danger.  Their concerns with nuclear energy revolve around potential accidents, radiation levels, waste products, and the development of nuclear weapons.  The problem with these concerns is that they are not strong arguments when it comes to forming a perspective about nuclear energy, especially when considering the efficiency potential of this energy source.

Antinuclear individuals who are anxious about potential accidents at a nuclear power plant flaunt unrealistic dangers. The fact is, there have been very limited serious/major accidents at nuclear facilities.  In the past 60 years, there has been only 33 recorded accidents at nuclear facilities many which were small resulting in few consequences.  Two examples of serious accidents include the incidents that occurred at nuclear facilities in  Fukushima, Japan and Chernobyl, Ukraine, 1986.  The cause of both of these accidents were due to a severe natural disaster and design flaws.  The Fukushima accident occurred after Japan was hit with an earthquake and two tsunamis, which destroyed electrical equipment that regulated the reactor causing the core to melt.  Even though the facility was surrounded by a wall to prevent damage from tsunamis, it was not tall enough.  The accident that happened Chernobyl was because of a design flaw in the reactor accompanied by major mistakes made by the plant operators.  With proper design and procedure, nuclear energy can be easily controlled and a very safe source of energy.  As exemplified by France and its dedication to nuclear energy.

Nuclear reactors are powered by uranium, a very heavy metal found in Earth’s crust.  Enriched uranium has the ability to be extremely energy efficient.  In fact, one pound of highly enriched uranium can provide the same amount of energy as one million gallons of gasoline.  Also, one pound of uranium provides one million more times energy than a pound of coal.  

This film was very interesting and provided great insight on the debate of nuclear energy.  The facts that backed up arguments that were pro-nuclear energy were convincing and helped me develop a better understanding of how nuclear energy is produced.  Prior to watching this film I didn’t realize the efficiency of nuclear energy, but after watching it I’m convinced more countries should be involved in nuclear energy in order to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions and decelerate the effects of climate change.