Nuclear Energy Essay Example for Free

Nuclear Energy Essay An Argumentative Essay â€Å"Use of Nuclear Energy: Safe or Not?† 23 Aug Most countries today are becoming more and more dependent on nuclear power as a source of energy because of its high energy output and the availability of uranium used for fuelling nuclear reactors that generate power to provide electricity in households. Although using nuclear power as a source of energy has benefits like this, the danger posed by using nuclear power is very eminent. This was demonstrated in the recent Fukushima daiichi nuclear reactor crisis wherein the reactors as of March 24, 2011 at Fukushima emitted 30,000 to 110,000 TBq of Iodine 131 much higher compared to Chernobyl’s 760 PBq or 400 kg of I-131, 85 PBq Cs-137 (Shimbun, 2011). Another widely known nuclear reactor accident was the Chernobyl disaster that occurred on April 26, 1986 (Black, 2011). Threats not only exists in accidents like the ones mentioned, but also threats exists not only from terrorists but also from other countries who have acquired or made nuclear weapons. An all out war will probably see the use of nuclear weapons against each nation’s enemy resulting in a nuclear holocaust. Millions of people will die not only from the initial explosions of the nuclear bombs but also from the following nuclear fallout that will cause widespread radiation sickness. A German study showed that there is a statistically significant increase solid cancers (54%), and in leukemia (76%) in children aged less than 5 within 5 km of 15 German nuclear power plant sites (Fairlie, 2009). Use of nuclear energy has two advantages over fossil-fuel plants. (1) Nuclear reactors use less fuel than a fossil-fuel plant to generate the same amount of energy a fossil-fuel plant generates. The fissioning of 1 metric ton of uranium fuel provides the same amount of heat energy as burning of 3 million metric tons of coal or 12 million barrels of oil. (2) Uranium, unlike fossil fuels, does not produce chemical or solid pollutants that are released into the air. (World Book Encyclopedia, 1996). The trade-off is that (1) nuclear plants costs more to build than fossil-fuel plants. (2) Nuclear plants are potentially hazardous. In order for a nuclear plant to be built, it first has to pass several government requirements that a fossil-fuel plant does not have to meet. Nuclear plants must pass government tests before a certain nuclear plant maybe deemed safe to start operation. In addition to that  there have been already many serious accidents involving nuclear plants like the Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster in 1986 and the more recent Fukushima daiichi plant in Japan that has already reached a certain level of severity making it as much or more disastrous that the Chernobyl accident causing widespread opposition against the building of more nuclear plants. (3) Uranium that is used for continues to emit radiation long after it has been used up posing dangers to any community close to the nuclear plants. Although experts argue that nuclear power should be used as a source of energy because it is a clean source of energy and does not produce any chemical or solid pollutants, the uranium that is used in fuelling the nuclear plants still remains radioactive and can still harm the surrounding community. To make it worse, the problem of nuclear waste disposal has not yet been solved. A number of solutions have been proposed like geological disposal wherein th e radioactive waste is buried 500 to 1000 meters below the ground or the more complicated and costly space disposal of nuclear wastes. The latter being too costly because of the technology needed to be developed and financed to efficiently dispose the wastes. Proponents of the use of nuclear energy as a source of energy state that nuclear energy is the safest energy option. This, however, is contradicted and is shown to be questionable by the past nuclear plant accidents. Also, uranium, the source needed to power a nuclear plant to generate electricity itself is dangerous. The threat of nuclear terrorism also exists as terrorists can use radioactive nuclear wastes in building nuclear weapons for self-interests which in turn can cause a nuclear war that has the potential to wipeout the human race from the face of the earth. Summarizing and analysis of the pros and cons of the use of nuclear power, we can see that the sinister consequences of the decision to use nuclear power far outweigh the advantages of using such sources of energy. Continued use of nuclear power could lead to more severe types of accidents with ef fects that can not be irreversible. Countries world wide should research on better and safer sources of energy rather than risking the lives of millions of people just to generate the energy needed to supply our daily energy requirements.

