Nuclear Power is not the Answer (2006)

By Helen Caldicott

The world-renowned antinuclear activist’s “expertly argued” (“The Guardian”) case against nuclear energy.
In a world torn apart by wars over oil, politicians have increasingly begun to look for alternative energy sources–and their leading choice is nuclear energy. Among the myths that have been spread over the years about nuclear-powered electricity are that it does not cause global warming or pollution, that it is inexpensive, and that it is safe.
Helen Caldicott’s look at the actual costs and environmental consequences of nuclear energy belies the incessant barrage of nuclear industry propaganda. Caldicott “reveals truths,” Martin Sheen has said, “that confirm we must take positive action now if we are to make a difference.” In fact, nuclear power contributes to global warming; the true cost of nuclear power is prohibitive, with taxpayers picking up most of the tab; there’s simply not enough uranium in the world to sustain nuclear power over the long term; and the potential for a catastrophic accident or a terrorist attack far outweighs any benefits. Concluding chapters detail alternative sustainable energy sources that are the key to a clean, green future.

Helen Caldicott is an internationally recognized antinuclear activist, cofounder of Physicians for Social Responsibility, and founder of the Women s Action for Nuclear Disarmament and the International Physicians to Save the Environment and founded the Women’s Action for Nuclear Disarmament (WAND) in the US She was the recipient of the 2003 Lannan Prize for Cultural Freedom. Dr Caldicott currently divides her time between Australia and the US where she lectures widely. In 2001 she founded the US-based Nuclear Policy Research Institute (NPRI), which became  Beyond Nuclear. Currently, Dr Caldicott is President of The Helen CaldicottFoundation/NuclearFreePlanet.org, which  initiates symposiums and other educational projects  to inform the public and the media  of the dangers of nuclear power and weapons. The mission of the Foundation is education to action, and the promotion of a nuclear-energy and weapons-free, renewable energy powered, world.