One: nuclear energy saves lives.

第一： 核能拯救了不少生命

In 2013, a study conducted by NASA found that nuclear energy has prevented

在2013年，一份NASA做的報告指出

around 1.8 million deaths.

核能預防了180萬個死亡數

Even if you include the death tolls from Chernobyl and Fukushima,

就算你包含了車諾比、福島核災的死亡數

nuclear energy ranks last in death per energy unit produced.

核災造成的 死亡數/每單位發電量 比例是倒數第一名的

While nuclear waste is really toxic, it’s usually stored somewhere,

就算核廢料很毒，它仍然是儲存在於某處

while the toxic byproducts of fossil fuels are pumped into the air

但是那些石化燃料造成的有毒副產品則是排放到

we breathe every day.

我們每天呼吸的大氣當中

So, just by reducing the amount of fossil fuels burned, countless cases of cancer

所以，當我們降低燃燒石化燃料的排放量，無以計數的癌症病例

or lung disease and accidents in coal mines have been avoided.

或者是肺部疾病還有煤礦意外都被預防了

If we can choose between lots of dangerous stuff being put into a deep hole and

當我們選擇要把危險物質放入一個很深的洞裡

lots and lots and lots of dangerous stuff being pumped into the atmosphere,

或是把非常非常大量的危險物質排到大氣當中

the former seems more logical.

前者似乎比較合理

Nuclear energy feels way more dangerous, though.

雖然核能聽起來危險許多

Single catastrophic events burn into our memory, while coal and oil kill silently.

那是因為一個重大核災事件深深的烙印在我們的腦海中 而煤礦石油則是殺人於無形

It’s like the death rate of flying versus driving.

這就好像比較開車與開飛機的死亡比例

Even in the best-case scenario, it would take at least forty years to switch

就算在最好的情況當中，我們至少要花40年的時間

to 100%-renewable energy.

轉換至100%的再生能源

So, for as long as we continue using fossil fuels, nuclear energy will save

所以，當我們繼續使用石化燃料時，核能拯救的生命

way more lives than it destroys.

比奪走的多上許多

Two: nuclear energy reduces CO₂ emissions.

第二：核能減少二氧化碳排放量

Nuclear energy is arguably way less harmful to the environment

核能在氣候上對環境所造成的破壞

in terms of climate change than fossil fuels, our main source of energy.

比我們現在主要使用的發電來源：石化燃料，無疑是少上許多

Since 1976, about 64 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions

自從1976年以來，大約有640億噸溫室氣體

have not been pumped out thanks to nuclear energy.

並沒有被排放出來，這要多虧了核能

And by the mid-21st century, that could amount to an additional 80–240 gigatons.

然後到了21世紀中旬，那個數量可以再增加800到2400億噸

Humanity’s energy consumption is rising steadily.

人類的能源使用量上是穩定的爬升當中

According to US government projections, China alone will add the equivalent of

根據美國政府的預測，在未來的十年當中

a new 600-MW coal plant every 10 days for the next 10 years.

單就中國每十天就可以增加相當於6億瓦特的煤炭發電廠

China already burns 4 billion tons of coal each year.

中國每年已經燃燒了40億噸的煤炭

Coal is cheap, relatively abundant, and easy to get to.

煤礦很便宜、相對的豐富，還有很容易取得

So it’s not likely that humanity will stop using it soon.

所以人類在短時間內要停止使用煤礦是不太可能的

Nuclear energy might be the only way of dampening the effects of climate change

核能看起來是唯一可以阻止氣候改變所造成的影響

and preventing a catastrophic man-made global warming.

還有預防災難性的人為的全球暖化

Compared to the other things we do, nuclear energy is relatively clean.

相較於其他我們所做的事情，核能是相對乾淨的

So, even if it is a good idea to quit nuclear energy long-term,

所以，就算要長期的停止核能發電是一個很好的主意

it might be a good solution for the next hundred years or so,

相較於其它的方案，在未來的這一百年當中

compared to the alternatives.

核能可能是一個很好的解決方案

Three: new technologies.

第三：新的科技

Maybe technology will solve the problem of nuclear waste and dangerous power plants.

也許科技能夠解決核廢料的問題還有危險的核電廠

The nuclear reactors we’ve used so far are mostly outdated technology,

我們現在所使用大部分的核反應爐科技已經過時了

because nuclear innovation stopped in the 1970s.

因為新的核能發明在1970年已經停擺

There are models, like the thorium reactor,

有像是釷反應爐的機型

that could solve the problem altogether.

可以解決所有的問題

Thorium is abundant, really hard to turn into nuclear weapons,

釷原料非常的豐富，也很難用於核武上

and up to two orders of magnitude less wasteful than current nuclear reactors.

也比我們現在所使用的核能反應爐所造成的浪費少了兩個數量級

The waste material might also be only dangerous for a few hundred years,

其核廢料所造成的危險也只限於幾百年

in contrast to a couple of thousand years.

相較於現在的好幾千年

1 ton of thorium is estimated to provide the same amount of energy

一噸的釷可以提供的能量同等於

as 200 tons of uranium or 3.5 million tons of coal.

200噸的鈾 或是3500萬噸的煤炭

So while we cannot know for sure if alternative nuclear technology

就算我們不能保證新的核能科技能夠奏效

will keep its promises, shouldn’t we at least do more research

我們為何不去至少去做更多的研究

before we forego an opportunity to solve lots of humanity’s current problems?

在我們放棄能夠解決人類現在很多的問題的一個選項之前呢?

It may not be an easy challenge, but that hasn’t stopped us before.

這也許不是一個簡單的挑戰，但我們也未曾因而被阻止過

So, should we use nuclear energy?

所以，我們該使用核能嗎?

There are risks involved in any great human endeavor,

人類所做的許多努力都包含了不少危機

and we have to make an informed decision, rather than rely on gut feeling.

而我們應該要做一個明智的決定，而非依賴我們的直覺

If you want to hear the other side of the argument, or

如果你想要聽聽看另一邊的說法

a short introduction to nuclear energy, click here.

或是一個關於核能的簡短介紹 請點擊銀幕上方

Our channel has a new sponsor: Audible.com.

我們頻道有一個新的贊助商： Audible.com

If you use the URL <http://audible.com/nutshell>,

如果你使用這URL &lt;http://audible.com/nutshell&gt;

you can get a free audiobook and support our channel.

你可以免費獲得一個有聲書還有支持我們的頻道

Producing our videos takes a lot of time, and we fill a lot of it

製作這些影片花了不少時間 而我們完成了許多部分

by listening to audiobooks.

就是經由聽著有聲書

For a really entertaining book, we recommend

我們推薦一本很有趣的書

“Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer.

Jon Krakauer 所寫的&quot;Into Thin Air&quot;

He’s a great writer, and the story is really absorbing and true.

他是一位很棒的作家，其中的故事很吸引人也很真實

Go to <http://audible.com/nutshell> to get the book for free.

請到 &lt;http://audible.com/nutshell&gt; 免費取得此書

Thanks a lot to Audible for supporting our channel and to you for watching!

非常感謝 Audible 支持我們的頻道 還有感謝您的收看!

Subtitles by the Amara.org community

字幕是由 Amara.org 所提供