The Rush to Nuclear Power is a tragic turn. Global warming plus toxic nuke waste? Makes no sense at all. Where is France dumping its nuke waste?

When I wake up at 2am, it is not because the phone is ringing, it is often the result of heavy traffic noise on I5….a big truck gunning its load and blowing deisel mileage out the ass. While I toss and turn, trying to return to my simple dreams, I usually am haunted by Hanford. HBH is the bugaboo of many like minded people here in Washington and even Idaho and Oregon. Leaking drums of nuke waste creep toward the Columbia river, and as its nature is to “roll on and on” the river will carry this creeping radioactive plague into the Pacific Ocean with insanely tragic results! Some scientists claim that the waste is already causing damage to anphibians in the mud along the Hanford Reach. If true, then the tragedy is afoot. Could we allow the sterilization of all life in the lower Columbia because our congress can’t get their shit together to fund the clean up? Do we even really know how to clean up the mess or are we just re arranging the deck chairs on a sinking ship?

Think about this! What is France doing with its toxic nuke waste? What unfortunate and financially desperate nation is hosting their nuke shit? How admirable are the French for reducing thier carbon footprint and enlarging their radioactive footprint. Which is most deadly? I think you can guess the answer.

So many of my acquaintances and relatives believe so wholeheartedly in our ability to tech our way out of any bad situation. Engineer a solution to anything that comes up. Solve any problem that we create by rolling up our sleeves and putting pencil to geek paper. Bullshit! Cancer is still killing people everywhere! Arthritis is still chewing thru our bones, our water and air are still polluted, millions are still starving. So what has all this modern technology done to actually make life so much better?

Let me tell you about better! Is it better that my childhood home no longer has bubbling springs and lakes because the world needed more oil? Is it better that the Navajo nation suffers from radiation caused lukemia and an alarming rate? How is it better that my grandaughter will not be able to sit down to a meal of Salmon or Halibut because in the very near future our fisheries will be collapsed and only the very rich will be able to afford a meal of real wild fish.

Our problem is greed. Our problem is arrogance, Our problem is optomisim. Lets get down to the business of conservation and cleaning up or act! We can do sustainable energy if we have the will to do it. Wind, solar, thermal, skip the NIMBY where windmills are needed. Use the thermal power under Yellowstone to enefgize the west. Fill the empty salt pans in Nevada with solar panels, and do it all with a thought for the wildlife in the area. Put metal owl scarecrows on the windmills to scare away birds, and sounds to frighten bats away from the blades. Cultivate areas under solar panels for the desert wildlife to feed on. Stop worrying about whether you might slow down Old Faithful, and put the thermal energy into service…………………where there is a will, there might be a way!