Comments for Arizona Physicians For Social Responsibility

Comment on Fossil Fuel Subsidies are the Real Job Killers! by dge

dge — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:06:00 +0000

Thanks for the post. The answer to this problem is to remove the subsidies and put a price on carbon.

Pricing carbon through a fee and dividend approach does not pick winners or losers, but levels the playing field for all technologies. It also provides direct incentives to individual consumers that cover the most basic utility and fuel cost increases.

Comment on Fossil Fuel Subsidies are the Real Job Killers! by justlikegreece

justlikegreece — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 21:50:00 +0000

I’m sorry, but this post is so poorly thought out that it does not really merit much attention. Anyway you look at this scribe and it’s “Pink unicorn ranch” suggestions it just falls apart.
Let’s take one example-

“Our nation is in desperate need of jobs. Instead of bankrolling an industry that is laying off workers and threatening our economic future, why not take the billions in subsidies going to oil companies and invest instead in a sector that both creates jobs and protects the planet?”

To start, calling them “subsidies” is a canard, and writing on corporations as if they are anything more than a facility which is charged with maximizing profit for the shareholders is wrong.

To compound this “good Vs. evil” Kabuki dance you suggest that somehow the federal government- Known as the most idiot of responders to the “people” some how is more adept at selecting and investing in ”winners” and punishing “losers” than the market is obscene on the face of it.
Let’s take a brief trapse thru good old B.O. manuvers in this field, if you want to make something to outrage about- Rewarding his election bundlers, and what, exactly do we have to show for that money up the chimney?

Comment on Fossil Fuel Subsidies are the Real Job Killers! by lzrdoc

lzrdoc — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 20:14:00 +0000

“Big Oil” has already stated in previous Senate hearings that they do not need the subsidies. We need to take them up on this, and use these funds for more productive purposes, such as CLEAN energy, that 1) increases available energy, 2) decreases pollution and 3) creates new jobs. But politics, not common sense, is calling the shots.

Comment on Wasting Hundreds of Billions on Obsolete Cold War Nukes by Pam Bickell

Pam Bickell — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:10:00 +0000

I couldn’t agree more, Barbara. I dream of a creative, productive future for everyone. When we Americans make social justice and equality for all citizens a priority, the rest of the world will follow. It’s time to step out of the past and into a kinder, gentler future.

Comment on LESSONS FROM FUKUSHIMA by Russell Lowes

Russell Lowes — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:20:00 +0000

Yes, the thorium fuel cycle would be a high-level weapons proliferation threat.
As far as the E-Cat goes, it’s in development. There is a lot to learn before they even set up a prototype. At this point it is not yet an option to be seriously considered. There are a lot of “emerging” technologies that could be discussed.
Hopefully a number of them will be affordable both economically and environmentally.

Comment on A Carbon Tax Makes Great Sense – Incentives Needed to Fight Climate Change by tunkashila

tunkashila — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:38:00 +0000

I agree with Mr. DuHamel-the carbon tax will do nothing to alleviate the nonexistent problem it is proposed to solve. Basically, it is the modern equivalent of indulgences sold by the pope (which have actually returned, coincidentally enough). You might as well try stopping a flood by stringing gauze along a riverbank.

Comment on LESSONS FROM FUKUSHIMA by tunkashila

tunkashila — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:12:25 +0000

Thank you for the excellent response-I was unaware of the necessity for mixing thorium with U-238 in order to kickstart the fissile process and truly appreciate the information. It is true that uranium (one of the most common elements in the earth’s crust) was used because of its relative affordability vs. throium, but also because fuel rods made from this material bleed off plutonium, which is then used to manufacture nuclear weapons.

Having said that, I would like to ask your opinion of Andrea Rossi’s E-Cat cold fusion device and its practicability. I should think fusion and no toxic waste would be preferable to our current sources of power. Your thoughts?

Comment on LESSONS FROM FUKUSHIMA by russlowes

russlowes — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:47:30 +0000

I would like to thank Dr. Warren for her clear and concise article.
I would also like to respond to the suggestions that we switch from uranium to thorium for our nuclear electricity.
First, the cost of making such a switch would be in the hundreds of billions. The reason the U.S. and other nations went with uranium is that they thought it would be more affordable. Of course, nuclear power is anything but affordable, be it uranium or the even more expensive thorium option. Perhaps the main reason thorium would be more expensive is that there is an additional step in the nuclear fuel cycle with thorium, called “thorium target rod production.”
Second, thorium-232 can be used for nuclear bomb material. It does not alleviate the nuclear proliferation issues.
Third, energy efficiency will likely cost less than on tenth of the cost of thorium-based electricity. Solar will likely cost at least 25% less. Wind energy will likely cost about one half the price.
Here are some top-notch fact-sheets on thorium as an option.
1) Institute on Energy and Environmental Research factsheet on thorium reactors:
http://www.ieer.org/fctsheet/thorium2009factsheet.pdf
2) Rocky Mountain Institute/Amory Lovins factsheet on thorium, IFR, and “small, modular” reactors:
http://www.nirs.org/factsheets/lovinsonifretc.pdf

Comment on LESSONS FROM FUKUSHIMA by tunkashila

tunkashila — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:48:41 +0000

I agree with you about tritium (even have that element in my gun sights). Plutonium, cesium and strontium, however, are another story, and the fact that we have ancient, leaky reactors throughout the country which have the potential to spew all of the above into our environment and poison it permanently should be of concern to us all.

What’s your feeling about thorium as a replacement or the potential of the E-Cat machine, assuming it works?

Comment on LESSONS FROM FUKUSHIMA by Jonathan DuHamel

Jonathan DuHamel — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:06:55 +0000

See my rebuttal at: http://tucsoncitizen.com/wryheat/2012/02/08/activist-group-trots-out-tritium-scare/