I am appalled at the idea of ”Mothers For Nuclear”

As a mother myself, I am appalled that such a group as ”Mothers For Nuclear” even exists. Dont

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they know about the effects of ionising radiation on women, especially pregnant women? Don’t they know about the breast cancers, the birth deformities in irradiated areas such as Pacific atomic bomb sites, and Belarus-Ukraine, near the Chernobyl site. No, they don’t seem to. (Perhaps that ‘s the beauty of a narrowly S.T.E.M. education?)

Both Heather Hoff and Kristin Zaitz work at the Diablo Nuclear Power Plant. Hoff worked as a plant operator, and now as a procedure writer. Zaitz works as a civil engineer.

Hoff was inspired by none other than that top nuclear schill Michael Shellenberger, and by the glossy nuclear advertising film ”Pandora’s Promise”.

They sound very sincere, but also very ignorant of the negative issues around the nuclear industry.

Why am I not surprised? The nuclear industry is busting its guts trying to get women onside. Their favourite thing is getting (preferably young and attractive) women into engineering, and at the top of nuclear companies. (This is good in two ways – good to promote the industry’s ‘gender equality’ image, and good if they muck up, as Leslie Dewan did, in her bogus claims for Transatomic’s molten salt reactor – let a woman take the flak!)

The thing is – lots of women have expertise in biology, genetics – and an understanding of the effects of ionising radiation. But the nuclear industry has got us all conned that these are ”soft”sciences. So – if you’ve got ”hard” scienvce knowledge – like engineering, then you can be an authority on nuclear issues.

These two women sound very sincere – alarmingly so.

The Activists Who Embrace Nuclear Power, New Yorker, By Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow, February 19, 2021

“……… But Hoff and Zaitz work at a nuclear plant and have been flown to give talks at industry-sponsored events; Mothers for Nuclear has received small donations from others who work in the industry. There is no denying the conflict of interest posed by their employment; even within the pro-nuclear community, their industry ties provoke uneasiness. Nordhaus, the executive director of the Breakthrough Institute, wrote in an e-mail that, although he thinks Hoff and Zaitz are “well-intentioned,” nuclear advocacy should be independent of what he called “the legacy industry.” ……..

On the air, Hoff explained who they were. “Mothers for Nuclear offers a different voice,” she said. “Nuclear power plants are run by lots of men, and women have been more scared of nuclear energy. We’re here to offer the motherly side of nuclear—nuclear for the future, for our children, for the planet.”…….

To be fervently pro-nuclear, in the manner of Hoff and Zaitz, is to see in the peaceful splitting of the atom something almost miraculous. It is to see an energy source that has been steadily providing low-carbon electricity for decades—doing vastly more good than harm, saving vastly more lives than it has taken—but which has received little credit and instead been maligned. It is to believe that the most significant problem with nuclear power, by far, is public perception. ………..—the pro-nuclear world view can edge toward dogmatism. Hoff and Zaitz certainly seem readier to tout studies that confirm their views, and reluctant to acknowledge any flaws that nuclear energy may have. ……https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/the-activists-who-embrace-nuclear-power

February 20, 2021 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes, spinbuster, USA, Women

3 Comments »

Something the.matter with gates and.those people. Screws loose

Comment by Kenr | February 20, 2021 | Reply
Hi Christina, I’d be happy to talk more with you about why I changed my mind about nuclear energy. I have learned a lot about the effects of ionizing radiation, and in my journey I have been fortunate to talk with some of the top scientists and researchers in the field. I am aware that every energy source has pros and cons, and nuclear isn’t perfect. However, with the realities and urgencies of climate change and air pollution, I think it’s especially important to support all low-carbon energy sources. If you’re interested, you can contact us via our website, mothersfornuclear.org

Comment by Kristin | February 27, 2021 | Reply
- I’d hazard a guess that your ”top scientists” did not include Dr Paul Dorfman, Professor Mark JacobsonChristopher Busby, Arnie Gunderson, ….. But people like Michael Shellenger (a very dodgy source) and officials of nuclear industry and government.
  Meanwhile leading environmental groups, – not affiliated with the nuclear industry, strongly oppose this industry:
  Nuclear Information and Resource Service, The National Audubon Society, Greenpeace, The Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council – to name just a few, – oppose nuclear power.
  I find your organisation and its members either very naive, or very determined to get on in the nuclear occupation, or perhaps both. You would do well to follow the work of Mary Olson, a biologist who specialised in the study of radiation effects on women. https://www.genderandradiation.org/blog/2020/12/31/my-six-mentors
  
  Comment by Christina MacPherson | February 27, 2021 | Reply