More No New Nukes in India

More on the left dissent for new nukes in India.

The Myth of Free Nuclear Energy - Political Affairs Magazine - 23 Oct 07

"The Congress Party and its spokespersons have been on overdrive selling a number of myths about the benefits of the India-US Nuclear Deal. Foremost in that has been that of a mythical nuclear bus, which if we do not hop on right now, will leave us in permanent electricity deficit. The bus apparently carries free nuclear energy; all we need to do to tap into this free source of energy is hop on to the bus. In this spin, it is this intransigent Left, stuck in a time warp, which is causing India to miss the bus. The media has been lapping up this vision of free nuclear energy, without any application of either mind or checking up on the facts of nuclear energy. Given the wide-spread credence that the myths about nuclear energy are being given, we are now forced to spend some of our energy on de-constructing these myths."

The author goes on to list and analyze the following "myths" about the 123 Agreement:

1.  The 123 Agreement will give us additional 40,000 MW of nuclear energy.
2.  There is a nuclear renaissance in the world and all countries are turning to nuclear energy.
3.  Nuclear power is going to be cheaper than coal as it has very low operating costs.
4.  We will run out of coal in 50 years, so we need to build nuclear plants now.
5.  We need nuclear energy to reduce global warming.

"To justify the nuclear deal, they have constructed a huge but imaginary shortfall in the year 2031-32, then zeroed in on nuclear energy -- that too with imported reactors -- as the only path to salvation. Once this false future of calamitous shortages is created, it's that much easier to rush the country into hasty decisions."

More No New Nukes in India

More on the left dissent for new nukes in India.

The Myth of Free Nuclear Energy - Political Affairs Magazine - 23 Oct 07

"The Congress Party and its spokespersons have been on overdrive selling a number of myths about the benefits of the India-US Nuclear Deal. Foremost in that has been that of a mythical nuclear bus, which if we do not hop on right now, will leave us in permanent electricity deficit. The bus apparently carries free nuclear energy; all we need to do to tap into this free source of energy is hop on to the bus. In this spin, it is this intransigent Left, stuck in a time warp, which is causing India to miss the bus. The media has been lapping up this vision of free nuclear energy, without any application of either mind or checking up on the facts of nuclear energy. Given the wide-spread credence that the myths about nuclear energy are being given, we are now forced to spend some of our energy on de-constructing these myths."

The author goes on to list and analyze the following "myths" about the 123 Agreement:

1.  The 123 Agreement will give us additional 40,000 MW of nuclear energy.
2.  There is a nuclear renaissance in the world and all countries are turning to nuclear energy.
3.  Nuclear power is going to be cheaper than coal as it has very low operating costs.
4.  We will run out of coal in 50 years, so we need to build nuclear plants now.
5.  We need nuclear energy to reduce global warming.

"To justify the nuclear deal, they have constructed a huge but imaginary shortfall in the year 2031-32, then zeroed in on nuclear energy -- that too with imported reactors -- as the only path to salvation. Once this false future of calamitous shortages is created, it's that much easier to rush the country into hasty decisions."