Image talk:Nuclear Fuel Process.en.svg
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This diagram is graphically beautiful but I think it is in some ways incorrect or at least misleading and therefore requires revising. The main problem is that although according to the title it describes the production and use of nuclear fuel, it nevertheless concentrates on military uses of nuclear technology. This should not be the case if the aim is to accurately describe fabrication and use of nuclear fuel.
Fact is that no nation is known to use nuclear power plant fuel in nuclear weapons production and therefore their inclusion, at least so prominently, is questionable if not outright biased. Interestingly nowadays the reduction of nuclear weapon stockpiles through the use of MOX fuel is by far more commonplace than the fabrication of new weapons materials. Nevertheless the arrow towards nuclear weapons is much larger and thicker than the one away from weapons stockpiles. This gives a completely biased picture of the matter since a theoretical, non-existent use of nuclear fuel is shown more prominently than actual, important uses.
Also the DU used in conventional munitions comes from military stockpiles and should not be included when describing the use of nuclear fuel. For some reasons the more relevant civilian uses of DU are not mentioned at all. One also wonders why, if miltary use of nuclear materials from non-power-plant reactors is mentioned, the beneficial use of similarly produced isotopes in medical purposes and fire alarms are not mentioned at all. These uses save thousands of lives every year and are thus very important uses of uranium derived materials.
Stamping a "radioactive" sign on everything also seems unnecessary, especially considering that DU, which has been given one, is less radioactive than natural uranium. Because of these reasons I think that Wikipedia should return to use the original graphics on this page. This is important for keeping the artcle unbiased and neutral. Tungsten 13:35, 2 March 2007 (UTC)