the splitting of the atom, the debate surrounding nuclear power has been at the

very heart of our existence. Given our seemingly insatiable need for cheap and

abundant energy, that debate is about to be renewed.

Topic: Yet most of us have no real idea of what nuclear energy is. We have little idea how it is developed nor do we understand how it is used. We have vague ideas

about the bomb and indeed on radiation. In order to take part in that vital debate, we should all know where nuclear energy comes from, how it may help us

and what some of the risks involved are.

Preview: There is no escaping the contribution of nuclear power to our society. Currently

the 20% of the US electricity is produced by nuclear reactors. There are more

than 400 nuclear power stations throughout the world, producing 17% of its

electricity. In the US there are more than 100 operating nuclear plants. France

sits alone in supplying 77% of its electricity through nuclear energy. Japan, a

country with little natural fossil fuel r

cost in terms of the disruption caused by displacement in the environment. Yet

controlled and regulated fashion, it can be harnessed for peaceful and extremely

especially so given the possibilities of global warming generated by our burning

Suggested burial in deep chambers underground has caused much of the controversy

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Fuel Cycle, Attention Getter, Pennsylvania Chernobyl, nuclear power, nuclear energy, power stations, nuclear power stations, development nuclear, splitting atom, mining uranium, highly radioactive, nuclear fission, development nuclear power, nuclear power generation, nuclear program, bundles uranium, nuclear power plant,