Our nuclear energy dilemma

Our nuclear energy dilemma

Amid the public controversy over the building of a nuclear
power plant at the foot of Mount Muria, near Jepara in Central
Java, the House of Representatives has finally given its stamp of
approval to a bill on nuclear energy.

There is no doubt that nuclear energy is more efficient than
other means of generating electric power. However, economic
considerations are not the only ones we should ponder in this
particular case. Considerations of safety and the survival of an
entire nation are of greater importance. This is all the more
true since in our country we still have other sources of energy
at our disposal.

In several advanced countries with human resources
comparatively superior to ours -- such as France and Japan --
nuclear power plants are being closed down. The same is happening
in the United States and Britain.

We need an honest answer to the question whether building a
nuclear power plant is truly the ambition of many, or that of
just a handful of individuals. It is a high price to pay if the
entire nation must be sacrificed in order to fulfill the
ambitions of just a few.

While we wait to see how the bill will fare in the hands of
the President, the government will put on hold any activities
that are related to the Gunung Muria nuclear power plant
construction project until all the provisions that are contained
in the bill can be met -- and most importantly, until the House
of Representatives has been consulted.

Finally, we hope that the House will be more conscientious in
weighing the benefits against the disadvantages of a nuclear
power plant for the sake of the nation.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta