Nuclear power

Nuclear power

Ricardo Simanjuntak's March 25, 1996 letter 'Horrors of nuclear
testing' rightly condemns nuclear weapons use and testing, but
mistakenly attributes them to "nuclear technology".

Nuclear technology, like any other, can be used for good or
evil. It includes nuclear medicine's diagnostic tools and
irradiation treatments for cancer which have saved thousands of
lives, pest control and residue free sterilization techniques and
clean, non-polluting production of electricity.

Should we ban "chemical technology" because it was used by
Adolf Hitler and Saddam Hussein to murder innocent civilians? Or
because the Bhopal chemical accident in India killed and maimed
thousands of citizens?

Indonesia's peaceful use of nuclear technology for the benefit
of its citizens is already well established, thanks to the
programs of the National Atomic Energy Agency, which operates
several research reactors. Indonesia can choose from the world's
best and safest technologies for its own nuclear power program.

Nuclear technology is here to stay. How it is used is
society's choice.

KEITH BRADLEY

Jakarta