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in this respect in, e.g. Japan. It is an example to be followed by other
countries.
However, these measures do not protect us from the so-called
greenhouse effect the warming of the earth's atmosphere
to which
the carbon dioxide from fossil fuel burning will be a main contributor.
And you cannot practically avoid huge quantities of CO2 when you burn
fossil fuels.
In order to convince people that nuclear waste disposal technology
is viable, actual demonstration is needed. In Sweden, a large disposal
facility is now being built for low-level wastes, and off-site interim
storages for spent fuel are being constructed in several countries.
countries are also moving closer to the actual construction of facilities
for disposal of high level wastes in deep geological formations.
Some
As regards safety, Chernobyl certainly was a very serious
industrial accident. But even considering possible additional cases of
radiation-induced cancer, the accident was not worse than the chemical
factory accident at Bhopal in India in 1985, and much less severe than
many dam breaks which have occurred. Even Chernobyl must be calmly and
correctly assessed. The situation there is also returning towards
normality. The damaged unit has been entombed and two of the four units
have been started up again. A large part of the area between 10 and 30
km from the plant has been cleaned up and is inhabitable again.
The risks of one industry must be compared with those in other
industries. It gives some perspective of reality. In the nuclear field
have to recognize, however, that even if nuclear power comes out well in
safety comparisons with other industries, accidents which lead to many