ARGUMENTATATIVE ESSAY: SHOULD TURKEY TURN TO NUCLEAR POWER TO MEET ITS ENERGY NEEDS?

After the horrendous Fukushima disaster, a lot of countries decided to have a rethink about their investments in nuclear energy. Turkey, on the other hand, has decided to go ahead with plans to build nuclear power plants in Sinop and Mersin – Akkuyu. Is this move inevitable considering Turkey’s ever growing energy needs or is it a big mistake? Do your research and write an argumentative essay on the topic.
Thanks are due to Oya Özağaç for the research she kindly did

Arguments in favor of nuclear power plants

1. Pragmatic energy needs

·         Rising energy prices worldwide

·         Soaring demand due to rapid economic growth

2. Serves Turkey’s symbolic aspirations

·         Turkey establishing itself as one of the fastest growing economies in the world requires it to join the small group of countries that use nuclear power

3. Nuclear waste to be shipped to Russia to be processed

Arguments against nuclear power plants

1. The site close to an active fault line
2. Disposal of radioactive waste a problem

·         Genetic mutations and cancer in the case of exposure (mutations seen in butterflies in Japan)

3. In case of an accident during the long sea voyage to Russia, the fishing industry will end and everyone will be exposed
4. Nuclear accidents are catastrophic (Fukushima, Chernobyl)

Read and annotate the following:

1. Turks Ask Their Leaders to Say “No” to Nuclear; by Julia Harte http://newsle.com/article/0/64363542/
2. Greenpeace Blasts Turkish Nuclear Energy Institute Over Negligence; by Julia Harte; http://newsle.com/article/0/64363542/
3. Despite Japan, Turkey Goes Ahead With Nuclear Reactors; by Karin Kloosterman; http://newsle.com/article/0/64363542/
4. Plans For Turkey’s First Nuclear Power Plant Revealed; by: Julia Harte http://newsle.com/article/0/64363542/
5. The Need for Nuclear Energy in Turkey and the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Project; by: Ioakeim Ampartzidis; http://www.ekemeuroenergy.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=211:the-need-for-nuclear-energy-in-turkey-and-the-akkuyu-nuclear-power-plant-npp-project&catid=45:casp (One word of warning: there is the occasional error in this text but it is very informative especially of the arguments in favour of the power plants)
6. Alternative Energy Sources; http://saveenergy.about.com/od/alternativeenergysources/a/altenergysource.htm

Watch and make notes on the following

1. Nuclear Controversies &the WHO cover up; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCIto-rsa8o
2. The nuclear power debate; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MTmjW1xZPM
3. Debate: does the world need nuclear energy? http://www.ted.com/talks/debate_does_the_world_need_nuclear_energy.htm

Refer to my second blog, The Essay Archive, for sample essays: https://theessayarchive.blogspot.com.tr/