[sliverstorm]

We aren't going to see anything nuclear in the near future, sadly. The populace is just too afraid.

It doesn't matter that burning coal rains down radiation in the form of C-14- most people don't know that, and remain more afraid of anything with "nuclear" in the name.

[anthonyb]

Coal doesn't have any C14 in it. It's millions of years old. You're thinking of other elements, like uranium.

[sliverstorm]

You are right, my mistake. Hah, that's what I get for saying most people don't know.

[TeMPOraL]

How about a nice marketing campaign then? DeBeers actually managed to convince people worldwide to buy diamonds, so why can't someone start convincing people that nuclear is good?

[dagw]

People have tried.

Even before DeBeers no one was actively against diamonds. Convincing someone to be positive towards something they from the outset where ignorant of or indifferent to is quite easy, especially if that things is harmless, pretty and shiny. Convincing someone to be positive towards something they've spent their entire life being warned against is Hard, especially if there is plenty of indisputable scientific evidence that that thing can in fact be very dangerous in many scenarios.