Say no to nuclear power and risk future energy shortages and adverse climate - The Island.lk

Say no to nuclear power and risk future energy shortages and adverse climate - The Island

By Prof. Kirthi Tennakone

Sri Lanka is planning to initiate nuclear power generation after a long delay––a prudent decision to secure future energy demand and reduce emissions. However, some parties have expressed skepticism that nuclear energy is unsuitable for Sri Lanka, saying it poses a risk of environmental radioactive contamination in reactor meltdowns and waste disposal.

It is true that Madame Curies’ laboratory in a suburb of Paris, where she meddled with truckloads of the uranium mineral pitchblende, continues to be lethally radioactive and beyond remediation. This was the first incident of radioactive seepage, which happened at the dawn of nuclear energy more than one hundred years ago. The situation is vastly different today. Since the advent of commercial reactor technology in the early 1950s, only two major mishaps have occurred; Chernobyl in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011.After these accidents, reactor designers made improvements to ensure safety.

The death rate associated with energy production, in accidents and environmental pollution stands lowest for nuclear power.

Nuclear power has also been opposed on the grounds that it leads to weapon development, war and acts of terrorism. These social ills emerge in the absence of political will to ensure democracy, fairness and equity rather than from nuclear power generation.

Nuclear energy is a clean and zero emission source and the most economical in terms of energy derived per unit weight and volume of fuel. A uranium fuel pellet about the size of a lozenge and weighing 10 grams, generates the same amount of energy as one ton of coal.

Despite the above facts, the public’s aversion to nuclear energy stems largely from unsubstantiated fear mongering and not being informed enough to realize it is a universal and natural source of energy, not something granted by the devil. Nuclear energy is fascinating. Just like solar energy, its primary origin is celestial. You will reconsider its virtue after learning what it is and how it came about.

What is nuclear energy?

One of the greatest achievements of modern science has been the revelation of the atomic structure of matter. Centuries of dedicated work by chemists and physicists disclosed matter is made out of some ninety odd elements, which cannot be broken-down further into freely existing components. And each element is constituted of atoms characteristic of it. An atom has a nucleus, where positively charged protons and neutral neutrons are glued together to form a ‘ball’ and surrounded by electrons to balance the positive charge. Sometimes, a heavy atomic nucleus containing protons in excess of a certain limit, disintegrates on its own, emitting ionising radiation – the process known as radioactivity. The radioactivity of a chemical element indicates an instability of the atomic nucleus carrying stored energy.

In December 1938, two physicists, Lise Meitner and Otto Frisch, working in Berlin, made a startling discovery changing the world forever. They bombarded uranium, the heaviest chemical element found on earth, with neutrons, thinking that would enable them to create artificial elements even heavier than uranium, but observed something else. When a neutron hits the uranium nucleus it broke into two lighter nuclei and a few neutrons, releasing an excessive quantity of energy. Physicists are extraordinarily clever and immediately realised the potential of the discovery to initiate a chain reaction using uranium and derive energy either slowly or explosively. The idea was practically implemented a few years later. Inventing nuclear reactors to save the planet and atomic bombs to destroy it. Now is the time to promote the first and ban the second.

What is the primary source of nuclear energy?

Fuels store energy in an invisible but extractable form. Firewood, coal, petroleum and uranium are fuels. Nature allows only transfers of energy from one agent to another, not the creation out of nothing. The common fuels got their energies from sunlight harvested by green plants, recently or millions of years ago. However, uranium has nothing to do with the sun.

Uranium occurs in the earth’s crust, notably as the mineral pitchblende. How was uranium so rich in energy, produced? The answer to the question bears on the general issue of the origin of chemical elements.

All the hydrogen and a good portion of the helium in the universe were produced three minutes after big bang. Later, a series of reactions occurring inside stars, starting with the fusion of hydrogen and helium nuclei, produced elements lighter than iron. A uranium nucleus has 92 protons and 146 neutrons, assembling them together requires an extremely energetic environment with an intense flux of neutrons. Such extreme conditions happen when a massive star explodes as a supernova, two neutron stars collide, or a black hole begins devouring a star. These events, not uncommon in the universe, produce very heavy elements, including uranium and gold (loved by many more than uranium) dispersing them all over the interstellar medium to be picked up by planets during their formation.

