Nuclear Power, Climate Progress, and War

Community Voices for Change - 30 mins - First Aired October 5, 2026 WMPG-FM. Univ of So. Maine - Weekly - Mondays - 7:00 PM Producer & Host: Richard Rudolph, PhD. Today's installment is an interview of Linda Pentz Gunter who is the executive director of the U.S. based nonprofit Beyond Nuclear, which advocates for a world free from nuclear power and nuclear weapons. Ms. Gunter is also the author of a new book: No to Nuclear: Why Nuclear Power Destroy Lives, Derails Climate Progress and Provokes War which has been recently published by Pluto Press. The book is a delight to read for it not only makes the case against nuclear power and the damage it has already caused, it points out the resources, costs and time associated with nuclear power makes it an ineffective tool for addressing climate change. The author also points out that nuclear power and nuclear weapons sectors have disproportionately harmed indigenous people and communities of color as well as women and children, the most susceptible to harm from radiation exposure and what's wrong with the effort to possibly build small advanced modular nuclear reactors which supporters say could make nuclear faster and less expensive. She also points out that we must recognize that the choice to continue with nuclear power rather than use cheaper, faster and safer renewable energy derails climate progress and perpetuates access to nuclear weapons that could destroy us all. In closing, the author writes - "It is time to say a resounding no to nuclear."