Doubts About Nuclear Energy

Your article “Re-energized”, about the French nuclear-energy company Areva [Nov. 14], noted that there may be a comeback for nuclear power. Even if there is evidence of a “nuclear renaissance”, as Areva's head, Anne Lauvergeon, put it, I can't see nuclear power plants becoming popular in most of Europe. There are still serious problems with handling the drainage of reactor coolant into rivers, and there is the major concern of how to dispose of nuclear waste. Long-distance transport of such material is highly dangerous, especially with the threat of terrorist attacks. And can we place on future generations the burden of coping with tons of hazardous radioactive substances? The reasons for the sudden return of nuclear energy – spiking oil prices and the effect of greenhouse gases – also call for investment in alternative-energy technologies. Wind, solar or water energy could help stop the progress of global warming and make us independent of fossil fuels. Alternative energies would save us money in the long run without the immense drawbacks of nuclear energy.

LISA JANK Augsburg, Germany

(Time, December 19, 2005, p. 10)

Doubts About Nuclear Energy

Your article “Re-energized”, about the French nuclear-energy company Areva [Nov. 14], noted that there may be a comeback for nuclear power. Even if there is evidence of a “nuclear renaissance”, as Areva's head, Anne Lauvergeon, put it, I can't see nuclear power plants becoming popular in most of Europe. There are still serious problems with handling the drainage of reactor coolant into rivers, and there is the major concern of how to dispose of nuclear waste. Long-distance transport of such material is highly dangerous, especially with the threat of terrorist attacks. And can we place on future generations the burden of coping with tons of hazardous radioactive substances? The reasons for the sudden return of nuclear energy – spiking oil prices and the effect of greenhouse gases – also call for investment in alternative-energy technologies. Wind, solar or water energy could help stop the progress of global warming and make us independent of fossil fuels. Alternative energies would save us money in the long run without the immense drawbacks of nuclear energy.

LISA JANK Augsburg, Germany

(Time, December 19, 2005, p. 10)

Doubts About Nuclear Energy

Your article “Re-energized”, about the French nuclear-energy company Areva [Nov. 14], noted that there may be a comeback for nuclear power. Even if there is evidence of a “nuclear renaissance”, as Areva's head, Anne Lauvergeon, put it, I can't see nuclear power plants becoming popular in most of Europe. There are still serious problems with handling the drainage of reactor coolant into rivers, and there is the major concern of how to dispose of nuclear waste. Long-distance transport of such material is highly dangerous, especially with the threat of terrorist attacks. And can we place on future generations the burden of coping with tons of hazardous radioactive substances? The reasons for the sudden return of nuclear energy – spiking oil prices and the effect of greenhouse gases – also call for investment in alternative-energy technologies. Wind, solar or water energy could help stop the progress of global warming and make us independent of fossil fuels. Alternative energies would save us money in the long run without the immense drawbacks of nuclear energy.

LISA JANK Augsburg, Germany

(Time, December 19, 2005, p. 10)

Doubts About Nuclear Energy

Your article “Re-energized”, about the French nuclear-energy company Areva [Nov. 14], noted that there may be a comeback for nuclear power. Even if there is evidence of a “nuclear renaissance”, as Areva's head, Anne Lauvergeon, put it, I can't see nuclear power plants becoming popular in most of Europe. There are still serious problems with handling the drainage of reactor coolant into rivers, and there is the major concern of how to dispose of nuclear waste. Long-distance transport of such material is highly dangerous, especially with the threat of terrorist attacks. And can we place on future generations the burden of coping with tons of hazardous radioactive substances? The reasons for the sudden return of nuclear energy – spiking oil prices and the effect of greenhouse gases – also call for investment in alternative-energy technologies. Wind, solar or water energy could help stop the progress of global warming and make us independent of fossil fuels. Alternative energies would save us money in the long run without the immense drawbacks of nuclear energy.

LISA JANK
Augsburg, Germany

(Time, December 19, 2005, p. 10)

Here is the beginning of a piece of news:

A group of U.S. Senators visited Brazil in August
to take a look at the country’s ethanol industry.
“It was a real eye-opener. I was just amazed what
we learned,” said Sen. Mel Martinez ( R-Fla).

What most impressed the delegation was the
choice Brazilians have at the pump. Since the
1973 oil embargo, Brazil has battled to achieve
energy independence, replacing gasoline with
ethanol, an alcohol distilled from sugarcane…

In Brazil ethanol, or ‘alcool” as it is called, costs
only $2 at the pump, compared to $4 for a gasolineethanol
blend ( Brazil no longer sells regular
unblended gasoline). And while ethanol-powered
cars consume 25% to 30% more fuel per mile than
gasoline cars, the average motorist can save about
$820 a year by switching to ethanol.

(from www.forbes.com/2005/11/15/energy-ethanolbrazil_
cx_1116energy_adams)

O que faz o brasil Brasil?

Devo começar explicando o meu enigmático título. É que será preciso estabelecer uma distinção radical entre um “brasil” escrito com letra minúscula, nome de um tipo de madeira de lei ou de uma feitoria interessada em explorar uma terra como outra qualquer, e o Brasil que designa um povo, uma nação, um conjunto de valores, escolhas e ideais de vida. O “brasil” com o b minúsculo é apenas um objeto sem vida, autoconsciência ou pulsação interior, pedaço de coisa que morre e não tem a menor condição de se reproduzir como sistema; como, aliás, queriam alguns teóricos sociais do século XIX, que viam na terra – um pedaço perdido de Portugal e da Europa – um conjunto doentio e condenado de raças que, misturando-se ao sabor de uma natureza exuberante e de um clima tropical, estariam fadadas à degeneração e à morte biológica, psicológica e social. Mas o Brasil com B maiúsculo é algo muito mais complexo. É país, cultura, local geográfico, fronteira e território reconhecidos internacionalmente, e também casa, pedaço de chão calçado com o calor de nossos corpos, lar, memória e consciência de um lugar com o qual se tem uma ligação especial, única, totalmente sagrada. É igualmente um tempo singular cujos eventos são exclusivamente seus, e também temporalidade que pode ser acelerada na festa do carnaval; que pode ser detida na morte e na memória e que pode ser trazida de volta na boa recordação de saudade. Tempo e temporalidade de ritmos localizados e, assim, insubstituíveis. Sociedade onde pessoas seguem certos valores e julgam as ações humanas dentro de um padrão somente seu. Não se trata mais de algo inerte, mas de uma entidade viva, cheia de auto-reflexão e consciência: algo que se soma e se alarga para o futuro e o passado, num movimento próprio que se chama História.

Roberto Da Matta