A World Without Chernobyl

[Sionnach Glic]

Something that popped into my head while discussing the viability of nuclear-powered aircraft-carrier dirigibles over in the BSG forum (TR-116 to the rescue!). Let's say that, for whatever reason, nuclear power doesn't become as controversial an issue as it is today. Instead, we keep the 1950's view of it being the way of the future and something that should be embraced, and the majority of people are all for increasing its use and commonness in everyday life.

What would things look like in such a world? Would it even be all that different from reality, or would things change quite a bit?

[Tsukiyumi]

I'm sure we'd be using a lot more of it.

[Tyyr]

I'm not sure it would change all that much. You'd likely have a lot less interest in renewables and perhaps more interest in things like electric cars and the like.

[Reliant121]

I'd say there would be less of the whole global warming debate. Sure, there'd be some inevitable global warming from combustion engines, but a major contributing factor, electricity generation, would probably be much more nuclear controlled.

[Mikey]

I'm not sure too much would be different. Most people outside of Ukraine don't realize - or at least, don't pay any mind to - the fact that the area around Chernobyl is militarily-cordoned, and requires a time limit in hours for visitation, even for people in rad suits in the center of the area.

[Aaron]

You should check this out, it's a website of a chick who rides her crotch rocket through the area.

Honestly, I think the idea that nuke=bad was already in the public consciousness before hand, Three Mile Island and dozens of films where bugs grow to ludicrous size from radiation hadn't helped things.

[Tyyr]

Exactly, TMI and the China syndrome are the root of the anti-nuclear feeling in this country. Ironic since TMI was a stunning example of how safe, to the public, nuclear power really is.

[Aaron]

Yeah, and folks totally ignore all the crap gas, coal and oil plants shat out.

[Mikey]

Right, TMI was a perfect example of how these things safely respond to a problem.

You should check this out, it's a website of a chick who rides her crotch rocket through the area.

IIRC, only the school and town right around the plant require rad suits. There's still a time limit for people within a 20 - 25 mile radius, though.

But you're right - there was anti-nuke sentiment well before Chernobyl (except for things like the USS Nautilus, because it's OK to do something bad if it means we can stick it to those red bastards. )

[Sionnach Glic]

Well the Chernobyl mention was just for the title. I actually meant "what if there was no anti-nuclear hysteria at all".

[Mikey]

Well the Chernobyl mention was just for the title. I actually meant "what if there was no anti-nuclear hysteria at all".

In that case, we'd be in even better shape than just having widespread nuclear power. Nuclear power generation would have become fairly commonplace, if not ubiquitous, in the two to three decades after the Nautilus; and by now, fast reactors and small-pellet reactors would be pretty common... which would do a lot to mitigate the downside of high levels of nuclear power generation.

[Aaron]

Oh I wasn't disagreeing with you MIkey, just pimping a cool site that does a fair bit to show just how long lasting the effects where. It's a testament to human stupidity.

[Tsukiyumi]

In that case, we'd be in even better shape than just having widespread nuclear power. Nuclear power generation would have become fairly commonplace, if not ubiquitous, in the two to three decades after the Nautilus; ...

I want a nuclear powered car.

[Tyyr]

I want a nuclear powered car.

It's a Ford.

[Sionnach Glic]

Actually, it's a Cadillac. And it's pretty sexy.