Debate: Does the world need nuclear energy?

http://www.ted.com Nuclear power: the energy crisis has even die-hard environmentalists reconsidering it. In this first-ever TED debate, Stewart Brand and Mark Z. Jacobson square off over the pros and cons. A discussion that'll make you think -- and might even change your mind.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate. Watch a highlight reel of the Top 10 TEDTalks at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

Category:

Science & Technology

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• Nuclear
• Energy
• Power
• Stewart
• Brand
• Mark
• Jacobson
• TEDTalks
• TED
• talks
• fission
• reactor
• wind
• solar
• water
• renewable
• sustainable
• green
• climate
• crisis
• science
• environment

[Zilkat]

Probably the first debate I've seen on this topic with good speakers, valid points and logical arguments from both sides, all in a respectful and professional manner.

[matchbox555]

the anti-nuclear guy has very weak arguments

nuclear wins hand down

[harman654321]

WY THEY TALK ABOUT CO2

GLOBAL WARMING IS NOT REALLLLLLL

[gusphraba]

This weeks news: Ohio nuclear plant woes in middle of US House race. They try to find out what caused the cracks in the wall. People seem to underestimate that nuclear power stations are run by corrupt and oblivious people regardless of the country (16 years of forged documents in Fukushima, melt down caused BEFORE the water hit the plant, earth quake was enough). If different people ran them, they might be worth considering but due to their standards & unpredictable quakes they are time bombs.

[flyinjoethebest]

i think the guy against nuclear energy convinced me more how nuclear energy is the best energy source with the co2 charts. yes wind and solar make less emissions than coal and nuclear but its small enough that it is bearable.

[003590510]

Nuclear is not necessary. I have the worlds best and first sustainable, urban, compact, scaleable, zero-carbon footprint, renewable energy. w w w rhemapowerdot com I can build plants from 10kw to 100GW that put out power 24hrs a day 7 days a week 365 days a year for decades. I have the best solar, wind and biofuel technology in the world.

[bleeds4u]

This reminds me of the nature vs nurture debate. Neither of the speakers has convinced me that theirs is an exclusive choice. From the info here it would make sense to use the natural renewables to their capacity and fill in the short-fall with nuclear energy. The fear of war is the most irrational reason to tear down a dependable technology. When people want to kill each other, denying them technology wont stop them.

[guydudeasian]

@LegendaryStory (dot)com/watch?v=7OabYImeDSc

Look through other articles on the web, on a small scale, it has undeniably been developed.

[LegendaryStory]

@guydudeasian Prove it.

[TheIslammiracle]

-I have a car thats safe

-and I have a car thats reliable

-My car is better

-No my car is!

-Well clearly we can only have a car that is safe OR reliable, there are no other options..

[MrJivePirate]

@guydudeasian where? you smell like you're full of shit btw.

[guydudeasian]

We wouldn't need nuclear power if mainstream scientists finally admit that cold fusion has been developed already. -_-