Scientology Essay example -- essays research papers

Scientology is a fairly new religion. Founded in the twentieth-century by a man by the name of L. Ron Hubbard. He began his studies long ago and wrote a book in 1950 called Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. He claimed that this book was one of the first tools used to solve the problems of the mind. This book focused on irrational mind, war, crime, and insanity. Mr. Hubbard designed this book so that anyone can use it to improve oneself. He did not stop at Dianetics, however, he felt that there were still some issues that had to be addressed. He was now going to try to figure out the nature of the human being, what makes up our â€Å"being.† Mr. Hubbard combined religion, philosophy, and his theory of dianetics and came up with Scientology. Mr. Hubbard had a unique life. He was born in Tilden, Nebraska, the son of a naval commander Harry Ross Hubbard and Ledora May Hubbard. L. Ron Hubbard was born on March 13, 1911. When he was about two his family moved to Montana where he learned to be a rough western cowboy. His mother was thoroughly educated woman. She taught him how to read and write at an early age. L. Ron Hubbard was said to have an avid interest in life at an early age. When his father’s naval career required that they move away from Montana, his mother was responsible to teach him the schooling he missed. When Ron was twelve the family moved to Seattle, Washington. Ron got the liberty to be associated with many different types of people such as the Blackfoot Indians, Beijing magician, Chinese magicians, and studying Buddhists. He enrolled at George Washington University, his father put him into mathematics and engineering. Now he learned how to take the scientific approach to solving problems. He became more and more interested in the way the mind works. He would ask the professors at George Washington University and they could not give him an answer, so he came up with the idea that the western culture did not understand a thing about the mind. He believed that it was his duty to explore the mind and to tell the western world how it works. This is when he came up with dianetics and then eventually the religion of scientology. Scientology consists of eight dynamics. With these dynamics, a person realizes that his life extends beyond himself. The first dynamic is â€Å"self.† This teaches you to survive as an individual. Taking care of such thi... ... deal with life here on earth and teaches people how to become better people. Improving conditions here on earth is the foremost important thing to fix. Scientology seems to address this issue with full force. It uses modern technology, and knowledge of how human relations to improve the quality of life of people who chose to follow Scientology. In the description of L. Ron Hubbard, I was disgusted. They made it sound like he was this extremely smart guy. When he started studying the mind and the way it works, he noticed that the western society knew nothing about it. He sounded pompous when he said â€Å"it was very obvious that I was dealing with and living in a culture which knew less about the mind than the lowest primitive tribe I had ever come in contact with†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I did not like this at all. He sounds like a very arrogant man. Arrogant in a cocky way. In doing research I noticed that all of his followers seem to have the same attitude. I find that it is funny that they are so dedicated to following a man who was born in the twentieth-century. He is an ordinary man who happened to be exceptionally smart. He is a business man who is good at persuading people and wants to make money.

Current Event on India Essay

India is seeking information from China as to why their balance of trade is so skewed. China has been exporting to India far more than it has been importing. This scenario has been reflected globally, with many countries wondering why China has reduced their imports so much. China has also put a ban on Indian Iron Ore, their main export, causing more tension between the new countries. China professes to be increasing their trade annually, pulling them out of the worldwide recession, but many economists and financial experts, including some within China itself, are skeptical as to the legitimacy of these statements. This article relates to our international economics unit that we just completed. China has put a ban on iron ore and slackened their rate of import of Indian goods, causing a problem in their balance of trade. The article was easy to follow and understand due to the lesson that we just completed on trade barriers. The article also shows how government as well as business has a role in promoting trade and controlling the amount of trade that occurs between specific countries. I feel that China is being unfair to India by not granting them the information that they request. Refusing to trade with a country is one thing, but severely reducing trade without an explanation is uncalled for and suspicious. Their decisions regarding imports and exports affect a massive part of the world economy because of their economic strength. Their ban on Iron Ore from India is specifically detrimental to India’s balance of trade because of its dependency on the demand for iron ore as an export. With China being one of its largest consumers, this severely impedes India’s development. As an Indian economic analyst, I would be seriously questioning China’s intentions after this move.