Nuclear energy is not renewable, but the world has a good supply of uranium. We say solar energy is renewable, because its availability over human scales of time is virtually unlimited.

Renewable energy versus nuclear energy

Despite strong emphasis and major advancements in power generation using renewables; solar photovoltaic, wind and hydroelectricity; around 80 percent of the world’s current energy demand comes from fossil fuels. Projections predict reductions expected via renewable usage would be of the order of 2-3 percent per year in the next decade. The deployment of renewable power generation facilities also consumed fossil fuels. Converting silica to silicon and making solar cells, panels and installation of supporting structures made out of iron require fossil fuel, which cannot be replaced by pure electricity. Similar constraints arise in the commissioning of wind and hydroelectric projects. Additionally, renewable energy supplies are intermittent and affected by climate variation. We know very well the problem of hydroelectricity during times of poor rainfall and draught.

Renewable energy generation systems have inherently low efficiencies and involve the utilisation of large land areas and huge quantities of materials. When attempts are made to meet a significant portion of the increasing energy demand using renewables, the constraints become increasingly severe.

A nuclear reactor of capacity 1000 megawatts needs a land area of about three square kilometers. Whereas a solar cell complex of the same capacity, covers at least 20 times more land and a wind farm 700 times. Offshore wind farms, though a good option, have a shorter operational time and higher maintenance costs compared to nuclear reactors. Other renewable energy generation systems also lead to similar constraints.

Nuclear energy and hydrogen

Today, the world focuses much attention on green hydrogen, the cleanest fuel able to decarbonise the transport sector and eliminate fossil fuels in manufacture of fertilisers, steel, solar cells and a host of other essential commodities. Production of green hydrogen via splitting water is energy intensive. Renewable energy exploited to its limits may not suffice for production of sufficient hydrogen. Nuclear energy is undoubtedly a viable alternative.

A real problem with renewable energy is the escalation of constraints when they expand to a level sufficient for the complete elimination of fossil fuels. It is hard to predict how the advancements in renewable energy will progress in the coming years.

Meeting the ever-increasing energy demand and phasing out fossil fuels to avert global warming is most unlikely to be achieved without supplementing of renewables with nuclear energy.

Building nuclear power plants is costly and time consuming. Nevertheless, in the light of the gravity of energy and climate crisis, no country can afford to ignore nuclear energy. Sri Lanka needs to embark on nuclear energy at least in a small way and plan for the future.Otherwise, in decades and years to come, the repercussions of saying no to nuclear energy could be the same as banning chemical fertilisers!

(The author can be reached via email: ktenna@yahoo.co.uk )

By Uditha Devapriya

R. Perera, who died last Monday, hailed from the same generation as Sumitra Peries, who passed away in January. A towering hulk of a man, Perera often played characters who did not want to flaunt their strength, who concealed their aggressive streak. This did not make him timid, still less submissive. Whether he was playing a monk or a Mudaliyar, he knew when to be assertive and when to step back. The result was a remarkable combination of bravado and self-restraint that epitomised him. Yet, such a combination served in the end to restrict him: much of the time he had to be content playing secondary roles.

It would be a mistake, however, to view this purely as a limitation. Perera may have been restricted to secondary roles, but even within these limits he gave his best and built up an impressive portfolio of performances. Not all of them ranked at the top of the league, but not all of them ranked at the bottom either: he could play the Mudaliyar (Nidahase Piya) with as much finesse as the servant of the manor (Aswesuma), a henchman (Welikathara) with as much facility as a monk (Giraya). Like Joe Abeywickrema, the greatest character actor Sri Lanka has ever seen, Perera remained, to his last, a chameleonic figure.

Chameleonic, and colourful. When I met him in 2016, he opened himself up, not caring to restrain himself. This may have been because he lived through a very colourful childhood and adolescence. Born in Kirulapone in 1939, Perera was initially educated at Rattanapitiya in Boralesgamuwa. His family moved to Egodawatte, one of the 13 villages which made up Boralesgamuwa, and sent him to Kumara Vidyalaya in Kotahena. It was at Rattanapitiya, in or around 1950, that he met and befriended Tissa Abeysekara. The two of them became good friends, cycling together to Kandy, sampling the latest films and books.

