Friday, November 26, 2010

from a letter to Julian Huxley, December, 1946

". . . [I]t is perfectly obvious that atomic energy, being generated from uranium, which is a natural monopoly, is a power-source no less politically unsatisfactory than petroleum. Like petroleum, uranium may occur within the territories of powerful nations---in which case it increases their power and their tendency to bully others; or it may be found within the borders of weak nations---in which case it invites aggression and international chicanery, as is now the case with the oil of the Middle east. If they chose, technologists could bypass the whole difficulty by concentrating on the development of a source of power which is not a natural monopoly---and which, also, is not a wasting asset, like uranium, or petroleum, or even coal. The most obvious power source hitherto inadequately exploited is wind. I gather that the experimental wind turbine which has been producing fifteen hundred kilowatts in Maine has proved entirely satisfactory. If scientists genuinely want to contribute to peace and well being, they can collectively and intensively consider the yet more efficient development of such wind turbines and thereby end natural monopolies and remove one of the standing temptations to aggression, war and foreign burrowing from within. But they prefer to concentrate on atomic power, which creates unparalleled temptations in the political sphere."

Aldous Huxley

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