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Atomic Insights

Atomic energy technology, politics, and perceptions from a nuclear energy insider who served as a US nuclear submarine engineer officer

Powerful New Cartoon Image from PopAtomic Studios – In this Corner, Fossil Fuels – In that Corner, the Atomic Energy Elephant

September 28, 2010 By Rod Adams

The artists at PopAtomic Studios continue to provoke thoughts with imagery. The above image is available in full resolution from Fossil Fuels are Dead. Stop by to tell Suzy and her team what you think of their work!

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About Rod Adams

Rod Adams is an atomic energy expert with small nuclear plant operating and design experience, now serving as a Managing Partner at Nucleation Capital, an emerging climate-focused fund. Rod, a former submarine Engineer Officer and founder of Adams Atomic Engines, Inc., one of the earliest advanced nuclear ventures, has engaged in technical, strategic, political, historic and financial discussion and analysis of the nuclear industry, its technology and policies for several decades. He is the founder of Atomic Insights and host and producer of The Atomic Show Podcast.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarMichael R. Himes says

    September 28, 2010 at 2:59 PM

    The perception of the editorial artist is conveyed. However, the view is superficial and lacks depth perception about the issues. First the consumers are not sheep and the only Elephant in the room dead or alive is the one aboard the Russian Submarine Sarov. Soon the Kazan attack sub will be fitted with even larger Elephants whilst the Us congress debates whether Elephants are real or not and how Elephants effect the vote in November.
    Hydrocarbon fuels are valued in dollars whilst Atomic Elephants may simpliy smother Congress with their bulk.

  2. AvatarPopAtomic says

    September 28, 2010 at 5:01 PM

    Just wanted to share this response to another critic from the PopAtomic page (in short, he stated that the elephant was a symbol of the Republican party and that it’s not nice to call people sheep) because I think it is also a good counter argument to the above comment that the image is somehow “superficial”:
    “Our cartoonist has developed a personal set of symbolic ideas through a series of cartoons, beginning with the idea of the

    • AvatarFinrod says

      September 28, 2010 at 5:41 PM

      I’m sorrry Suzy, but I’m not too keen on this one, and your explanation only reinforces my perception. A cartoon image needs to be obvious in its meaning. If it needs an extended explanation to get to that meaning, then it has failed in its intent. It’s no good working with “a personal set of symbolic ideas” unless you have a wider audience which has already been made familiar with those ideas. We don’t have the luxury of signalling people in obscure code. We need our message to be obvious and accessable.

  3. AvatarJerry says

    September 28, 2010 at 5:42 PM

    Another cartoon idea: Imagine someone who is very very thirsty walking into a shop to buy a drink. He has these choices:
    Fossil fuels = liquor (coal = whisky 80% carbon, natural gas = beer)
    Renewables = Snake oil
    Nuclear = an energy drink bursting with energy, or a crystal clear (zero carbon) mineral water

    • AvatarFinrod says

      September 28, 2010 at 5:50 PM

      No dude, no! You’ll have people thinking pro-nukes are a bunch of wowsers.

  4. AvatarKelly says

    September 29, 2010 at 8:54 AM

    So, to respond to the critiques of Finrod and Michael R. Himes, one would need to create an image which is obvious, but not superficial?
    http://www.rickwalton.com/folktale/50fabl46.htm

    • AvatarFinrod says

      September 29, 2010 at 8:58 AM

      Obvious does not need to equate with superficial. Things can be obvious and yet contain initially unglimpsed depth.

  5. AvatarPopAtomic says

    September 29, 2010 at 9:27 AM

    Thank you Kelly! I agree with the sentiment of the story.
    PopAtomic is an autonomous voice in the dialogue about energy, and that gives us a unique perceptive and value. Although our primary goal is support nuclear energy through the arts, we also have the right and duty to be critical, and to look at the complex social issues that the science world often ignores. Otherwise, we would not be serving our audience, or meeting our goals as a non-profit organization. We are much more than just an advocacy group.
    @Finrod- Almost every successful cartoon series ever created has been based on “a personal set of symbolic ideas.” And almost every political cartoon is accompanied by a full length article, or some kind of text to inform the viewer of the artist’s persp
    There is nothing invalid about the image just because it doesn’t simply praise nuclear energy, or because it deals with complex social issues. Political cartoons often evoke varied responses and interpretations- that is part of their purpose- controversy. And by that measure this cartoon has been wildly successful.

  6. AvatarDocForesight says

    September 30, 2010 at 11:51 PM

    Sometimes I wonder if pro-nukes get their undies tied into too tight of a bunch. The “elephant is a symbol of the Republican Party” — oh no, we can’t have that! Never mind that, as a group, they are more pro-nuke than the “Donkeys” (or is that “jackasses”?). So the symbol that evinces such loathing from you is the group that actually supports your goal – to a larger degree than their political adversaries. Go figure.
    Could the elephant reflect – strength, dependability, long-life span, durable, etc.?

    • Avatarkatana0182 (Dave) says

      October 1, 2010 at 12:37 AM

      Don’t forget, Doc, that there “jackass” got quite a kick! And it comes from behind, too, just when you’re least expecting it…
      As for the cartoon, I agree with your point especially since it’s a live elephant versus a bunch of elephant bones in a barrel. So there are elephants on both sides. Fair enough. (If it was a fossil donkey in the barrel, then I’d be concerned.)

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