A deeply bilingual man, Perera’s tastes remained decidedly eclectic. He was at ease and at home with both Erskine Caldwell and Martin Wickramasinghe. His own career began with the theatre, specifically with Sugathapala de Silva. There are perhaps many versions of how de Silva came up with a name for his stage troupe, and Perera had his. Apparently the two of them had been brainstorming for names at the Vihara Maha Devi Park for almost two weeks, and along the way several arrack bottles had been, to put it politely, downed. Exasperated and not a little frustrated, on the 12th day Perera had blurted out, “Balahan Sugath, arakku bothal daha thunak oni ne ape kattiyata namak hoyaganna!”

De Silva had paused. “Stop right there!” he had expostulated. Thinking for a while, he had smiled at Perera and declared: “Ape Kattiya we shall be!”

All this led to Perera’s debut in Dharmasiri Wickramaratne’s Ran Thodu, which apparently created such a furore and a sensation that several actors and writers joined them, including Wickrema Bogoda and Premaranjith Tilakaratne. Premaranjith, a fiery radical even during his time, subsequently broke away from Ape Kattiya and formed his own troupe, 63 Kandayama. He persuaded Perera to play a leading role in his debut, Waguru Bima, in 1963. One thing led to another again, and D. B. Nihalsinghe chose him to play a minor though important role in his debut, Welikathara. Perera’s performance there lasts for around 10 minutes: it was shot, he remembered for me, at G. D. L. Perera’s office in Nawinne.

These associations made him an integral part of the social transformations which were sweeping across Sri Lanka at the time. The 1956 election had, for all intents and purposes, emancipated a Sinhala speaking intelligentsia and artistic community, giving them the freedom and the agency to do as they pleased and as they wished. From this emerged an entire generation of bilingual artistes, particularly playwrights, who not only repudiated the classical garb of Sarachchandra’s Maname, but also went out to the world in search of new, exciting dramatic and artistic forms. Perera soon found himself in their company, working alongside with, or making the acquaintance of, the likes of Tilakaratne, Perera, Sumana Aloka Bandara, and Sugathapala de Silva, all of whom hailed from his class.

Certainly, these were formative years, particularly for the Sinhala cinema. Yet Perera did not particularly distinguish himself in film. A tally of less than 60 films, including three Indian, two American, and one German, would hardly constitute a “prodigious” career, after all. Rather, it was in television that the man proved his mark and made a name for himself. Counting in more than 600 television serials and performances, Perera carved a niche for himself as a supporting actor, a feat which eventually broke records and for which he was recognised officially, when some years ago, at the Raigam Awards, he received honours as the actor with the highest number of television appearances.

Unlike most of his contemporaries, Perera did not care to stick to a particular mould or archetype. What binds all his performances together today is that they are all supporting characters. There were one or two roles with which he took the lead, but these were, until his last days, exceptional. A concomitant of this was that none of his performances were ever truly likeable or dislikeable. Their function, as it stood, was to propel the plot, to better reinforce relations between the protagonist and the world around him in the narrative. In Aswesuma, for instance, he is the servant of the manor, whose main function, literally, is to despatch messages between the protagonist, played by Jackson Anthony, and the man who will eventually try to kill him, played by Ravindra Randeniya.

This is not to say that these characters lacked agency. But more often than not, they were deprived of it. With very little to do, they often lingered onscreen, waiting until the script gave them something to act on. But within the confines of his characters, he had very little to do, and catalytic though some of his performances may have been, in the end he refused to take the lead with them. This is the case with his performance as the game hamuduruwo in Giraya: in his attempt at educating villagers, he risks running up against the traditional social order represented by the occupants of the manor, particularly the Walawwa Hamine played by Grace Ariyawimal. But Perera’s monk does not become a complete radical either: he contents himself in educating his people, rather than inciting them to rebel.

