Energy demand in the U.S. and around the world is growing rapidly, along with CO2 emissions, which increase global warming. France and Ontario have shown that building nuclear reactors reduces CO2 emissions rapidly. So why aren’t other countries rapidly expanding nuclear power? Largely because of two tragic myths.
The first myth is that radioactivity is very dangerous. Fear of radioactivity is absurdly high, given actual evidence of its health risks. Even the most catastrophic nuclear accidents caused few deaths (43 following Chernobyl; 0 after Fukushima). Indeed, nuclear energy has a much better safety record than fossil fuel power plants, and it is as safe as any renewable energy. Fear of radioactivity has resulted in onerous regulations and delays, which have made nuclear power three times more expensive in the U.S. compared with South Korea.
The second myth is that renewables can meet our energy needs. Unfortunately, their low energy density requires unfeasibly large installations of solar panels, wind farms and hydroelectric dams, all immensely damaging to our environment. More serious is their intermittent energy generation, which requires them to be backed up by natural-gas-fired generators. No batteries on the scale required to overcome this intermittency are available, affordable or likely.
We should end radiation phobia and build more safe, reliable nuclear energy plants.
Robert Hargraves
Hanover
Another mass murder by a crazed person with access to guns. Twelve innocent, happy people murdered in a matter of minutes. It happens so often now it is perversely becoming a norm for our society.
Gun deaths in our country are akin to deadly diseases like Ebola in developing countries. Where does it come from? When will it happen again? Will you, a loved one, a neighbor, a friend be the next to die from it? Will your neighborhood be the next mass-murder scene?
How many must die before we collectively enact common-sense gun safety laws? Until that happens, each of us will continue to be at risk of gun violence and death wherever we gather, forced to live in this war zone called America.
Jackie Smith
Sunapee
Kudos to all who work or volunteer for Osher at Dartmouth. For those who are not familiar with Osher: It is a great organization sponsored by Dartmouth and it offers fall, winter and spring enrichment courses to residents of the Upper Valley and beyond.
Name a subject and it probably has been or will be offered in the near future. Examples: wine tasting, Italian films, gardening, history, writing and more.
Three courses I have recently attended were excellent: “The Six Wives of Henry VIII,” presented by Laurence Harper; “The New Deal, 1932-1940,” taught by Bob Jakoubek; and “The Guilded Age,” presented by Barbara Stern. It must have taken phenomenal amounts of time and research to produce these great courses. My highest regards and thanks to all those teachers, volunteers and administrators of Osher.
Bob Cattabriga
West Lebanon
Robert Pollard’s Nov. 7 Forum letter was headlined “Who Owns the Stock Market?” The simple answer is: I do, along with everyone else who invests in the many thousands of publicly traded companies in the U.S. and around the world.
It is not controlled per se by anyone or any entity — the ups and downs reported regularly are the sum total of hundred of millions of decisions made throughout the day as to own (buy or hold) or not own (sell) shares in a particular company, based upon available information about the viability of said company.
Some investors are in it for the short term and trade frequently; many others prefer the longer term approach and tend to hold shares for many years, reaping the rewards of ownership — dividends compounding and potential appreciation (growth) of the share price. It is actually a very democratic process with winners and losers all day long.
Hope this helps clarify what happens in the investing world.
David Barrell
Quechee
I want to thank all my loyal supporters, from those who stood in the pouring rain at the polls, wrote letters, drove me around to knock on doors to listen to hopes and concerns, sent donations, put out signs and voted in great numbers. You are all wonderful and we won another term in the Statehouse representing Weathersfield and Cavendish. To those who did not vote for me, I am still your representative and will continue to listen to your concerns as the legislative session convenes with interesting initiatives that we all have to think through. I am proud to represent all of you. Thank you.
Rep. Annmarie Christensen
Perkinsville