Publisher's Synopsis
"The recent debate on nuclear energy - all too often - has degenerated into name-calling and slogans on all sides. As nuclear issues have become more conspicuous and more pressing, they have also, unfortunately, become more polarized. People whose opinions differ seem less and less willing to give each other a hearing." These words were written before Chernobyl and the invasion of Kuwait, since then the need has intensified far a fair-minded, non-technical book which sets out facts and the two sides of the debate. What will happen if we continue to rely on fossil fuels? What are the safety factors affecting nuclear reactors? How is the industry linked to nuclear weaponry? What are the costs of substituting nuclear for conventional power sources? Peter King makes it clear that there are no easy answers to the questions raised by the invention of nuclear power. He outlines the various shades of opinion clearly and simply so that non-technical readers can understand the arguments and come to their own conclusions.