The atomic bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed many people and destroyed a large
part of Japan´s nature. “As in the cases of the Japanese atomic bomb survivors, victims of
nuclear accidents can be exposed to a substantial dose of radiation that can result in
leukemia and other forms of cancer, or other negative side effects” (“The Atomic…
Nagasaki” par 3). The effect of that nuclear explosion in Hiroshima and Nagasaki is still
affecting the life of the citizens because the explosion contaminated the air, the water, and
the food. According to Bernard Cohen, professor at the University of Pittsburgh, “The
principal risks associated with nuclear power arise from health effects of radiation” (Cohen
par 1). Everybody agrees that humanity has to consume energy every day in order to
satisfy their needs. However, nuclear plants produce a certain quantity of radioactive
waste, which contaminates the environment and consequently affect humans. Therefore,
governments whose countries depend on nuclear power as a main source of energy should
stop the building of new nuclear plants.
Construction of nuclear plants started when scientists heard that two physicists from
Australia, Meitner and Otto Fish, explained that some atoms of uranium could be divided
in two. Consequently, those scientists knew that they could generate a big amount of
energy for little cost and also obtain the most powerful explosion in the world (Giacobello
23). However, those scientists did not realize about the radiation effects that occur by
having nuclear plants. For instance, on September 30, 1999, the Tokimura Nuclear Plant
exploded, causing terrible damages to the environment and people. In addition, another
explosion occurred after a devastating earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, in the
Fukushima nuclear plant in Tokyo, Japan (“Risk in Japan” par 5). This tragedy opened the
door to the greatest controversy of our days and separated people in two bands: those who
see the eminent damages of having nuclear plants and consider ways to shut down existing
plants and stop new constructions, and others that still believe that nuclear plants are “the
alternative for energy.” Today there are many nuclear power plants operating in thirty
countries, and there are possibilities of having nuclear plant explosions that may damage
the environment and the population of the whole world.
An important reason why governments should consider leaving to use the nuclear energy
as a main source of energy is because of the environmental impact. Nuclear plants damage
