Hyrichter, I remember reading that for a similar paper back in 2000. Was more towards the actual material dynamics and energy produced, but did similar research.
Remember when that accident happened, the media had a frenzy over it. While it was a fairly tragic accident, the underlaying fact was that the environment on the whole is not actually as damaged as people believed.
Hiroshima is a very good example of the fact that "Nuclear Winter" is more of a scare tactic, and the overal reality is that areas are affected temporarily by lethal radiation from such inccidents.
While the radioactive materials do have half-lives of around 3,000 years for effects to disappate; what people forget is that they're infused (because of the fusion technique used to create the controlled power release) and isn't the same as free radiation which is very quickly disappated.
Areas can very quickly become habitable after a nuclear event within a matter of months to a safe level, and around 3-4years before the effects become almost untracable.
Nuclear power is still by far one of the cleanest and best ways to provide energy. I wouldn't trust it outside of a controlled situation, but within a large controlled situation is still has the best potencial.
A nuclear event like that in Cheynoble, actually caused less environmental damage than an oil rig that catches fire. It also has less potencial for such an event to happen given build up time to a nuclear even isn't instantaneous meaning measures can still be taken to try to prevent such issues.
Also another point is that Nuclear Waste IS cleanable. It is entirely possible to destroy it's radioactive properties, the only reason that it isn't done in general everyday nuclear power-stations is because of the cost. Interestingly enough as well, unlike Coal and Oil which are very rare in deposites; it is possible to create power-grade uranium synthetically. Again not done due to costs.
Still never will be *as* clean as Wind, Water or Solar energy.
Interesing fact, 25% of the UKs energy comes from such devices; can't remember the nuclear percentage, but it's not that high iirc. Hense why the governments trying to lobby for more nuclear plants to replace the current coal ones.
More interesting still, the UKs overall emissions (cars, factories, power plants, etc); if they were to completely stop tomorrow it would only take China, 8days to achieve the same amount of polution we do within an entire year.
I do like the whole "energy conservation" and such... but it's unfortunate that those who are part of the G8 clean air agreement are counteries that have the lowest world-wide emissions. Craziness if you ask me. Probably will get one of those Wind Turbine things at some point when I have a house again, be a good idea given the ridiculous rises in energy prices.
Intel Pentium-D 2.8GHz, 512MB DDR2 433, Ati Radeon X1600 Pro 256MB PCI-E, Windows Vista RC1 / XP Professional SP2