The most obvious comparison and contrast that comes to mind is Joe Abeywickrema. Until Welikathara, which coincidentally was Perera’s debut, Abeywickrema remained at best a secondary player, whose roles in film seemed to be that of a consoler, the man who went out of his way to make things happen faster for the protagonist. After Welikathara, things never stayed the same. In both Welikathara and Aswesuma, one notices at once the rift, the contrast, between these two actors: Abeywickrema does not hesitate to take the lead, while Perera does all he can to stay away. In this both were responding to the limitations placed on them by their script, and in both cases, they gave the best they had. It is perhaps a sign of how distinct the one was from the other that although their characters in Welikathara and Aswesuma know each other, these two actors never meet in person.

He remained, to the last, prone to talk. It was impossible to end any conversation you began with him, especially if that conversation centred on subjects close to his heart. And there were quite a number of subjects close to his heart, among them the state of the nation’s theatre. Once, for instance, he had approached the Norwegian Ambassador and proposed a novel idea. “I wanted Sri Lanka to have more complexes outside Colombo. These would be named after playwrights from the world over and funded by the citizens of their respective countries. Norwegians, for instance, could help build a complex named after Ibsen.” Sadly, though the Ambassador had been intrigued, the project never came to be.

Such passions and obsessions dotted Perera’s life, though people would not normally associate him with them. For them, as for most of us, Perera remained an actor, a pretty decent one. Although much can be said and written about the quality of the productions that he took part in – from the high point of Sri Lankan cinema and television in the 1970s and 1980s, we have slipped, badly – it goes without saying that, despite the limits within which he had to perform, he performed well. Perhaps the best example for this would be one of his last roles, as Mudaliyar Don Spater Senanayake in Nidahase Piya. That film left much to be desired, historically, but as the paterfamilias of the Senanayake family, Perera reimagined his role, embodying him, but also individualising him. In the end that became his signature: his ability at assimilating his role, and giving it his own distinct flavour.

The writer is an international relations analyst, researcher, and columnist who can be reached at udakdev1@gmail.com.

While the eruption of ‘ethnic violence’ in any part of South Asia should only be expected, considering the region’s unresolved inter-communal questions, the latest outburst of unrest of this kind in India’s Manipur state could be of some exceptional significance in view of the special importance the Indian centre attaches to the development of the country’s North-East. In fact such violence could be bad news for the country’s development planners.

From the viewpoint of the Indian centre’s ‘Look East’ policy, the country’s North-East is of vast importance to the development of even the totality of India. On the basis of this policy, progressive development of the North-East is seen as holding the key to the country eventually integrating more closely with the ASEAN region and of even penetrating markets of the Asia-Pacific in general. Besides, economic integration between the North-East and China’s South-west region is seen as having growth implications for India’s immediate neighbourhood.

Accordingly, the development of India’s ‘Seven Sister States’ of the North-East cannot be downplayed. These states are; Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. By the same token, ‘ethnic violence’ and disruptive tendencies of a like kind in these states cannot be glossed over as temporary phenomena either. The consequences of these setbacks could be grave from particularly the development viewpoint.

As is known, current armed clashes between some of Manipur’s ethnic groups over grievances relating to deprivation and perceived discrimination are costing the state most dearly in terms of lives lost and heavy material damage incurred. Such recurring conflicts would set back the developmental clock, unless resolved effectively.

What the on-going violence could mean for Manipur and eventually the North-East from the viewpoint of development prospects undermined, could be ascertained from some points that have been made in the past by specialists in North-East development, who have been making a case for stepped-up economic interaction between the region and its immediate neighbours.

For example, the following observations go to the heart of what is at stake: ‘A market of 400 million people is emerging, including neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Nepal which can be tapped…. The region has the potential of developing into India’s powerhouse; the area is a vibrant source of energy, rich in oil, natural gas, coal and limestone, and India’s largest perennial water system – the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries – can be tapped for energy, irrigation and transportation purposes…Locational advantages make this region attractive to foreign investment; it has unique proximity to other countries in South and Southeast Asia regions.’ (See page 62, ‘India, China and Sub-regional Connectivities in South Asia’, Edited by D. Suba Chandran and Bhavna Singh, SAGE Publications India Pvt. Ltd., 2015).

