Pandora’s promise is a pro-nuclear film created in response to the growing power debate and the pressure to find alternative energy sources. The film points to nuclear energy as a safe alternative due to the fact it contributes little to none pollution and greenhouse gasses. The movie features many previously anti-nuclear experts who changed their mind and now support this movement. They movie uses key environmentalists and anti-nuclear democrats to show that hey! if these people can be pro-nuclear energy, so can you.
The truth is that nuclear energy is highly efficient, and most definitely can handle the energy capacity needs that wind and solar have failed to do. Nuclear energy is much cheaper overall as well (if you subtract the initial expensive cost to build the plant).
The problem that I have with this film is that although it does address nuclear disasters such as Chernobyl and Fukushima it barely scratches the surface of how truly detrimental these meltdowns were. It describes the overwhelming amount of radiation as “normal” and “natural” using a handheld radiation thermometer. It also downplays what happens to the disposal of all nuclear waste and possible nuclear leaks (Hint: it hurts the environment too).
The movie also tries to cover the other side of the nuclear debate and that is its use for weaponry. Producers tried to cover this debate by pointing out that half of our nuclear energy has come from repurposed Russian war heads but fails to mention the fact that the majority of other threatening countries haven’t given up the technology with the potential to annihilate an entire city.
Overall, this movie works hard to convince any skeptics that nuclear energy is not the infamous harbinger of destruction that its made out to be. Although a lot of evidence clearly points to nuclear energy as a possible alternative, there are also plenty of deterrents that the movie fails to acknowledge. Perhaps when our technology evolves enough to avoid these possibly catastrophic meltdowns and design errors, nuclear energy will have its time. Until then, many will remain unconvinced.