Burns 1

Kent Burns

Mrs. Barnes

English 112

20 January 2017

Annotated Bibliography

"Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Accident." Global Issues in Context Online Collection, Gale,

2016. Global Issues in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CP3208520203/GIC?

u=mass12242&xid=798fd682. Accessed 31 Dec. 2016.

The author of this article provides an in-depth explanation of the ecologically famous

Chernobyl disaster and its after effects. They also skim over the more recent Fukushima

meltdown. The article is biased against nuclear energy, but not so much that the article is

unreadable to all who disagree. Their points are very factual, placing the bias-sifted

information without filler. The interesting information though, is that these two nuclear

incidents, and all others, are influenced by, if not directly caused by, simple, human

mistakes. There were a few in-text citations, but no works cited page. The simplistic

factual approach to the subject makes this a valuable resource for research.

Grandin, Karl, Jagers, Peter, and Sven Kullander. Nuclear Energy. Ambio, vol. 39, 2010, pp.

2630. www.jstor.org/stable/40801588. Accessed 30 Dec. 2016

This article by Karl, Peter and Sven is a wonderful, bias-free evaluation of nuclear energy

in todays society. It was excellent in hitting all the points, of which every single one had
 Burns 2

a counter point. Some very realistic concerns of nuclears future were addressed, such as

the concern of having other countries with more economic instability use nuclear energy,

of which fission reactors can be modified to create weapons. However, Grandin argues

that the future of nuclear is fusion, not fission, which can use the most easily accessible

material on earth, water, to run. Rare are the bias-free evaluations of a subject; this one is

quite a catch. In general, this article provides some very useful information, which shall

be an excellent tool in writing on this subject.

"Nuclear Energy." Global Issues in Context Collection, Gale, 2016. Global Issues in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CP3208520079/GIC?u=mass12242&xid=1449a464.

Accessed 19 Dec. 2016.

The author of this article is very factual. Providing little in the way of opinion.

Everything written is written as small explanations to nuclear events now and in history.

The piece fails, however, to mention any of the positive nuclear attributes, other than a

few half-hearted counter-arguments. Because of this, the author appears bias-free and

forces the reader to agree with him, very shrewd. This article is likely only useful as raw

data.

"Nuclear Fusion Research Enters 'Critical Phase' In France." All Things Considered, 22 Aug.

2013. Global Issues in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A340890967/GIC?

u=mass12242&xid=16bedf9d. Accessed 27 Dec. 2016.

 Burns 3

This interview of the head engineer of a new fusion reactor in France has little concrete

information as the reporter appears only to want the political aspects of the construction.

However, it does shed light on an interesting occurrence. The fact that a fusion reactor is

already being built says a lot about confidence in it's field. More research shall have to be

done on this specific reactor, as this specifically doesn't say much about it. However one

thing can be discerned, France is the most nuclear forward country in the world, and they

are also one of the more prosperous of europe, spending little on electricity has kept them

from borrowing money from others. This will make a great example of what nuclear can

do for the economy.

"Nuclear Reaction; Shinzo Abe is right. It is time for Japan to return to nuclear power." Times

[London, England], 11 Mar. 2014, p. 28. Global Issues in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A370205315/GIC?u=mass12242&xid=9f4c4343. Accessed

26 Dec. 2016.

This article paints a clear picture. The facts are well put forward and without bias. He

describes how the Japanese are in a very bad situation after trying to get away from

nuclear power. A veritable economic disaster. His point that, even the argument of future

tsunamis and earthquakes had little effect on Shinzo, and how the problem was human

not technological makes an excellent point for the pro-nuclear side. The author is well

spoken, and though appearing to be pro-nuclear, does point out its flaws. But he makes it

clear that nuclear power is a necessary evil. This will be useful as a source of pro-nuclear

arguments.
Burns 4