: During the mid 1970s, hundreds of concerned citizens began to chain themselves to the gates of nuclear power plants in hopes that they would be able to block shipments of plutonium and other highly radioactive materials from getting through and thereby shut the plants down.

Words: 1020
Pages: 4
Subject: History
Activity 23: Essay Assignment
Directions: During the mid 1970s, hundreds of concerned citizens began to chain themselves to the gates of nuclear power plants in hopes that they would be able to block shipments of plutonium and other highly radioactive materials from getting through and thereby shut the plants down. These people were afraid that if there was any kind of accident or malfunction within the plant, millions of people would be contaminated by radiation poisoning. There had just been such a “minor” accident at Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant on the East Coast, and many people were afraid that it could happen again near the cities that they lived in. They also feared that someone might sabotage the plant. If a terrorist group could somehow cause an explosion in a nuclear power plant, the awesome release of energy would have the same effect as dropping an atomic bomb in that area. Thousands of people would die.

The nuclear protesters wore humorous buttons and T-shirts that said things like, “No Nukes,” and “Better Active Today than Radioactive Tomorrow,” and “Hell, No! We Won’t Glow!” But the scene between these protesters and the officials and police that came in to arrest them was far from being funny. The “No Nukes” crowd was very serious about wanting to stop the building of new nuclear power plants and wanting to shut down all the nuclear power plants that were already operating. They were willing to go to jail to defend their beliefs.

The United States government regulates the operation of all nuclear power plants in this country. The officials for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) believed then, as they do today, that nuclear power plants could be run so safely that they would never be a danger to citizens of the United States. At that time, they also believed very strongly that nuclear power was necessary—even vital—to the well-being of national security. That is because during the mid 1970s, oil prices were rising very fast. The United States needed more oil to run its factories than it produced each year. This meant that the government had to depend on oil that was produced in other countries. The government didn’t want to have to depend on other countries for energy. This is why nuclear power seemed to be a very good solution.

The protesters argued that solar and wind power were a lot safer and less expensive to develop, especially considering all of the potentially lethal materials involved in nuclear power. They also argued that the nuclear waste materials left over from making nuclear energy were reason enough to shut every nuclear plant down—it is extremely radioactive and hazardous to human health. It even has to be stored in special leak-proof containers. If these containers are ever damaged, even if it is hundreds of years from the time they were stored, the radioactive materials would still be a major health hazard.

The government officials argued that the technology used to make solar and wind power work effectively for the massive amount of energy this country demands wouldn’t be available for decades. They firmly believed that the country needed dependable, controllable energy immediately. They also believed that they could safely control the radioactive waste materials.

Today, there are not many people who actively protest at the sites of nuclear power plants. Most people have come to believe that the NRC can control the radioactive waste materials that are produced in nuclear power plants throughout the United States. People have also come to believe that there is little danger of a life-threatening nuclear meltdown, yet there are very few people who would want a nuclear power plant built in their neighborhood. Would you?

Using the Text Editor, write a five-paragraph essay in which you take either the side of the people concerned about the dangers of nuclear power or you take the side of the people who support nuclear power and explain your position.
First Paragraph (35-45 words): Introduce your reader to the fact that there are some people who support the use of nuclear power and there are others that oppose it. In the last sentence of this paragraph, explain which side you are on.
Second Paragraph (30-40 words): Give one reason to support your opinion. If you support the No Nukes protesters, you might point out the dangers of nuclear waste materials . If you support the Pro Nukes group, you might point out the need to have a dependable controllable energy source in the United States.
Third Paragraph (30-40 words): Give another reason to support your opinion. The protester side might discuss the fact that there are other forms of energy available. The NRC supporters could assert that it is a bad idea to wait for solar and wind power technology to improve because we need massive supplies of energy right now.
*Fourth Paragraph (30-40 words): Give a final reason to support your opinion. The people against nuclear power might suggest that the chances of a nuclear melt down are too great to continue using such a dangerous form of energy. The people for nuclear power could point out how many safety precautions that are taken to control and maintain a world-class nuclear power plant.
Fifth Paragraph (35-45 words): In your conclusion, summarize the three ideas that you’ve just given into one or two sentences. Restate why you support nuclear power or cannot support nuclear power. Then recommend that new protests are called for or that everyone should sleep peacefully knowing how safe and how beneficial nuclear power is.
*This is just a guideline, feel free to include more paragraphs and reasons if necessary.

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