Tournament: | Round: | Opponent: | Judge:
Observation One - Inherency
Political will prevents thorium nuclear reactors from getting off the ground
Martin 5/08/2012 (Richard, Award-winning science and technology journalist; contributing editor for Wired, Time, Fortune, The Atlantic, the Asian Wall Street Journal, Martin's December, 2009 Wired story on thorium catalyzed the thorium power revival. Educated at Yale and the University of Hong Kong, SuperFuel: Thorium, the Green Energy Source for the Future (Macsci 227-228).
Finally, and most obviously…we invented liquid-fuel thorium reactors.
Observation Two – Our Methodology
The Berkeley Earth Project’s report indicates that anthropogenic CO2 is the driving force of global warming since the 1800s. Even skeptics can’t disprove their findings
Drum, 2012 (Kevin, “Berkeley Earth Project Says Carbon Dioxide is Causing Global Warming,” Mother Jones, July 30, 2012 MG)
I promised to link to …human activity causes it.
Warming is the fault of people – even if other factors are bigger we threw it out of sync. The biggest future threat is ongoing use of fossil fuels. Need to reduce global CO2 output by more than 6% annually to solve the crisis.
Hansen et. Al, 2012 (James, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Columbia University Earth Institute, and Pushker Kharechaa, Makiko Satoa, Frank Ackermanb, Paul J. Heartyc, Ove Hoegh-Guldbergd, Shi-Ling Hsue, Fred Kruegerf, Camille Parmesang, Stefan Rahmstorfh, Johan Rockstromi, Eelco J. Rohlingj, Jeffrey Sachsk, Pete Smithl, Konrad Steffenm, Lise Van Susterenn, Karina von Schuckmanno, James C. Zachosp; “Scientific Case for Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change to Protect Young People and Nature,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, March 23, 2012, http://arxiv.org/abs/1110.1365v3 MG)
Humanity is now the dominant … content to its natural level.
Earth’s energy imbalance key test – no models needed, can calculate precisely the impact CO2 has on warming.
Hansen et. Al, 2012 (James, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Columbia University Earth Institute, and Pushker Kharechaa, Makiko Satoa, Frank Ackermanb, Paul J. Heartyc, Ove Hoegh-Guldbergd, Shi-Ling Hsue, Fred Kruegerf, Camille Parmesang, Stefan Rahmstorfh, Johan Rockstromi, Eelco J. Rohlingj, Jeffrey Sachsk, Pete Smithl, Konrad Steffenm, Lise Van Susterenn, Karina von Schuckmanno, James C. Zachosp; “Scientific Case for Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change to Protect Young People and Nature,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, March 23, 2012, http://arxiv.org/abs/1110.1365v3 MG)
At a time of climate … to be +0.75 ±0.25 W/m2 (33).
Claims that the Earth is cooling don’t disprove the warming thesis. This is also direct evidence that humans are able to affect the climate.
Estrada et al, 2012 (Francisco, Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and Pierre Perron and Benjamín Martínez, both of Department of Economics, Boston University; “Statistical evidence about human influence on the climate system,” Working Papers Series number WP2012-012, January 2012 MG)
The causes of a slowdown … direct human origin.
It’s not too late – even if emissions peak in 2014 it’s possible to stabilize the climate longterm
Huntingford et al, 2012 (Chris, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Benson Lane, and Jason A Lowe, Laila K Gohar, Niel H A Bowerman, Myles R Allen, Sarah C B Raper and Stephen M Smith; “The link between a global 2C warming threshold and emissions in years 2020, 2050 and beyond,” Environmental Research Letters, March 26, 2012 MG)
We relate year … (GDP) and emissions.
We have survived the ‘Great Recession,’ we routinely have political gaffs with our allies and enemies, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have seen our ability to project power wax and wane. You should be skeptical of alarmist scenarios of immanent threats.
Kurasawa 4 (Fuyuki, Assistant Prof. of Sociology @ York University) Cautionary Tales, Constellations Vol. 11, No. 4, Blackwell Synergy.
Up to this point… principle and global justice.
Observation Three – The Stakes
Paleoclimate data indicates that the tipping point is around a 2°C increase. That’s when feedbacks like methane hydrates and ice sheets kick in causing dangerous warming.
Hansen et. Al, 2012 (James, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Columbia University Earth Institute, and Pushker Kharechaa, Makiko Satoa, Frank Ackermanb, Paul J. Heartyc, Ove Hoegh-Guldbergd, Shi-Ling Hsue, Fred Kruegerf, Camille Parmesang, Stefan Rahmstorfh, Johan Rockstromi, Eelco J. Rohlingj, Jeffrey Sachsk, Pete Smithl, Konrad Steffenm, Lise Van Susterenn, Karina von Schuckmanno, James C. Zachosp; “Scientific Case for Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change to Protect Young People and Nature,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, March 23, 2012, http://arxiv.org/abs/1110.1365v3 MG)
Dangerous Global Warming. …foreseeable and unforeseen consequences.
Runaway warming causes extinction.
