Nuclear energy has developed over the last 75 years. Though nuclear technology was originally intended to benefit WWII military efforts, after the war, the globe shifted its focus to producing energy efficiently. From a modern perspective, nuclear energy is often thought of as a renewable alternative.

 

While nuclear reactors have improved their safety over the decades since major disasters, the outlook of uranium mining and the human labor that upholds the nuclear energy industry is often overlooked. In countries with leading uranium exports, indigenous communities are often those who experience the negative impact of harvesting radioactive ore. Historically, uranium has been sourced from human labor that has violated human rights.

 

Regardless of how clean or safe nuclear energy itself may be, the intertwined cycle of uranium mining must be considered to properly evaluate its sustainability.