Accordingly, considering that Manipur too is central to the North-East’s development prospects, it need hardly be said that rampant violence and chronic lawlessness in the state could hamper the overall development of the region and impinge negatively on India’s economic cooperation efforts with its neighbours. All measures, therefore, need to be taken by the state authorities and the Indian centre to resolve the grievances at the heart of Manipur’s ‘ethnic violence’.

Likewise, the vast economic and material benefits that could accrue to the South and Southeast Asian regions from stepped-up efforts by China and India to resolve their border dispute in particular should now be grasped by the states concerned. Clearly, India and China could not only be weakening their own growth prospects but those of the regions referred to as well by not working expeditiously towards resolving their differences.

The eruption of inter-communal violence in Manipur ought to serve as a reminder to the relevant Indian authorities and those at the helm of similarly troubled countries in South Asia that there could be no complacency over perceived successes in the task of managing inter-ethnic relations.

Not so long ago Manipur was in the thick of separatist violence of a highly virulent kind. In recent years the state has given the impression of ‘taking a breather’ as it were from such disintegrative tendencies but the current bout of ‘ethnic violence’ proves that not all is well in Manipur. Apparently, putting things right in divisive inter-ethnic ties is a long drawn out process.

In the case of Manipur, land and power issues are reportedly bedeviling relations between the state’s Meitei and Kuki groups. The Meiteis are the numerically superior group but they inhabit, apparently, only some 10 percent of the state’s land mass. On the other hand, the Kukis who are numerically inferior inhabit the state’s highland and hilly territories and live in a comparatively expansive land area. However, the Meiteis, in terms of existing practices, cannot buy land in the hilly, tribal regions. This disproportionality too is at the heart of inter-group hostilities.

Compounding these inter-group antagonisms is the perception that the Meiteis enjoy more power than the Kukis by virtue of the fact that they possess substantial political representation in the state assembly. An effort by the Meiteis to acquire Scheduled Tribe status, which attracts positive discrimination measures, reports indicate, has ignited the current strife in Manipur.

The foregoing background information indicates that the governments of the South cannot rest from their efforts at bringing reconciliation among their antagonistic communities. That is, reconciliation is an ongoing process. Nor is it only a matter of ironing out hostilities growing out of merely material issues, such as equitable access to land among communities.

Reconciliation, in truest sense of the word, results from the members of one community recognizing the dignity and worth of members of other communities. In the absence of such recognition of the dignity of ‘the Other’, no peace or reconciliation could be had.

However, the generation of economic equity within countries and among them could facilitate peace-building efforts among ethnic communities and countries. It ought to be plain to see that India’s North-East possesses the potential in ample measure to provide the material basis for intra-state and inter-state amicable relations, in respect of particularly South and Southeast Asia.

But there needs to be a focused collective effort among the countries concerned to discern the above potential and to initiate the relevant practical measures to make economic betterment among them a reality. Attaching primacy to achieving national interests at any cost could prove counter-productive.

Chit-Chat

Sanojee Gamage has been around for quite a while, working at a leading international bank, as an assistant vice president, specialized in group transformation and digitalization.

However, it was only recently that she came into the spotlight, in a big way, when she graduated, and was seen on the ramp at Chulpadmendra’s ‘Ramp Comes Alive.’

Having done a little modelling, in the past, Sanojee is now looking for bigger happenings on the ramp, and to do some photographic modelling, as well.

My Chit-Chat with Sanojee revealed the following:

1. How would you describe yourself?

At work, I’m a problem solver, with high tolerance to ambiguity, who knows how to get the job done, with a balanced approach. When I am not at work, I’m a person who always embraces spontaneity, welcoming and respect differences. I’m a person with a good sense of humour and always brave enough to show my silly side.

2. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Wake up early and work towards achieving my dreams instead of waiting for miracles to happen. When most people plan and work for their dreams, I leave it as it is, hoping dreams to come true, one day.

3. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?

