Opinions of prominent persons
As the technical hurdles fall so should the political ones. There are many examples that show the disposal of radioactive waste without risk to humans and the environment is possible. Also in Switzerland, we know the technical solutions. But at the moment we are still falling at the political hurdles.
Radioactive waste arises not only in nuclear power plants, but also in industry, research and healthcare. There is an ongoing debate about the waste that already exists. And this will continue to be the case with future radioactive waste.
It is time, even in Switzerland, in our own country, to accept the need for final disposal. This does not mean striving for international solutions because, in certain areas, especially where small quantities of waste exist, it makes little sense to have their own facility.
Action is needed now! Every energy source has its ecological price. Whether we drive a car and deposit a good portion of the exhaust fumes into the air, whether we are at the dentist having X-rays taken of our teeth, or whether we simply push the buttons on the computer or light switch, we all produce our share of waste.
For radioactive waste, legislation stipulated years ago that the resulting Swiss residues be disposed of here. Now, following sufficient scientific studies into the volume of low- and medium-level wastes, we must take action, namely the construction of a repository.
Taking responsibility, solidarity between people and sustainability, are also key words for the future of our country. Switzerland is only credible if it proceeds responsibly. This means that we solve our own problems and do not simply pass them onto others – including and especially if they are not easy to resolve. This also applies to the disposal of radioactive waste.
We are obliged to seek safe and environmentally sound solutions in this field, not least in the interest of our youth and future generations.
While making progress on one side, a society that produces waste must also be prepared to dispose of it, in its own country. One cannot bury waste in the Sahara.
In recent decades we have had the habit of accepting only one side of progress and rejecting the other. What has been rejected challenges us today. We will probably not come through the darker side of progress unless we tackle it sensibly, i.e resolving the question of disposal.
Denial solves no problems. The scientific results of 25 years of efforts for the safe disposal of radioactive material are long on the table, but their practical implementation is lacking.
It is prevented by constant false information which has managed to delay something of national importance. How can it be that they fight the export of radioactive material abroad, but boycott domestic storage and demand the storage of waste from nuclear power plants within a certain time while hindering preparatory work?
Only fundamentalists can live with such contradictions, they are incapable of practical solutions. But this must be realised, to which I draw the attention of the sensible majority of our people.
Prosperity and responsibility in Switzerland started early this century and the importance was recognised of a far-sighted autonomous power supply for the independence of our country. Today's prosperity is based not least on this vision. The nuclear power plants that are still in operation were built to maintain this autonomy of supply. With this in mind, the Swiss population has voted against a phase-out of nuclear power three times.
But nuclear plants produce radioactive waste that must be disposed of cleanly. It therefore cannot be that we leave the disposal of waste to the next generation while our society enjoys prosperity. It is the task of our prosperous generation to assume its responsibilities.
A ‘must’! Regardless of the debate about the use of nuclear energy, we – proponents and opponents – cannot avoid the fact that this country has already produced radioactive wastes to be disposed of in a safe way. Given the longevity and factual indestructibility of these hazardous substances, they can only be disposed of outside of the biosphere, according to geological criteria, securely enclosed for several hundreds of thousands of years, and in a repository that is no longer accessible even for those with criminal intentions.
In view of the long storage period, one should not only consider economic questions. The uncontrolled mania of competition cannot be played out here. Too great is the risk of criminal and exploitative garbage tourism in second and third world countries.
In this sense, I believe that – to coincide with the preparation of the scientific foundations for a responsible repository concept for a thousand generations – even the boundaries of criminal and legal norms need to be surpassed. Only with such comprehensive treatment of the problem can the politicians and experts involved win back the lost confidence of the population.