The Legend Of The Magician - 1117 Words

Merlin the Magician in an important fictional character throughout legends and history. He is known as a powerful sorcerer and a mentor for the future King Arthur. His magical abilities include shapeshifting, spells, and foresight. According to legend, Merlin was born during the rule of King Vortigern, a 5th century warlord, in Carmarthen, Wales. He was given the name Myrddin Emrys, or Ambrosius, by his mother, the princess of Dyfed, whose father was a sub-king (King’s second in command). Merlin isn’t just a character from the Arthurian Legends, â€Å"Writer Geoffrey of Monmouth is credited with creating Merlin in his 1136 A.D. work, Historia Regum Britanniae - The History of Kings of Britain. While a large portion of Historia Regum Britanniae is a historical account of former kings of Britain, Merlin was included as a fictional character (although it is likely that Geoffrey intended for readers to believe he was a figure extracted from long-lost ancient texts).† (Ancient Origins, The legendary Origins of Merlin the Magician) This places his first appearance in the early 10th century, since then Merlin has been in several different stories other than the Legend of King Arthur. Merlin was derived from several different people scattered through history and legend. These include the Myrddin Wyllt, a madman, Romano, a British war leader, and trickster Ambrosius Aurelianus, for who Merlin was named. There are three people who share the exact same story. They were the welsh Myrddin,Show MoreRelatedHoudini vs. Copperfield1016 Words   |  5 PagesCopperfield Have you ever wondered what kind a person would want to be a magician? There are two famous magicians that pretty much everyone knows. One of them is Harry Houdini who is the most renowned magician known to date (HOUDINI: Harry Houdini Biography Houdini Magic). Houdini had a father that was a Rabbi and six siblings. The other magician is would be David Copperfield, who is the most successful magicians that we know of and he made the Statue of Liberty disappear (Top 10 GreatestRead MoreComplex Characters In The Arthurian Legend : Merlin And Taliesin767 Words   |  4 PagesMerlin and Taliesin In Arthurian legend, there are many tales of magic and adventure. One of the best aspects of the stories are the whimsical and complex characters. Often, characters’ and their identities change from version to version, creating confusion about their origin and roles in stories. Merlin, the wondrous and wise magician, and Taliesin, the inspirational historian and all-knowing bard, are some of the most versatile individuals in the stories. The mysteries of Merlin, TaliesinRead MoreChristian Tradition and Non-Christian Tradition are Two Magical Traditions in Marlowes Faust1535 Words   |  6 Pagesliterature. Their searches for Faust’s beginnings often turn up magicians. The historical Johann Faustus, a sixteenth-century charlatan who wandered across Germany, who exercised a minimum of pharmaceutical knowledge†¦with a maximum amount of malice,† was himself a magician. E. M. Butler, in The Myth of the Magus, links Faust with a broad number of magicians extending back to Moses and others. Other scholars, seeing the Faust legend as a Christian story, seek Fausts roots in a more limited way.Read MoreThe Myth and Reality of Merlin Essay1348 Words   |  6 PagesThe Myth and Reality of Merlin Reality? Merlin, the greatest magician of all time. He lived, if indeed he lived at all, in Wales and southern England during the dawn of Christianity in those lands, long before written historical records were kept. Yet, his name is universally recognized around the world as synonymous with magic, and his popular image is almost as well known as that of Santa Claus. The beginning and ends of all things are all within Merlins sight. he keeps the propheciesRead More King Arthur Essay1664 Words   |  7 PagesKing Arthur Since the romanticizing of the Arthurian legends by Geoffery of Monmouth, the historian, during the twelfth century, the legendary king of England has been the source of inspiration for kings, poets, artists and dreamers alike. The most famous work is probably Sir Thomas Malorys Le Morte dArthur, completed around 1470, and published in many abridged and complete versions. Malorys work contains in one the legend that had been continually added to over the years by manyRead MoreThe Philosophy Behind Phantoms A Ghost 1416 Words   |  6 Pagesin the White House (History 3). Spirits can resemble a great diversity of people from the greatest leaders, to the poorest old man. Not to mention, ghost stories and hauntings come around, frightening people to believe in their existence. A few legends and folklore have became popular over the years. One of the most common beliefs is which a person may sneeze, another says bless you. This is said because sneezing lets his or her soul out, allowing wicked specters to infiltrate (Stone 8). ThereRead MoreThe History of the Illuminati Essays557 Words   |  3 Pagesimportant secretive groups and the most famous Illuminati Illuminati was a term first used by Spanish occultists toward the end of the fifteenth century to signify those alchemists and magicians who appeared to possess the â€Å"light† of spiritual illumination from a higher source. The Spanish referred to these alchemists and magicians as antichrists. An antichrist is a great personal opponent of Christ who will spread evil throughout the world before being conquered at Christs Second Coming. Amongst these antiRead MoreDifference Between Illusion And Reality In The Great Gatsby1024 Words   |  5 Pagesso False it is not even close to the everyday life of a normal American, so from the day we’re old enough to watch tv we are exposed to illusion. The title â€Å"The Great Gatsby† is an accurate title for this book because it depicts Gatsby correctly; Magicians are viewed in admiration because of their performances. F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts Jay Gatsby the same way. F. Scott Fitzgerald creates the ultimate illusion with the character Jay Gatsby; everyone believes he is a good man on the outside, butRead MoreSignificance And Significance Of Mythology1743 Words   |  7 PagesMediterranean world, that is, a belief in magic reflects a belief in deities and the divine. In Arthurian legends, themes of Magical Power are everywhere. Even before Arthur s birth his destiny is shaped by the wizard Merlin, who later serves as the king s adviser and helper. Another powerful magical figure is the witch Morgan Le Fay, who works for good in some versions of the legends and for evil in others. She is sometimes referred to as Arthur s half sister. Celtic Myths are also full ofRead MoreArthurian Legend - Essay1388 Words   |  6 PagesArthurian Legend,  group  of  tales  in  several languages that concern the legendary King Arthur of the Britons, his realm, and the knights of his inner circle. The legend is one of the most enduring tales in recorded history. It first appeared in the 5th or 6th century ad and took its basic form between the 12th and 15th centuries. It continues as a popular subject in modern times. The  legend  presents  Arthur as a leader in ancient times who defeats the Saxons and other enemies. He thereby unites