SOCIAL: "Are Nukes Now Green?" experts debate FRIDAY, Jan.13 (for forwarding)

[Adrian.Cotter at sierraclub.org]

Won't be able to go to this, but can someone go and report? please :-)
It sounds like an interesting format to debate the merits of nuclear power
as an option for combating climate change... (by replacing coal plants more
or less)

Friday at the Herbst

+ Adrian Cotter
----- Forwarded by Adrian Cotter/Sierraclub on 01/09/2006 11:38 AM -----

Environmentalists are at their best when they disagree publicly.  Then
discussion can dive through emotional stances to the level of intriguing
details and complex tradeoffs, where intelligent opinion forms and smart
policy takes shape.

Both of the conversants this Friday night have energy expertise and an
environmental agenda.  Ralph Cavanagh, co-director of the Energy Program at
the Natural Resources Defense Counsel, advisor to the US Secretary of
Energy ('93-'03), opposes expansion of nuclear power.  Peter Schwartz, a
former board member of Rocky Mountain Institute, former head of scenario
planning at Royal Dutch/Shell, now chair of Global Business Network, was
persuaded by recent research on abrupt climate change to support the
expansion of nuclear power.

"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, Friday, January 13.  The lecture starts
promptly at 7:30pm.  Admission is free ($10 donation always welcome, not
required).

It's not exactly a debate Friday night, but possibly something better.  The
format requires each speaker to draw out the other's views and then restate
them in a way that satisfies the opponent, "That's right.  You got it."
Which speaker goes first will be decided by the audience and how they
(you!) think the discussion should be framed.  If the question is, "Is
nuclear power too risky to be an option for dealing with climate change?"
then Cavanagh should perhaps go first, stating the affirmative position.
If, on the other hand, the question is, "Should nuclear power be an option
for dealing with climate change?" then it might be Schwartz's affirmative
view that leads off.  You decide, live, Friday night.

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 irrigation
system).  If you would like to be notified by email of forthcoming talks,
please contact Simone Davalos--- simone at longnow.org, 415-561-6582.

You are welcome to forward this note to anyone you think might be
interested.  The Herbst is a nice big theater.
                                --Stewart Brand
--



Stewart Brand -- sb at gbn.org -- 415-331-9241
The Long Now Foundation - http://www.longnow.org
Seminars: http://www.longnow.org/projects/seminars/calendar.php
Seminar downloads:  http://www.longnow.org/shop/free-downloads/seminars/