CARPE DIEM
One of my favorite movies during my secondary school years, "Dead Poets Society," left this quotation in my memory: "Carpe diem." This is Latin; in English it means "Seize the day." Most people think that carpe diem means you should live like there's no tomorrow. Others think that it means experiencing whatever the moment presents you--seize it in every way you can. Many people do crazy things on the basis of this quotation, like spending all their money, in disregard of what the next moment will bring. You have to be brave to choose this idea as your "philosophy of life."
There's another Latin phrase, "Memento Mori." The philosophy expressed here is, "Don't forget, you're going to die." Some people see a conflict between these two ideas. But for most of us, seizing the day means that we don't think about the following day, much less the following years. This is why a nuclear power plant is going to be built in one of the most beautiful cities in our country, Sinop. I don't know that much about nuclear power plants. But I remember the Chernobyl disaster and know that people in the Black Sea region are still dying of cancer because of it. Basically, nuclear plants are dangerous, especially when you built them in one of most earthquake-prone zones in the country.
The people who are promoting nuclear power seem to be following the carpe diem philosophy. Certainly, they're not thinking about the risk of cancer or the possibility of birth defects in the future. What if we get horrible growths on our heads or our skins, or our children are born with three legs or two heads? Yes, maybe we'll save money if this system works well. But the facility will be expensive to build, and it could cost even more to treat the potential health problems.
Solar, wind and geothermal energy sources can help us meet our needs for electricity. But some claim that a country with a large population, like Turkey, will need additional sources. This is why, they say, we need a nuclear power plant. But here's a better idea: let's control our population growth, instead of increasing the risk of cancer. Do you think that the people who build the nuclear plant in Sinop will be counting their money while people are dying of cancer? Carpe diem: don't save money for the moments ahead, and don't be afraid to build a nuclear power plant in your own country.
Since we're always imitating what happens in Europe and around the world, and since we take other countries as examples for ourselves, let's remember some points. Most countries in the world are not choosing to build nuclear power plants right now, and they've stopped operating the nuclear facilities that already exist.
In Germany, a former nuclear plant has been turned into a facility that uses gas to produce electricity. Here are more examples of countries where completed nuclear power plants are not being operated: Brazil, Austria and the Philippines. In Italy six and in Cuba two nuclear facilities have been closed. Russia has cancelled its nuclear power projects. Canada, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Mexico, Portugal, Ireland, Luxembourg, Denmark, Greece, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Iceland, Scotland and New Zealand have also cancelled projects.
So, why is Turkey now trying to build a new nuclear power plant, and
choosing to locate it in one of the most beautiful cities in Turkey, where there's a risk of earthquakes?
Well, congratulations to all those who support nuclear power and think that it's the only way to save money. I hope that members of the next generation, who will have a second head, will have an additional brain as well, allowing them to give
more thought to these issues. I hope they will be wise enough to think about stopping the use of nuclear power for their own good.
Gülay Acar (COMD/III)
howtoreachgulay@yahoo.com
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