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That's why smart people like yourself have to challenge the lies and irrationality of these people. Speak the truth. Tell them they are wrong. Help turn the tide. I've been in the business for going on 30 years now and when I speak to classes and teacher workshops and civic groups and political meetings, I am always amazed at what one person can do to counter the lies people hear every day in the media.

You know the truth of the matter. I and others here have told you in post after post on these threads what the scientific basis of our positions is. Use that knowledge constructively to change people's minds, if you truly believe what we've told you. If you don't, then tell us why you don't and we'll try to correct any misconceptions.

For the record, I don't "fear" other energy sources. It's all technology, which is amoral. It's all in how you use it. Every technology has advantages and downsides. You have to weigh those as rationally as you can using whatever parameters you think are relevant to such an evaluation, and make your best call. Right now nuclear is the best way to go for reliable, economical baseload electricity generation, with relatively small and manageable environmental impact. We know how to do it. We have the technology. It can be implemented without waiting for any kind of "breakthrough", either economic or technological.

Right now nuclear is the best way to go for reliable, economical baseload electricity generation

It is...and my state is the only one that is expanding it that I can think of at the moment. I do try and change minds on this safe use of power...and I guess it works sometimes. There is still the waste issue to deal with but modern reactors generate little of it and I *do* expect future technology to deal with it better than we can today and we can store it properly until then.

Then again, in areas that can employ large solar concentrator facilities for power generation or even desalination...I expect to see it done. For areas with lots of wind, I want to see that harvested. Ethanol, or preferably butanol, I expect to see. Same with biodiesel. I never want to again see a time when we are so dependent on just one type of fuel to supply all our needs from heat to light to transportation.

But changing the mind of the public...how do you reach those who do not care...which is the vast majority.

I speak to classes and teacher workshops and civic groups and political meetings

Do you talk about that whole Pressurized Water Reactor vs. Boiling Water Reactor thing also? Those two always mix me up. The first always sounds less threatening than the second just because of the amount of material that comes in contact with the radioactive fuel rods. And aren't a third of those rods changed every two years with only about three to five pounds of mass missing...meaning you got all that juice for a couple of pounds of matter? Amazing. And at least the waste stays on site and does not blow out a chimney to points unknown.