PM Lee says S'pore must study nuclear option
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I haven’t made up my mind about nuclear energy in Singapore’s context.
But in response to those who say that we should seek to reduce our energy consumption, I’d like to highlight that while that is surely a worthy goal (and something that government has been gradually encouraging), it relies on many individuals and their enlightened self-interest. The government cannot sit around and wait, hoping for all Singaporeans to reduce, reuse and recycle. What if it never happens?
In the meantime, fossil fuels will get more and more expensive. This does not simply mean that we will experience slower growth. It may also mean we experience no growth or a contraction in our economy in the long-run. And as we become increasingly reliant on imports of fossil fuels, we will also become increasingly dependent on the states which supply us with these, states which may not necessarily be keen on seeing us do well. (Just look at the angst we had in our relationship with Malaysia over water.)
The thing is, our generation may not live to see this played out, but our children will. The issue is not whether we go nuclear or not. It is how we are going to secure our energy needs. A full study of alternative fuels should be studied. And, it is within this context that we need our government to look at nuclear as well as other sources. We cannot simply say no to nuclear without careful consideration simply because of fears of a Fukushima. This would be almost superstitious. How many of us actually know anything about nuclear energy? (reading about Fukushima doesn’t count because it is in the media’s DNA to focus on the disaster aspects of the event) If we don’t, how can we then simply shut off that option because we fear? I want to know our options, the alternatives. I want to know the risks. I want to know how we can reduce risks, and by how much. Only then can I make an informed decision as to how to move forward on this issue.
(ps: on the issue of solar energy, I understand that although we seem to get a lot of sunlight here, it is hard to harness because we also have lots of cloud cover, making it an uncertain source of serious energy. And solar energy also requires quite a lot of space. I’m not saying we can’t go solar. Just pointing out that it’s not so straightforward. Certainly, this is something we should expect the government to look at as well.) -
WeiHan:
ksi. There are not much incentives for you to stay in a modern city then. It might be better for you to migrate to a remote village. However, living in a village not only meant forsake certain technological luxuries but you will have to put up with \"low technological\" jobs to make a living.[/quote]Grow organic foodstuff and earn $$$$, create back-to nature homestay, sure to attract many pple. The kampong homestay in M'sia is gaining popularity.ksi:
[quote]But from someone who live in singapore who enjoy air-con everywhere from offices to shopping centers and MRT, and beside that enjoy plasma TV, big fridges at home, modern medical care such as surgeries that was once impossible etc..and even the fact that we are able to sit behind something call the PC and using something call internet to post these messages in this forum. Can we ask ourselves whether we can forsake all these?
Yes I can forego.....
1. If ventilation is good and fans are installed in replacement, I can accept these at home. The other thing is to bathe multiple times a day.....But life has to slow down to in order to do things more manually. In public places, if someone stinks, I think no aircon place is better too, at least the stale air can flow away... :rotflmao:
2. the shopping centres...I think there are simply too many at this point.
3. TV is not an essential for us and we don't own a plasma still. :lol: I must be the only one having an ancient TV at home.
4. Personally we don't even have space for a big fridge....so that is again non issue.
5. Lastly, Internet communication is also not critical to me no matter how much I adore KSP.com. There is also a thing called telephone. In fact, the more accessibility, the more we waste electricity by using it unnecessarily. Especially for social networking, I prefer the traditional way. I am one who is widely exposed to technology and yet found many technological creation unnecessary or rather good-to-have, especially the online games and social networking. Lifestyles actually become unhealthy because of that, so why feel the pinch to let it go?
So Stone-age lifestyle feasibility study, anyone?
I also dun have big plasma tv. I think we are offered so many technological stuff that many think we will get bored or become helpless without them. I don't like 3D cinema, nor see the need to buy a 3D tv at home. I'm surrounded by 3D in real life, why do I need to buy?
I don't have cable, no PSP, no ipad, no gaming, no iphone , you get the idea. I'm not against technology but there's no need to be slave to it. -
MummyThreeStreams:
What if figurative speaking, a rogue regime takes over our neighbouring country and sends a missile right into our reactor? Or a hijacked plane crashes into it? Unless I can be convinced that modern 4th gen nuclear reactors can withstand such an attack, it'll always be extremely unnerving to me.I haven't made up my mind about nuclear energy in Singapore's context.
But in response to those who say that we should seek to reduce our energy consumption, I'd like to highlight that while that is surely a worthy goal (and something that government has been gradually encouraging), it relies on many individuals and their enlightened self-interest. The government cannot sit around and wait, hoping for all Singaporeans to reduce, reuse and recycle. What if it never happens?
And the simple reason for my fear - don't think I'm superstitious - is, we must always prepare for the worst scenario. And in the worst scenario, there is nowhere for us to run. -
SAHM_TAN:
Your idea about growing food is good because we are getting lack of food worldwide. But even for growing food nowaday, we are talking about using modern technology to make the growing and harvesting economical. Without being economical would mean that your output is small and that will mean that you will be making peanut, the real peanut, not that BIG peanut.