Oliver Tickell, British journalist, author and campaigner on health and environment issues, and author of the Kyoto2 climate initiative, 8/11/2008, “On a planet 4C hotter, all we can prepare for is extinction,” The Guardian, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/aug/11/climatechange
We need to get …already under way.
History and studies show an increase in temperature will result in devastating war, revolts, famines, and invasions
The Futurist, 2008 (Climate Changes and Global Conflicts, Vol. 42 Issue 2, p 6-7
Traumatic climate cooling … scarce food and water.
Warming is a force multiplier - makes all political problems worse
Scheffran et al, May 2012 (Jurgen, Research Group Climate Change and Security, Institute of Geography and KlimaCampus, University of Hamburg; and Michael Brzoska, Jasmin Kominek, P. Michael Link, Janpeter Schilling; “Climate Change and Violent Conflict,” Science, May 2012)
Since the 1990s, …increased likelihood of violent conflict (37).
Warming devastates every ecosystem on the planet – risks die-off of up to 52% of all species.
Hansen et. Al, 2012 (James, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Columbia University Earth Institute, and Pushker Kharechaa, Makiko Satoa, Frank Ackermanb, Paul J. Heartyc, Ove Hoegh-Guldbergd, Shi-Ling Hsue, Fred Kruegerf, Camille Parmesang, Stefan Rahmstorfh, Johan Rockstromi, Eelco J. Rohlingj, Jeffrey Sachsk, Pete Smithl, Konrad Steffenm, Lise Van Susterenn, Karina von Schuckmanno, James C. Zachosp; “Scientific Case for Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change to Protect Young People and Nature,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, March 23, 2012, http://arxiv.org/abs/1110.1365v3 MG)
Extermination of Species. … generations than we can imagine.
Species loss risks extinction
Paul Warner, American University, Dept of International Politics and Foreign Policy, August, Politics and Life Sciences, 1994, p 177
Massive extinction of …collective future as the stakes.
Whatever positive aspect of global warming are present, they are vastly outwieghed by the negative impacts: heatwaves, crop shortages, decreased water availability, and an increased rate of warming.
Lau, 2007 (Dr Evan, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University,
“Humans the major cause of global warming the widely accepted view,” Straits Times, April 20, 2007)
While it is true …the cause of global warming.
Plan: The United States federal government should reduce restrictions through the passage of The Thorium Energy Security Act including all necessary financial incentives for development and commercialization of thorium LFTR technology.
Observation Four – Solvency
Only Thorium is able to combat global warming – Traditional nuclear power is too unsafe and renewables can’t produce enough energy to shift away from fossil fuels.
Martin 5/08/2012 (Richard, Award-winning science and technology journalist; contributing editor for Wired, Time, Fortune, The Atlantic, the Asian Wall Street Journal, Martin's December, 2009 Wired story on thorium catalyzed the thorium power revival. Educated at Yale and the University of Hong Kong, SuperFuel: Thorium, the Green Energy Source for the Future (Macsci 13-14).
Thorium could provide … hopes are illusory.
The world is looking to the US for a first action against climate change
Council on Foreign Relations 2012 (The Global Climate Change Regime Publisher Council on Foreign Relations Release Date Last Updated: July 5, 2012 http://www.cfr.org/climate-change/global-climate-change-regime/p21831#p3)
Opponents argue that the … to support their position.
For a thorium economy we need some funding, some liscensing, and some reactors
Martin 2012 (Richard, Award-winning science and technology journalist; contributing editor for Wired, Time, Fortune, The Atlantic, the Asian Wall Street Journal, Martin's December, 2009 Wired story on thorium catalyzed the thorium power revival. Educated at Yale and the University of Hong Kong, SuperFuel: Thorium, the Green Energy Source for the Future (Macsci 235-7).
These are ambitious goals. … it was impossible.
Other reactors can be easily retrofitted to be fueled by thorium
Beedie 07 (Mitch, authority on energy policies with articles in Financial Director, Accountancy Age, Professional Engineering, Process Engineering, Chemical Processing Technology and Hydrocarbon Processing; European editor of Electronic Design and of Semiconductor Manufacturing Magazine “Thorium: Cleaner Nuclear Power?” August 10, 2007 http://www.power-technology.com/features/feature1141/)
In the US, … advanced-breeder molten salt reactors.
Thorium is vastly superior to solar, wind, geothermal, and fusion – funding solves delay or difficulty
Sorenson, 2011 (Kirk, nuclear technologist, spent much of his career researching the potential of thorium fission reactors, founded a company, Flibe energy, 7-4-11, “Could thorium solve the world’s energy problems interview with Sander Olsen,” http://nextbigfuture.com/2011/07/could-thorium-solve-worlds-energy.html)
Question: How has the mainstream …provide all of the earth's energy needs.
Thorium can solve the world’s problems
Hargraves, 8/16/2012. Robert, teaches energy policy at Dartmouth ILEAD. AB in Mathematics, Ph.D in Physics. Thorium: Energy cheaper than Coal.Page 400
We can solve our … available in all nations
(Description of the Graph) $1 Billion dollars to develop in 2012 , an additional $5 billion to scale up in 2017 and by 2022 $70 Billion per year industry to produce and export in 2022 for LFTR technology.