My first wish is to reverse my parents’ age; if that is not allowed, then I wish for at least 10 more siblings. I’ve one sister, who is close to me, and having 10 more will make life more fun and safer.

4. School?

Good Shepard Convent, Kotahena, and I also need to add the following: Finance specialised MBA from the University of Bedfordshire, UK, Post graduate diploma in Management, Business Management School, Sri Lanka, and Lean Six Sigma and Agile certified from SAFE Agile, UK.

5. Happiest moment?

It is yet to happen. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve one or two dreams and I guess my happiest moment will be the day when I start achieving those.

6. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

There are many ways where you can achieve/enjoy perfect happiness, and one of the things would be knowing your circle, and genuinely not care/ignore what the rest of them have to say about you, and help others as you can, while you can.

7. Are you religious?

Yes I am. My faith has always helped me to cope up with life better. But, it does not mean I’m a good Christian, even though I’m trying. Also, I need to mention that I don’t agree with people who try to argue on religious beliefs, and it does not matter what religion people follow as long as that religion makes that person wise to understand the difference between good and bad, which help them in life, while making choices.

8. Are you superstitious?

No, Í believe I am stronger and blessed where none of these things can affect me.

9. Your ideal guy?

Who does what he says, who is compassionate, assertive and if the person share the same goals and values,that will be even better.

10. Which living person do you most admire?

No doubt, that will be my mother. She is my role model and inspiration. Her never give up attitude, physical and mental health and strength, and ability to love, unconditionally, continue to surprise me.

11. Which is your most treasured possession?

That will be the belongings which my grandparents (from both farther and mother’s side) used before they passed away, and their photos. Keeping those safe with me is my way to show my love and gratitude towards them. I didn’t get a chance to associate with them, treat them enough ’cos some passed away when I was very little, and some passed away when I was schooling.

12. If you were marooned on a desert island, who would you like as your companion?

If I get lost on a desert Island, I will soon end up depressed, due to social isolation. I might want to have my partner as my companion ’cos it’s best to have someone whom you can trust. Having said that, I still want to get out alive, or survive, until I’m found. So, a wildlife survivor would be ideal – one who knows all the tips and tricks to keep us fed, and alive, until we find a way out!

13. Your most embarrassing moment?

I love singing but not in public. I used to sing loudly when I was at home, or when doing gardening, etc. One day, my mom came out, when I was gardening, and requested me to stop singing, saying she feared that the guy next door, who has moved in, recently, might hear me singing. That day, I realized how good I’m in singing!

14. Done anything daring?

This question made me realize that I have not done anything daring, yet, but I should definitely create a list, and skydiving would be one of them.

15. Your ideal vacation?

Vacation is one of my favourites and every year I make sure that I get breaks, from the usual routine, and bring more meaning to life. Usually, I love to be with my family, unwinding alongside a stream, to beach strolls. However, it would be ideal to be on a sandy beach side with my true buddies, from school, with no need to worry about going back to work, and money, and getting to eat all we want, talk for hours, daily spa time, exhilarating exercise, and dance the night away. In fact, I’m very good at dancing, at parties, till dawn.

16. What kind of music are you into?

I’m a fan of old Hindi hits (not sure the kind of music) which is rare among my friends, but I love the sound of the language, the verse, and the way they tell the story. Also, R’n’B and, sometimes, classical, rock…depending on my mood.

17. Favourite radio station?

I rarely get to listen to the radio, hence I don’t have much idea to pick one. Sun and Yes FM are the ones I, at least know, and tune in when I travel.

18. Favourite TV station?

Same as radio. I do not have much idea to pick one as I do not watch TV a lot. I watch Netflix when a good movie, or series, is released.

19. What would you like to be born as in your next life?

If I could wish, I want to be born as a super hero, or as a charismatic leader, who is intelligent, empathetic, with a powerful charisma, and address global issues and restore, preserve and enhance people, and the environment.

20. Any major plans for the future?

In the next five years, I intend to pursue my dream to become an entrepreneur and a founder for a nonprofit organization and I’m optimistic I’m a few years away from realizing my dream. I’m also planning to enroll for a fashion designing diploma when I move to Australia.

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