Pandora’s promise presented a strong argument in support of the use of nuclear power. It followed the stories of notable scientists and people who once feared and distrusted nuclear power. The film also explores the strong pull of the anti-nuclear movement, and the US’s history with nuclear power. Pandora’s Promise aimed to spur debates and question the trends within our society toward distrust of nuclear power that run parallel to increasing demands for electricity and power. The main arguments made within the film were that the anti-nuclear movement used scare tactics to create terror and panic amongst people that lack the expertise to come to a holistic understanding of nuclear science, that nuclear power is cheaper than renewable, and leaves less of an impact on our environment than renewables or coal and oil.
One steep statement made by the film was that ‘to be anti-nuclear power, is to support the use of fossil fuels that release greenhouse gases into the environment.” I think that statement is a bit of a stretch. The majority of people who are against nuclear power have misgivings about its safety, long term impact, and the issues that arise from nuclear waste. Another dramatic parallel drawn was the comparison of those who deny global warming.
Many US citizens have witnessed nuclear scares within their lifetimes, including Chernobyl, recent Japan meltdowns, the Cold War, and the constant fear of nuclear weapons use in war. The fear of cancer was also stated as a primary reason for fear within the film, as 20% of people within developed nations die as cancer and a great deal is still to be researched about causes of cancer. Some critics of the movie suggest that Pandora’s Promise drew the conclusion that nuclear power hasn’t expanded due to the anti-nuclear movement. While in fact some reasons that it hasn’t expanded is the lack of funding for further development and the significant amount of waste produced by the industry. Much like the Dupont case, it brings into question whether the nuclear industry uses ethical practices in the disposal of waste. I am doubtful that waste is disposed of 100% of the time and often poor, minority groups might be most affected by the outcomes of incorrect disposal of waste. Overall, the environmentalists in the movie presented some solid insight into nuclear power, arguing that it is the most safe and clean form of energy. As energy consumption increases and reliance on “dirty” energy sources such as oil increases, it is essential that our society has conversations about other power sources and the public is provided with information on which to base their decisions.
