daniel

1...

My username references former president Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1954 Atoms For Peace speech and following campaign. I reference it ironically. Briefly, the Atoms For Peace campaign attempts to ease American Cold War fears surrounding nuclear weapons by presenting nuclear energy as a peaceful alternative use of the atom. Atoms For Peace feels like a nice bit of Nuclear Industry PR that is comparable to an influencer apology video after their grossly offensive tweet from less than a year ago goes viral online.

...2

I am not exactly FOR nuclear power. I am enthused about nuclear history and I find the basic related science interesting.

I'll attempt to be breif. The American nuclear industry has quite the history of dabbling in the sport of exploitation. Exploitation that has predominantly impacted Native American communities and other native populations of "U.S. territories" (one well-illustrated example being the U.S. military's treatment of the natives of Bikini Atoll following World War II). Also on-the-nose but loosened restrictions that allow hastily constructed plants and premature operation ≠ prioritizing safety. In reality and to everyone's suprise loosened restrictions that allow hastily constructed plants and premature operation = bigger bucks & perkier profits.

Every year I watch/read segments/articles produced by American news outlets that recall the tragedy of the 1986 Challenger accident. Which to be clear, should NOT be forgotten. My issue? The same news outlets make no mention of the Chornobyl accident that occurred during the same year, the same spring. Major U.S. news outlets fail to annually recognize the significance of the Chornobyl accident coincidentally as the U.S. nuclear industry is experiencing a good uptick in investment and general interest. And thank god! Because I love my local nuclear-powered AI data center and this is EXTREMELY sarcastic I am sorry

My point being... Ethnocentrism runs wild crazy rampant in the states. Selfishness destroys and ignorance allows destruction. Not a great set of elements to mash together when dealing with something that has the potential to make the Earth uninhabitable for lifetimes upon lifetimes upon lifetimes...