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Current Events » in reply to It wasn't an "Accident".

Re: It wasn't an "Accident".
ER — (archived)

Thanks, Rob. It's good to be back.

And yes, it WAS an accident. Anything that happens that you don't expect, or didn't plan for, is an accident. In fact, that's how we define the word. It does not imply incompetence or arrogance, or malfeasance, it is simply a recognition that some events are out of our control and may even be beyond our understanding altogether.

Of course, after the accident, it is always easy to find out why it happened. It is easy to demonstrate how the incident was to be expected, and could have been prevented. But by then it's too late, isn't it?

And the NEXT accident (and there will always be one) will be different. You cannot predict the future, all you can do is calculate the cost/benefit ratio and justify whatever risk you are willing to accept, and honestly explain those risks to all the stakeholders. You can take steps to minimize accidents, and you can take steps to mitigate their effects, you can even man up and ready yourself to deal with their consequences, but you cannot make them stop.

My own position is that there is much we can do to protect ourselves from nuclear accidents, and that the risk of the rare, but inevitable, accidents is one we must absorb because of the great benefits we will derive from nuclear power. But I'm tired of this industry and its apologists pissing in my ear and telling me it's raining.

I just do not trust their motives.

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