Nuclear Now
Explores the possibility for the global community to overcome challenges like climate change and reach a brighter future through the power of nuclear energy.
- Released: 2023-04-28
- Runtime: 106 minutes
- Genre: Documentaries
- Stars:
- Director: Oliver Stone
Comments
- dfschaffer - 18 July 2023
More balance needed.
The best parts of the movie are the early footage of a post-war America coming to terms with the destructive power and the limitless possibilities of a nuclear powered future that must be harnessed by a can-do alliance of military and science, physicists and engineers marching arm in arm to a bright tomorrow. Then that wonderful promise is jeopardized by an unholy cabal of fossil fuel interests sowing discontent and fear among the general public. Three nuclear disasters ensue, of little consequence in terms of human life, and suddenly the world is dismantling nuclear reactors faster than one can say Fukushima. Climate warming is begrudgingly acknowledged by the world and now it is clear that nuclear power is the only answer to save our planet.
Unfortunately, the movie becomes a very one-sided plea for a return to "safe" nuclear energy generation. It would have benefitted from an occasional contrasting viewpoint from any one of a number of recognized scientists, or dare I say "responsible" politicians. No where is there mention of the terrible risk factor inherent in a nuclear mishap. The body count of the three major nuclear accidents to date is minimized to less than 60 fatalities, all due to Chernobyl mismanagement. The nuclear waste issue becomes a question of what to do with to do a few hundred thousand square feet of contaminated material - the size of one typical Walmart. Any health risk is inconsequential compared to the daily environmental exposure and industrial accidents we experience on a regular basis. In sum we are asked to trust that any and all design and health risks have been addressed and that if we want to ever see that "Jetson" future we were all promised, we'd better get on board with nuclear power generation.
