Thanks so much for the luck wishes! We will try to make the most of this luck. ;)
I'm glad you brought up the dirty bomb factor again.
The perpetuation of the myth of the dangers of the dirty bomb is truly sad. We all intuitively realize that the dangers of chemical warfare, biological dispersion (especially because it is transmissible long after the incident), and the dangers of bombs themselves are so much greater than some amount of radiation that decays rapidly and, by the nature of a bomb, is highly dispersed.
As an example of the worst possible radiological contamination (which would not practically be achieved by a dirty bomb to scale), read about the story of the "Atomic Man". In an instant, he received 500 times the "lethal lifetime dose." He died at 75 of unrelated causes. The atopsy showed zero cancer. The chemicals were terrible. the explosion was terrible. Ultimately the radiation itself was not as bad as expected.
In another example, studies showed mice fed plutonium dust had their lives expanded by 120%. See here for an overview of these types of studies and natural effects of hormesis. http://www.radpro.com/641luckey.pdf
It's my belief this disproportionate fear is really a tragedy, a play on the fears of uneducated people (again, fed by media since anything nuclear is like sex or plane crashes) that may ultimately cheat them from peace of mind and clean, reliable energy sooner. What if people refused transportation:vehicles, trucks, and planes because gasoline is highly combustible and kills so many per year? Our economy exploded with oil at the turn of the last century.
But that's a side point, sorry for digression.
Could this be blown up?
1) it's underground
2) it's surrounded by concrete that has been tested to be safe to drop from hundreds of feet in the air
3) it's a solid metal block. It doesn't have dispersion capabilities like other forms.
Unrelated fact since we aren't reprocessing: It's a common misconception that reprocessing is not legal in the US. It is. Also for instance, France does it and has been doing it for a while.
It is not me who you have to convince! :) It's the general public (and fighting decades of propaganda).
Maybe a YouTube viral video or something, I don't know :)
I wouldn't go showing the plutonium dust article. Reminds me too much of Alexander Litvinenko.
And your point about reprocessing in France actually reinforces my point: it required multiple inter-governmental agreements at the highest diplomatic levels, and complying with EURATOM, very especially (as it applies to you) the 2001 Joint Convention, OSPAR (?) and I'm sure plenty more of red tape (source: IAEA publications).
Being U.S. based is obviously a benefit to you, since they're the most likely to shrug international oversight (and you say you're not reprocessing anyways).
Plus, France is the most pro-nuclear country in Europe.
I saw the diagrams on your website, it does look like a very unlikely target for being blown up, but the likelihood doesn't enter the equation when irrational fears are bandied around (they might say you're lying, etc..).
I just want you to be very aware of the stigma and irrationa l fears, and the regulatory hazards, because I very much want you to succeed.
I've talked to politicians (outside the U.S.), and they tell me that pushing a nuclear agenda, while economically sound, is political suicide. Some countries have a "stealth" approach (simply by not calling attention to media and quietly "expanding" current facilities), while others, like Germany, caved in to public pressure.
Absolutely. We talked to German energy heads that said they would invest but wouldn't tell anyone. :)
One thing we could use a favor from you. So, so so many people are saying "I support nuclear but I'm the only one"... you aren't! Believe me you're in the majority (70% in US support, although nuclear especially needs people like you, in the top of that group in knowledge/education to speak out and help educate) and that even this is changing... and just come out of the closet already. :)
I'm glad you brought up the dirty bomb factor again.
The perpetuation of the myth of the dangers of the dirty bomb is truly sad. We all intuitively realize that the dangers of chemical warfare, biological dispersion (especially because it is transmissible long after the incident), and the dangers of bombs themselves are so much greater than some amount of radiation that decays rapidly and, by the nature of a bomb, is highly dispersed.
As an example of the worst possible radiological contamination (which would not practically be achieved by a dirty bomb to scale), read about the story of the "Atomic Man". In an instant, he received 500 times the "lethal lifetime dose." He died at 75 of unrelated causes. The atopsy showed zero cancer. The chemicals were terrible. the explosion was terrible. Ultimately the radiation itself was not as bad as expected.
In another example, studies showed mice fed plutonium dust had their lives expanded by 120%. See here for an overview of these types of studies and natural effects of hormesis. http://www.radpro.com/641luckey.pdf
It's my belief this disproportionate fear is really a tragedy, a play on the fears of uneducated people (again, fed by media since anything nuclear is like sex or plane crashes) that may ultimately cheat them from peace of mind and clean, reliable energy sooner. What if people refused transportation:vehicles, trucks, and planes because gasoline is highly combustible and kills so many per year? Our economy exploded with oil at the turn of the last century.
But that's a side point, sorry for digression.
Could this be blown up? 1) it's underground 2) it's surrounded by concrete that has been tested to be safe to drop from hundreds of feet in the air 3) it's a solid metal block. It doesn't have dispersion capabilities like other forms.
Unrelated fact since we aren't reprocessing: It's a common misconception that reprocessing is not legal in the US. It is. Also for instance, France does it and has been doing it for a while.