File spoon-archives/marxism-general.archive/marxism-general_1996/96-10-23.072, message 38


Date: Sun, 20 Oct 96 15:20:42 UT
From: "K. Lee Lerner" <Lernerdesk-AT-msn.com>
Subject: M-G: RE: Re: On "green warfare" against workers, 3rd world


Dear Mr. Martens,

Although I am disregarding my own rules regarding the number of posts I write 
on a given thread, on the matter of nuclear waste you have ventured into one 
of my areas of expertise, therefore please permit me one small sur rebuttal.

You wrote, "The waste question is *not* a big one; the waste in fact is quite 
small, compared to the enormous amounts of electricity generated, and this 
whole argument is CLEARLY A PRETEXT for certain very reactionary political aim 
on the part of the powerful forces which are really behind the 
anti-nuclear-energy campaign. We had a discussion on this on the earlier 
Marxism list. Some people got angry with me when I pointed out that Ronald 
Reagan (for once) was right: That waste you could put under a desk. Later a 
physicist replied to them that wasn't all that far from the truth."

	The truth is that the nuclear waste problem can not, and should not, be 
viewed in terms of quantity of material produced.  You are correct that the 
amounts in question are quantitatively small in comparison to the amount of 
electricity generated.  However, nuclear waste needs to evaluated in terms of 
potency, lethality and longevity. 

	In addition, you wrote, "The waste 'problem' is not only a pretext. It is, 
>from the scientific point of view, an UTTERLY RIDICULOUS PRETEXT, so 
ridiculous that one must wonder how anyone with the least knowledge of 
elementary physics etc. can come to believe, or purportedly believe, in it."

	I assure you, that a substantial number of scientists with far more than an 
elementary knowledge physics (and I include myself in this category) harbor 
grave doubts concerning the ability of the private sector (or of most 
governmental entities) to properly handle the construction, operation and 
maintenance of nuclear facilities.

	Without question, the technology exists  to assure proper disposal of waste  
_ but based on a dismal environmental history by both socialist and 
capitalistic nations I fear that the practical considerations concerning the 
short term economic cost of proper storage will lead to dumping, improper 
storage and eventual environmental disaster.

	Although I  disagree with much of what I respectfully contend is an inflated 
and hyperbolic rhetoric,  I appreciated your comments on Marxist 
differentiation.

Best Regards,
Dr. K. Lee Lerner


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