Grow organic foodstuff and earn $$$$, create back-to nature homestay, sure to attract many pple. The kampong homestay in M'sia is gaining popularity.
I also dun have big plasma tv. I think we are offered so many technological stuff that many think we will get bored or become helpless without them. I don't like 3D cinema, nor see the need to buy a 3D tv at home. I'm surrounded by 3D in real life, why do I need to buy?
I don't have cable, no PSP, no ipad, no gaming, no iphone , you get the idea. I'm not against technology but there's no need to be slave to it.
When we are talking about technology, don't be limited and misled that it just means plasma tv and internet connection for entertainment purpose. These technology which includes transportation, agriculture, fast communication etc..actually reduce the cost of business which translates to productivity which in turn translate to products including those food and daily necessities that feed the world population. Without modern technology, world production will be so low that most people will live under the poverty line.
We are in fact dependent on technology to be able to provide this huge world population a reasonable comfortable life. Without them, most people in the world will be struggling even to live a decent life. I hope you understand what I meant. Technology today isn't just about entertainment. -
On 2nd thought... if our neighbour is gonna build nuclear plants... I would rather SG build one... cos' either way, we will die from nuclear... only sooner or later.
:faint: :faint: :faint: :faint: -
markfch:
The nuclear power station can be built under the ground in an offshore island, for example.
What if figurative speaking, a rogue regime takes over our neighbouring country and sends a missile right into our reactor? Or a hijacked plane crashes into it? Unless I can be convinced that modern 4th gen nuclear reactors can withstand such an attack, it'll always be extremely unnerving to me.MummyThreeStreams:
I haven't made up my mind about nuclear energy in Singapore's context.
But in response to those who say that we should seek to reduce our energy consumption, I'd like to highlight that while that is surely a worthy goal (and something that government has been gradually encouraging), it relies on many individuals and their enlightened self-interest. The government cannot sit around and wait, hoping for all Singaporeans to reduce, reuse and recycle. What if it never happens?
And the simple reason for my fear - don't think I'm superstitious - is, we must always prepare for the worst scenario. And in the worst scenario, there is nowhere for us to run. -
WeiHan:
Yes I know it's not just about entertainment. It encompasses medical, manufacturing, electronics, trading, banking, agriculture, communications, warfare, heck every aspects of life, working and liesure is supported by technology one way or another, directly or indirectly.
Your idea about growing food is good because we are getting lack of food worldwide. But even for growing food nowaday, we are talking about using modern technology to make the growing and harvesting economical. Without being economical would mean that your output is small and that will mean that you will be making peanut, the real peanut, not that BIG peanut.SAHM_TAN:
Grow organic foodstuff and earn $$$$, create back-to nature homestay, sure to attract many pple. The kampong homestay in M'sia is gaining popularity.
I also dun have big plasma tv. I think we are offered so many technological stuff that many think we will get bored or become helpless without them. I don't like 3D cinema, nor see the need to buy a 3D tv at home. I'm surrounded by 3D in real life, why do I need to buy?
I don't have cable, no PSP, no ipad, no gaming, no iphone , you get the idea. I'm not against technology but there's no need to be slave to it.
When we are talking about technology, don't be limited and misled that it just means plasma tv and internet connection for entertainment purpose. These technology which includes transportation, agriculture, fast communication etc..actually reduce the cost of business which translates to productivity which in turn translate to products including those food and daily necessities that feed the world population. Without modern technology, world production will be so low that most people will live under the poverty line.
We are in fact dependent on technology to be able to provide this huge world population a reasonable comfortable life. Without them, most people in the world will be struggling even to live a decent life. I hope you understand what I meant. Technology today isn't just about entertainment.
Our food is not real anymore, they are modified to grow better, to \"defend\" against insects, to be harvested all year round. I know I know, the population, the hunger. But there is still hunger, pple still die of hunger, does it mean we do not have enough technology or that we are not managing the politics and food well or that it's the particular country's fault?
Economics and productivity is not about keeping pple fed, it's about wealth generation and power, and therein lies the problem.
There are many levels of technology.
We have different perspectives on what's a sustainable lifestyle.
There's the economic and personal aspects. I think on the personal level, we can make choices to depend less on technology that has bigger impact on the environment. For EXAMPLE: there's no reason why we can't cycle, no ERP, no road tax, no COE, and other expenses, now isn't that a big plus? Of course if there's a critical mass for cycling, then the gvt will rule that cyclist must pay ERP, COE, road tax too. :lol: A joke maybe or maybe not. :lol:
I just like to think why not possible to live in another manner, it does not have to be so extreme as to love earth must live in village, must go hungry. It is not always just one way, die die must do it this way or that way. -
WeiHan:
ksi. There are not much incentives for you to stay in a modern city then. It might be better for you to migrate to a remote village. However, living in a village not only meant forsake certain technological luxuries but you will have to put up with \"low technological\" jobs to make a living.http://i.ytimg.com/vi/PeZPuGsj3vo/0.jpg\"> whatche talking about Wei Han?
