X-Message-Number: 20649
Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 07:55:11 -0500
From: Thomas Donaldson <>
Subject: CryoNet #20639 - #20646

Hi everyone!

Funny thing about nuclear power: another recent study by people
independent of the industry (academics) concludes that nuclear
reactors with the kind of protection US nuclear reactors have
would be very poor targets for terrorism. I'm very busy with
another project (the next PERIASTRON) but promise to give a 
citation of this study soon.

But here's the basic argument: all that protective enclosure
which such reactors already have makes it hard to bust them
with a bomb. And especially now, after 9/11, infiltrating one
so you can commit suicide by making it "blow up" would be
very hard. Not only  that, but the reactor is designed so
that it cannot literally blow up.

As for using reprocessed fuels, to my own mind that seems 
an unreasonable fear. There are lots of easier ways to 
cause widespread damage, and those with access to fission
elements don't seem to want to give them away to others
very freely at all. Some without them might SAY that they
would if they had them (Saddam Hussein?) but a little
thought will tell them that by doing that they lose
control over them, and might find their own bombs made
ready for them right in their own bedroom.

As for fusion, that's good too, even though there will be radioactivity
around the early fusion reactors too. Fusion power even gives us an
interesting comparison with cryonics: its been under research for
MANY years now, on the edge of success. For some reason no one
objects either to this research or to the fact that it has not
yet eventuated in a working fusion reactor providing power. Hmmm.

          Best wishes and long long life for all,

               Thomas Donaldson

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