Tonight, at the Herbst Theater in San Francisco, the Long Now Foundation is sponsoring a debate entitled “Nuclear Power, Climate Change, and the Next 10,000 Years” between Ralph Cavanagh of the Natural Resources Defense Counsel and Peter Schwarz of GBN. A debate such as this challenges long-held assumptions of the environmental community, and reminds us all that seemingly settled issues can become “hot” again. I can’t be there due to a conflict, but this sure looks interesting to me. Full writeup by Stewart Brand below.
Stewart Brand’s announcement of the debate:
Much is at stake in the current debate about nuclear power.
For environmentalists, taking the question seriously threatens a long held, soul-deep position.
For a world facing vastly growing energy use (especially in China and India) and also facing the growing severity of climate change, the question is broader. Should the world do everything it can to reduce the carbon loading of the atmosphere by fossil fuel consumption, including expanding nuclear power? Or should some technologies like nuclear power remain off the table because of their long-term and short-term hazards and costs?
It is not a theoretical debate. Decisions are being made and new policy set in nations large and small, in mature economies and in rapidly growing ones.
The discussion tonight is between two of the most informed and engaged experts in the US. Ralph Cavanagh, from the highly respected Natural Resources Defense Counsel, and Peter Schwartz, from the leading futurist and consulting firm Global Business Network. Both are environmentalists. As environmentalists, one opposes the rebirth of nuclear power; the other promotes it.
“Nuclear Power, Climate Change, and the Next 10,000 Years,” Peter Schwartz, Ralph Cavanagh, Herbst Theater (on Van Ness by Opera House and Civic Center), San Francisco, 7pm, tonight, Friday, January 13. The discussion starts promptly at 7:30pm. Admission is free ($10 donation very welcome, not required). Look for the spotlight outside the theater, adding its bit to global warming.
This is one of a monthly series of Seminars About Long-term Thinking organized by The Long Now Foundation, usually on second Fridays, usually at Fort Mason (though not this one). Future speakers in the series include Stephen Lansing (on a thousand years of finesse in Bali’s agriculture). If you would like to be notified by email of forthcoming talks, please contact Simone Davalos— simone at longnow.org, 415-561-6582.