Group 3: Nuclear waste Storage Introduction Group 3: Ethics in research – Seminar II Group 3: Nuclear waste Storage Introduction The scenario: Our small country is having a nuclear waste problem. Nuclear waste can be stored deep down underground in a stable geologic formation where the radioactivity can reduce to a safe level after 10,000s of years. There is only one location in our country that have these conditions. The location is in a nature reserve with a rare tiger. The nature reserve in close to two villages and the water supply for a large area.

Group 3: Nuclear waste Storage Ethical problems Group 3: Ethics in research – Seminar II Group 3: Nuclear waste Storage Ethical problems Ethical problems with nuclear waste storage: Is it ethical to expose the people in the village to the risk of the waste leaking? Is it ethical to expose the nature reserve and rare tigers to the risk of the waste leaking? Is it ethical to expose the water supply and hence, the greater food chain to the risk of the waste leaking? Is it ethical to expose the people in the village to risk, because of societies problems? http://www.dianuke.org/

Geological Storage of Radioactive Waste Group 3: Ethics in research – Seminar II Geological Storage of Radioactive Waste Alternatives to geological storage of the waste: Send the waste into space Wait and rely on future innovations Store the waste on the surface Pay another country to take care of the waste

Geological Storage of Radioactive Waste Group 3: Ethics in research – Seminar II Geological Storage of Radioactive Waste Groups, individuals, organizations, etc., that will be affected if the geological storage site is (or is not) built: Society in general Environment Local population The endemic tiger Government Tiger activists Researchers The seismological network Engineering contractors Companies currently storing the waste Future generations Etc.

Group 3: Ethics in research – Seminar II Group 3: Nuclear waste Storage Values, interests, duties, standpoints and attitudes Values, interests, duties, standpoints and attitudes: We should prevent harm to humans We should prevent harm to the environment We should forfeit the rights of the few for the needs of greater society We should solve this problem today, so that future generations are not burdened by it It is not fair to put the people and environment close to a storage site at risk It is important to have access to the waste, as it could be valuable to future generations It is important to make sure the waste does not fall into the wrong hands It is unrealistic to expect a storage facility to work, it must last longer than any human construction in modern civilisation (storage required for 10,000s of years) It is important not to exploit other countries It is important to find a permanent solution to this problem

Group 3: Ethics in research – Seminar II Group 3: Nuclear waste Storage Values, interests, duties, standpoints and attitudes Geological storage Send into space Store on the surface Send elsewhere Wait Values, interests, duties, standpoints and attitudes: We should prevent harm to humans We should prevent harm to the environment We should forfeit the rights of the few for the needs of greater society We should solve this problem today, so that future generations are not burdened by it It is not fair to put the people and environment close to a storage site at risk It is important to have access to the waste, as it could be valuable to future generations It is important to make sure the waste does not fall into the wrong hands It is unrealistic to expect a storage facility to work, it must last longer than any human construction in modern civilisation (storage required for 10,000s of years) It is important not to exploit other countries It is important to find a permanent solution to this problem

Group 3: Nuclear waste Storage Group 3: Ethics in research – Seminar II Group 3: Nuclear waste Storage Optimal situation Optimal solutions regarding ethical aspect: Give the local residents the chance to veto the decision to locate the storage site in their area Compensation or re-location for local residents Environmental rescue plan, save the tigers! Give society a chance to vote on the decision Other more suitable geological storage site in another part of the world