I am completely convinced that it is theoretically possible to design and build a nuclear power plant that is both safe and efficient. To me the conceptual safety of nuclear power is not an issue – it is safe in theory.

To me the real question is whether or not such plants WILL be designed, built and operated safely. The history here indicates that designers and builders cut corners to save money or deliver on time and that safe operating procedures are short-circuited to maximise profits.

I am reminded of Adam Curtis's "A is for Atom" segment in the 1992 documentary series "Pandora's Box": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jUELZAdh_w&feature=related

It is erroneous to use data on how many people have died to measure safety and risks in cases like this. A nuclear accident is a low probablility but very high impact event with consequences almost impossible to quantify. The only way to assess risk is to to examine the processes nvolved and the assumptions that are being made about risks. That is difficult to do because of the secrecy that surrounds the nuclear industry. When some of that secrecy has been stripped away it has been shown that the risks are much greater than was at first assumed.

The UK was one of the countries that pushed Japan to have nuclear power in the 50s and 60s, knowing that it was on an earthquake lne. These are the same people who have said that our own power stations are safe. I wouldn;t take their word for it.

I dont care what Clegg thinks says or does.
There is no such thing as safe fission nuclear energy.
Any system or bi product that is none natural carries immense risk.
Ask Monsanto about about deformed DNA strings in their genetically modified seeds and they will tell you there are no such things. Yet there are sheep and pigs fed on the same seeds that are deformed, stunted and born dead. Salmon are also subjected to similar diseases from modified animal feed.
There is no risk assessment that is accurate. Its very name tells us its only guess work.Its an assessment nothing more and nothing less.

If we are going to seek a safe nuclear power system then we need to wait and discover the secrets of FUSION which occurs naturally.
It may take for ever to unlock nuclear fusion. In the mean time we need to look at small power generating systems based locally and run, managed and financed by the local community. With the profits going back into the community.
If its local shit making the gas to produce the power then the local producers of that shit should be enpowered to run that plant.
We wont need atomic power if we all have local systems to manufacture from renewable gas.

Radioactive decay is also a naural process, unaffected by heat or being struck by a hammer.
The trick is to manage it, and the 'waste', safely; and it is being done.
Its is what will eventually take mankind to other planets, not a steam engine.