Was just in Oxford where I gave a lecture to the WNU Summer institute – a great group of young people who are committed to working in the nuclear industry and doing what they think is best for their and our collective futures. Oxford is a great place to quietly Read more
I started writing this while sitting on the very long plane ride on my way to China. The Rio+20 conference had just started, the largest ever UN conference and yet it was receiving relatively little press. I remember the first Rio conference 20 years ago when there was so much Read more
It seems as if a day doesn’t go by when we don’t hear about the low price of gas in North America and its impact on potential growth in the nuclear industry. In the past month, the price of gas actually dropped below $2 /million BTU; a price that was Read more
On March 11 it was the first anniversary of the great Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan and, of course, the accident that resulted at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. And as can be imagined, there were many many articles in the press to commemorate this event. As Read more
If 2011 was all about the events at Fukushima, 2012 is shaping up to be a big year in moving forward with the nuclear renaissance. For the Chinese, this is the year of the dragon. This is, in fact, the major symbol of good fortune in Chinese Astrology. Of the Read more
The good news is that as 2011 comes to a close, Fukushima has achieved cold shutdown and the recovery is moving to the next stage. The emphasis is now on decontamination and getting the dislocated people back into their homes as soon as possible. Does this mean that nuclear will Read more
Since the Fukushima accident earlier this year, it has become clear that the nuclear industry has a fundamental problem. As so eloquently said in the introductory session of the WNA Annual Symposium in London last month by WNA Executive Director John Ritch there is a common belief that while nuclear Read more
“Nuclear is a business, not a religion” John Rowe, Chairman and CEO of Exelon (August 15, 2011) In his speech to the American Nuclear Society Utility Working Conference in Hollywood, Fla. entitled “My Last Nuclear Speech”, Rowe, while accepting that nuclear is an important option to meet climate change and Read more
Although it has been more than two months since I last posted; Fukushima continues to dominate the discussion both within and outside of the industry. So here I am, sitting on the balcony of my beautiful room in Brunei – overlooking the South China Sea – contemplating how this major Read more
It has now been about two months since the horrific earthquake and tsunami that caused the damage at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The people of Japan continue to suffer from this mind boggling natural disaster with the death toll at well over 20,000. And yet when we hear Read more
With everything going on due to this major natural disaster in Japan, it is absolutely incredible to watch how much of the reporting is about the Fukushima plant that goes well beyond the current status of the plant and efforts to get the situation under control. There is a lot Read more
The UK is unique in its approach to the nuclear renaissance. Once the cradle of the nuclear industry, with some of the world’s oldest plants and research centres, the UK has mostly dismantled its nuclear industry in recent years. From privatizing British Energy to selling off Westinghouse and dismantling BNFL, Read more
On February 22, 2011, my dad, the Big Bear – Bernie Caplan peacefully passed away. It is with great sadness that I write today. I have lost the man who taught me how to be me; how to live with the utmost integrity, to love my family with all my Read more
Looking back at my blog from last January, I can probably start the same way – “Where did the time go?” 2010 has been a very busy year with a huge amount of activity in the nuclear sector around the world. I am certain that we can expect an even Read more
For some time we have seen the nuclear industry moving from west to east. The nuclear renaissance is somewhat stalled in the west, while new build nuclear in the east, led by China, continues to accelerate to extraordinary levels. There are numerous reasons for this shift from west to east. Read more
This year I have traveled more than usual. Seems as if I have been in the air more than on the ground! And all long flights too. Traveled to Europe, Asia and South America. One of the best things to do on long flights is read – so this year I have read Read more
As stated in my previous post, I was in Hong Kong recently. This gave me an opportunity to visit the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant. This is not my first time visiting a nuclear power plant in China. I have visited Qinshan many times, and in fact have been involved Read more
As I write this I am on my way home from speaking at an event in Hong Kong put on by a think tank called Civic Exchange. I want to thank Civic Exchange for asking me to participate and congratulate them on their format. The topic for this, their 14th Read more
Inspiring! That is the best word I can think of to describe Stewart Brand’s book “Whole Earth Discipline.” My faith in people has been restored. To be frank I have heard Stewart Brand speak twice when I went out and bought his most recent book. His conversion to an ardent Read more
Recently read “The Black Swan” by Professor Nassim Nicholas Taleb. Anyone at all interested in the use of probabilities to assess and manage risk must put this on their reading list. Taking aim at the normal curve high priests, Taleb attacks by showing that most of what shapes our lives Read more