February-March 1980 RAlN Page 21 ~~ ~. '. ;\ ~ ~\ I ,,==-~~.' Z :2:: •• :'\11968 7M1Ntrrflj TO MIDNIGHT The nuclear weapons club now stancis at five , with France, Cruna, Bn taln. the U.S. and U.S.S.R. ::J,1969 10 MlNtrrflj TO MIDNIGHT Raliflcacion or the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. •• .qI972 12 MlNtrrflj TO MlDNIGIIT Str.leak Anns LimitacionTaI,,"s (......T) lead to finl nuclear arms control esreemenl bet....n U.S. and U.S.S.R. ~1974 9M1Ntrrflj TO M1DNIGIIT L\l.T rails to make progress; India joins the nuclear weapons club. • :~1980 7MINtrrflj TO MIDNIGIIT D.",.rof nuclear war increases ; irrationalilyor nalionaland inccrn.tional actions. Energy from Heaven and Earth, Edward Teller, 1979, $15.00 from: W.H. Freeman and Company 660 Market Street San Francisco, CA 94104 Edward Teller is nothing if not optimistic. Asked whether he is sorry that he worked on the development of nuclear weapons he responds that he certainly is not. "i had the chance to help put powerful tools in the hands of my fellow citizens." he says. " I feel confident that on the whole, these tools fa. r.,~ ~-L! ~?~ "V; '" :2::" c :2:: E o -!: :t~! "'" will be used properly." One such proper use. in his view. would be a nuclear explosion to loosen up additional supplies of natural gas trapped in tight rock formations . The main problem in implementing this technique. he believes. "is psychological." Teller also sees psychological problems (and scientific ignorance) impeding the development of nuclear generating capacity. If only people could overcome their un reasonable fears! As the man who. in 1945. decided for all of us that exploding the first nuclear bomb would be all right in spite of the warnings of some scientists that it might blow up the world. Teller himself is certainly not prone to nervousness about the unknown, and he is quick to assure his readers about the "vigilance" of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. the multiple safeguards built into each nuclear plant. and the reliability of the "meticulously" prepared Rasmussen Report on reactor safety. As for waste disposal. he says. several good. inexpensive methods already exist. and all that remains for us is to choose among them and work out some details. For anti-nuclear activists. this book provides a valuable (and chilling) look into the thought processes of a main opposition leader. -JF Accidents Will Happen, edited by Lee Stephenson and George R. Zachar, with assistance from Gail Kovach (Environmental Action Foundation), 339 pp., 1979, $2.50 from: Harper & Row 10 E. 53rd St. New York, NY 10022 Accidents Will Happ en offers an anthology of mild articles that serve as an introduction and overview of the nuclear power issue. They cover the history and development of the nuclear industry and federal regulating agencies. technical information on the nuclear cycle and design. decommissioning of plants. waste transportation and disposal. civil rights issues. economic factors. nuclear and jobs. the benefits of conservation. and appropriate sources of energy. The book lacks a coherent political analysis which leaves several holes in its presentation of nuclear power. Though it examines some of the economic reasons nukes are so essential to government and industry. it fails to examine the nuclear industry's role in the military-industrial power base. Some attention is given to nuclear proliferation. but an analysis of nu '" -J:: OJ> .::.~ "-c ' ;:" 't ·C :::: V") :: " 00 ' Eo _ ~ -!:<e , , / ~ 'J. . o . E e clear power's part in determining foreign policy is missing. Accidellts Will Happen calls for a grassroots anti-nuke movment without identifving the forces behind nuclear power. This-is somewhat analagous to asking people to attack the tip of an iceberg when it is the base that is currently running them aground. -KS No Nukes: Everyone's Guide to Nile/ear Power, Anna Gyorgy & Friends, 1979, 478 pp., $8.00 (paperback) from: South End Press Box 68, Astor Station Boston, MA 02123 No Nukes is an excellent referrnn' boolr which summarizes from hundreds of sou rces the basic principles of nuc:Iear technoI-, ogy and the myriad problems surrounding it. Extensive research by expert voluntl'er writers gives a comprehensivt' view of issues. ranging from the history of nuclear power to health and safety questions. to tht' economics and politics of nukes. and to the grass-roots movement for sOc-lal changt' and alternative energy sources. No Nu kes can answer most. if not all , questions one might have about nuclt'ar power and how to stop it. it is extensivel footnoted and contains a detailed Index and bibliography of resources. As such it is an unparalleled organizing manual for nc'w or experienced anti-nuke activistseveryone's gUide to nuclear power. Elaine Hebel Elaine i$ a member of Fon·laws Oil Board alld a co-fol/nde r of Grre'lpl'a re , Oregoll. ity can work with the designers of experimental systems by observing performance in the field for a limited number of them . This is what is being done. for example. by the City of Seattle and King COunty. Code officials should be educated in this technology and learn to understand their role as arbiters in a new situation. interpretation should be assisted by a commission that includes those knowledgeable in all aspects of solar water heating. There is no question that the code process exists to protect the public. However. the Salem experience indicates that in the field of solar water heating the public may be protected too much. It is time that the whole process be examined with regard to its impact on the broad scale implementation of solar water heating. Paul Sansone was director of th e Mid- Willamette Valley Coml1lr1 nity Action Ag/,llcy Energy Program during the period of the SUEDE project. Currently he is working as a train !' r for the Washington County (Oregon) Community Action Program all thei r solarization program. Ken Eklund is training coordinator and e;fewtivt' offic(,r of Eeotope Group. a non-profit research. education alld developme/lt organization specializing in ellergy conservation and altcrnativt' /' /1 ergy resoura s. Ecotope Group is located at 2332 E. Madison . Sea l tie, WA 98112, 206/322-3753 .
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