Nuclear plant

Nuclear plant

Just when one is about to give up on the human race, the voice of sweet reason is whispered in one's ear. I refer to Mr. Zatni Arbi's recent comment in the Feb. 10 copy of The Jakarta Post regarding nuclear power in Indonesia.

When I first heard of the plan to build and operate a nuclear plant on Java, one of the most populous places on the planet, I thought some bizarre form of population control was in the planning stage. Then when I heard that the actual plan was moving ahead and that a company from Canada was here touting the wonders of atomic power, I became alarmed.

Mr. Arbi has the courage to say publicly what many think privately and that is that Indonesia is simply not ready for nuclear power. Very few, if any, places on the planet are. While I do not agree with Mr. Arbi's assessment of the Indonesian culture being "primitive", I cannot imagine the Chief Indonesian Engineer committing suicide as his Japanese counterpart in Monju, Japan did after the reactor had problems with a sodium coolant leak in December. I can, however, imagine him running off to hide in Sumatra or East Indonesia.

For those who think that nuclear power is cheaper and cleaner than other power sources, I say to you that you are right. However, nuclear accidents, however rare they may be, have horrific results and I would hate to see that demonstrated in Central Java.

JOHN R. FENTON

South Jakarta