Finnish President sees nuclear power as "a short-term medicine"

Tarja Halonen

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In an interview with the daily newspaper The Australian, Finland's President Tarja Halonen has commented that nuclear power is only "a short-term medicine" rather than a permanent solution to climate change.
      President Tarja Halonen and her spouse Dr Pentti Arajärvi are to make a state visit to Australia on February 13th to 17th, and accompanying the President will be a delegation of Finnish innovation experts.
     
Halonen told The Australian that nuclear power could distract attention and investments away from the development of renewable sources of energy and ways of cutting the overall use of energy.
      "That's why I'm afraid it's just an aspirin, a short-term medicine", she was quoted as saying.
      "If you have a headache you take a pill, yes, but you should also be interested in why you have a headache in the first place", Halonen added.
      The President noted further that climate change is a fact, and while nuclear power could help to reduce it, it also has many negative side-effects. For example, it is acceptable to safe societies only. Another problem is nuclear waste.
      "In its way it is a bill that is partly paid by the coming generations", Halonen concluded.
      President Halonen also has misgivings about the use of nuclear technology for military purposes.
      Instead, President Halonen hopes that Australia and other countries including the USA, who have refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol, would sign up to a new agreement to control emissions.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Parliamentary Speaker responds to accusations of nuclear lobbying (7.2.2007)
  Construction delays at nuclear plant spark row over compensation (1.2.2007)

Links:
  The President of the Republic of Finland
  The Australian

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