78-13-A7

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Nuclear Power

Transcript We continue to be treated to the spectacle of anti-nuclear power zealots demonstrating at sites where nuclear power plants are being built or planned or even where they have been in operation. The scene is always the same: a mass rally with speakers warning of a nuclear threat to the human race, then trespass and disruption followed by mass arrests. The arrests are for misdemeanors and are not taken seriously by the demonstrators, many of whom enjoy clogging the criminal justice system and refusing to leave the jails where they are held. I'm sure many of these demonstrators are true believers in their cause, sincere in their belief that nuclear power constitutes a great danger to the world. I'm also sure they are unaware that their movement is run by strategists who are cynical and not sincere and who have a motive not announced to the ground troops who go out and get arrested. Indeed some time ago the press carried stories of a coalition being put together to promote unilateral disarmament by the U.S. and opposition to further development of nuclear power in the U.S. Those two causes aren't as far apart as it might seem at first glance. A study by the Heritage Foundation finds that unless we go forward and fast with the building of more nuclear generating plants we may face the early 198O's with unemployment soaring above the seven million mark and around $90 billion a year in lost wages. Our industrial might would be severely crippled by brownouts and power shortages. Where does this tie into disarmament? Well, obviously our industrial capacity is the greatest thing we have going for u s in the contest with the Soviet Union, which is not only go in g forward with its military build up, but is plunging full speed ahead in the development of nuclear power. I wonder how many of our demonstrators would like to protest in Red Square. The people of California voted two years ago--by a majority of more than two to one--to go forward with nuclear power. So far Governor Brown has blocked virtually any such development. The opponents of nuclear energy claim they only want it made safer. In truth they just don't want it. Period. A Congressman from California, Bob Badham, has called attention to something that has gone unnoticed in all the recent demonstrations in New Hampshire and California. The San Onofre nuclear power plant in Southern California just passed its 10th anniversary. In these 10 years it has produced 26 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. Every day it operates it saves 16,000 barrels of oil. And when the two n ew units the demonstrators are protesting about go into operation, the savings will be 30 million barrels of oil a year. But most important to those who have built up the false threat of danger is the San Onofre plant's 10 year record of perfect industrial safety. Not one employee in all these 10 years has ever experienced a lost time industrial accident. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening.		Details Batch Number 78-13-A7 Production Date 09/19/1978 Book/Page RihoH-324 Audio Youtube? No
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