I am simply stating that I am adaptable. :laugh: Why should I need incentives to live in a place I call home? I have contributed significantly to the modernization of this city. In fact, I do share some regrets in driving the acceleration with the vision. :lol: Of course if I have not done it, someone else would still have done it, a matter of time. -
MummyThreeStreams:
Reduce Re-use Recycle, tio, but we dont care....
cannot sit around and wait, hoping for all Singaporeans to reduce, reuse and recycle. What if it never happens?
...
our children's problem? I not sure, I worry oso.
nuclear energy scary, but what else can singapore rely on?
solar panels on HDB rooftop is not enough to power the lifts.
we walk the stairs? -
wapobs:
I agree. If they are so successful in driving 'two is enough', 'Speak Mandarin, no dialects\"...they can also drive 'reduce, reuse and recycle'....I believe in them....
Reduce Re-use Recycle, tio, but we dont care.MummyThreeStreams:
...
cannot sit around and wait, hoping for all Singaporeans to reduce, reuse and recycle. What if it never happens?
...
our children's problem? I not sure, I worry oso.
nuclear energy scary, but what else can singapore rely on?
solar panels on HDB rooftop is not enough to power the lifts.
we walk the stairs? -
ksi:
I was about to say that.....even if many of us are adaptable and don't mind shifting to remote villages, wouldn't villages be over populated then, just like the cities, and will acquire many of the problems that modern cities have?
I am simply stating that I am adaptable. :laugh: Why should I need incentives to live in a place I call home? I have contributed significantly to the modernization of this city. In fact, I do share some regrets in driving the acceleration with the vision. :lol: Of course if I have not done it, someone else would still have done it, a matter of time. -
Bad news. The Fuku disaster just got worst. Just when we thought things are under control; this latest news is really freaking me out.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8565020/Nuclear-fuel-has-melted-through-base-of-Fukushima-plant.html
Nuclear fuel has melted through base of Fukushima plant
The nuclear fuel in three of the reactors at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant has melted through the base of the pressure vessels and is pooling in the outer containment vessels, according to a report by the Japanese government.
Cracks where air is leaking on the main exhaust duct of the No.4 reactor at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant Photo: REUTERS
By Julian Ryall, Tokyo
1:06AM BST 09 Jun 2011
The findings of the report, which has been given to the International Atomic Energy Agency, were revealed by the Yomiuri newspaper, which described a \"melt-through\" as being \"far worse than a core meltdown\" and \"the worst possibility in a nuclear accident.\"
A spokesman for Tokyo Electric Power Co. said the company is presently revising the road-map for bringing the plant under control, including the time required to achieve cold shutdown of the reactors.
In a best-case scenario, the company says it will be able to achieve that by October, although that may have to be revised in light of the report.
Water that was pumped into the pressure vessels to cool the fuel rods, becoming highly radioactive in the process, has been confirmed to have leaked out of the containment vessels and outside the buildings that house the reactors.
Tepco said it is trying to contain the contaminated water and prevent it from leaking into the sea, but elevated levels of radiation have been confirmed in the ocean off the plant.
The radiation will also have contaminated the soil and plant and animal life around the facility, making the task of cleaning up more difficult and expensive, as well as taking longer.
The experts have also yet to come up with a plan for decommissioning the ruined plant. Studies have estimated that the cost of the accident at Fukushima may rise as high as $250 billion over the next 10 years.
The pressure vessel of the No. 1 reactor is now believed to have suffered damage just five hours after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, contrary to an estimation released by Tepco, which estimated the failure at 15 hours later.
Melt-downs of the fuel in the No. 2 and No. 3 reactors followed over the following days with the molten fuel collecting at the bottom of the pressure vessels before burning through and into the external steel containment vessels.
The fuel appears to be stable at present as it is being cooled by water pumped into the vessels, although it will complicate the emergency recovery plan put forward by the government.
The report comes after Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency doubled its initial estimate of the amount of radioactivity that was released from the plant in the days immediately after it was destroyed by the tsunami.
In early April, the agency said some 370,000 terabecquerels escaped from the facility. It now believes that figure was 770,000 terabecquerels. One terabecquerel is a trillion becquerels, the standard measure of radiation, while the permissible level of iodine-131 for vegetables and fish is 2,000 becquerels per kilogram.
Combined, the two announcements will raise further questions about the true scale of the problem at the plant and the measures being taken to get the situation under control.
\"The recovery effort at the plant is likely to be more difficult as they will not be able to use their previous plan to contain the fuel,\" Yoshiaki Oka, a professor of nuclear science at Tokyo's Waseda University told The Daily Telegraph.
\"So it may take longer and be more difficult, but it is something they have to do.
\"But we now know that this happened at the very beginning of the accident, so I see no particular additional effects on human health,\" he said. -
" shake head "…
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*worried* :slapshead:
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wah. i thought they have been making progress at cooling/recovering the situation since there hasnt been any news abt it in the media.
hope they will be able to lessen the damage.