Rape? of Mother Earth
Posted by Tim Wheeler on March 31, 1999 at 12:37:28:
I found the sight of protesters screaming emotionally at TV cameras about the "rape" of the earth intriguing. The most germane definition of rape that I can find for this situation is "an outrageous violation". Let's assume that this definition is what the anti-WIPP protesters mean. Given so, I ask the question, exactly what is the outrageous violation being committed on the earth?
We are transferring radioactive materials from the surface of the earth, segregated from the earth's biosphere and atmosphere by the most fragile of media (geologically speaking), into a repository deep within a stable geologic formation. Sounds a lot more like a responsible action than an outrageous violation.
If the protestors are referring to the source of this radioactive material (the development of nuclear weapons) as the outrageous violation against the earth, well, that barn door was left open long ago! It befuddles me as to how allowing future generations to be placed at risk to certain radioactive contamination (the current situation) is less of an outrageous violation than removing that risk.
As for cries that "we must wait for new waste management technologies" before we can dispose of the wastes, it is imperative that we remember that fundamental physical laws must be adhered to. (we couldn't break them even if we wanted too!). Radioactive isotopes cannot, nor will they ever be, simply processed away.