#nuclear phase-out

[abbeyhepner]

Day 11: Energy project NY.PARIS.BERLIN

Long train rides at 5:00am. Neukolln to Berlin central to Hamburg to Emmerthal. A run and a hop and a hike. I am feeling particularly lucky this morning that it is two weeks into my project and I have a good handle on the train system and am able to speak a little bit more German while traveling around.

One of the hardest things I have had to fight with is the fact that the sun goes down at 4:00pm. I usually have 1-3 hours of hiking with equipment to find a spot that is close enough to the plant that there aren't distracting elements, but far enough away that I can see the nuclear plant against the landscape. In the north of Germany it is mostly flatland and so I have accepted that the nuclear plant and I will stand together on common ground as opposed to the regularly glorified landscapes that are shot from above.

I did not anticipate that my walk to navigate the surroundings would put me right inside the gate of the power plant. The walk across the farmland, by houses and a large cemetery was interesting. Remnants of the recent nuclear protests included signs at the train station, on light posts and even some tattered banners that had blown away onto some private property nearby. Trees blocked the ideal spots to create the video and the one clear space was literally on the autobahn, a road in Germany with no speed limit. I had 30 minutes of light left and so I decided the autobahn was my only option. There was about 6 inches between the guardrail on the road and the side of a cliff. This is where i did my video... Each car driving by would rock the tripod violently and I had one chance to get it right.

[abbeyhepner]

Day 4.1: Energy project NY.PARIS.BERLIN

Germany, a country know for it's engineering and technological advancements, decided to pull the plug on nuclear power in a state of controversy after Fukushima. The controversy lies in whether or not the alternatives are really any better. It is well understood that coal is not a good alternative with the state of air pollution and global warming and even as advanced as Germany is with green energy, (biomass, wind and solar) these alternatives are not always consistent and cannot currently meet all the energy needs for a country with nearly 82 million people. In the interim of phasing out nuclear power and pushing advancements in green energy, coal is the dirty man picked to do the job. I am convinced however that the newer coal plants being built in Germany are more efficient and cleaner than any of the old coal plants we rely on in the U.S. Germany took a stand on the topic rather than shrugging and saying, "It's all bad!" This is commendable because very few countries have made a clear decision, stood by it and forced technological advancements to improve quality and accessibility.

Developing countries that do not have adequate electricity are under some of the worse possible conditions. Kerosene, still used by many, is not only extremely polluting but seriously unhealthy and causes many fatal respiratory problems. Energy is a topic that spans so many facets from poverty to pollution to politics and having an opinion matters. I point out the topic of poverty and lack of electricity because cost efficient, reliable, clean and most importantly accessible energy is the goal. No energy source is truly free without risks and consequences and so it should be important that we weigh the risks.

Further reading here- biased on one side of the debate or another because understanding both sides is important.

Angst or Arithmetic? Why Germans are so Skeptical about Nuclear Energy

Solar lamps replace toxic kerosene in poorest countries

Time For Change

The truth about Germany's nuclear phase-out