Imagine

A quantum leap in humanity’s pursuit of happiness

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace…
—Imagine by John Lennon

Imagine a world where nuclear energy is not a source of fear but a beacon of progress. Imagine the 1960s hippies culture championing nuclear energy rather than pot. Imagine the 1970s environmental movement focusing on Borlaug’s Green Revolution rather than Ehrlich’s Population Bomb. Imagine the fall of the Berlin Wall sparking a cucumber-green capitalist renaissance rather than watermelon-green collectivist ideology. How would our world be different today?

Allow me to speculate a bit...

The global economy is radically transformed. The early and widespread adoption of nuclear energy has significantly reduced our reliance on fossil fuels. Smith’s invisible hand, economies of scale, regulatory reforms, advanced reactor designs and technological innovation reduced nuclear energy to $0.01 per kWh. As a result, the volatility associated with oil prices is a thing of the past. Oil trades at $5, as The Economist predicted in 1999. Most oil companies have ceased to exist. Countries substantially investing in nuclear technology have seen their economies thrive, reaping the benefits of stable, reliable, weather-independent, low-cost energy. Gold trades at $200 as geo-risk has collapsed, monetary policy has been adequate, fiscal policy has moved from short-term redistribution to long-term growth, and the road to serfdom has been abandoned. Bitcoin trades back at $1 as government integrity has stopped being an oxymoron.

Low energy costs have created fertile ground for manufacturing and technological advancements. Sectors that once heavily relied on oil, like transportation and petrochemicals, have undergone a revolution thanks to nuclear power. Roads are now dominated by electric vehicles powered by clean, abundant electricity. Railroads look like Tokyo rather than New York. Europe’s countryside is not ruined by windmills, as there is no need for inefficient, coal-backed energy. The shift to nuclear energy has sparked a wave of innovation in battery technology, smart grid and infrastructure, creating numerous jobs in new sectors. Europe is back to being able to compete economically with the US and China. Ursula von der Leyen retired and joined Angela Merkel hiking in South Tyrol.

With the shift to nuclear energy, countries that were once reliant on oil imports have redirected their funds towards improving the lives of their citizens. Investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure have skyrocketed, significantly enhancing living standards and economic resilience. The global energy market is no longer at the mercy of oil-rich nations, creating a more balanced economic landscape. Donald Trump disappeared from the political firmament as it was cheap and reliable energy that made America great again.

The geopolitical landscape in this nuclear-powered world is notably more stable. The decline of the oil industry has significantly diminished the power and influence of traditional oil-producing countries. The new fuels, mainly Uranium and Thorium, are more globally dispersed than fossil fuels. Russia and Iran, who once had large budgets for defence, now face reduced geopolitical clout. Their economies, having failed to diversify in this scenario, struggle to adapt to the new energy paradigm. Israel wins its wars at lower costs, as its enemies are underfunded. The financial incentives to engage in or support wars have diminished, leading to a notable decrease in global conflicts.

The Middle East, long a flashpoint for geopolitical tensions, has seen a reduction in hostilities as the economic motivations for war wane. Cheap nuclear energy allowed the desalination of seawater on a grand scale, which allowed the entire region, including large parts of Africa, to make the desert bloom. The world has gotten greener despite less CO2 in the atmosphere. MBS is perceived as the new Lee Kuan Yew, as his 100-mile-long linear city is a groundbreaking success.

Nuclear energy, requiring international cooperation and stringent safety standards, has fostered collaboration among nations. The United Nations has invested in ensuring nuclear technology's safe operation and proliferation, leading to stronger international bonds and mutual trust. Organisations dedicated to nuclear safety and development play pivotal roles in maintaining peace and stability, reducing the likelihood of energy-related conflicts. The IPCC and IEA have long been dismantled, Gore and Guterres retired, the BBC got de-funded, the WEF merged with Bombardier, and the NYT went bankrupt as fearmongering stopped earning a political yield.

Hunger is a thing of the past. Cheap and reliable energy turbo-charged the third and fourth agriculture revolutions. FallThe reduction in geopolitical tensions eased the production and distribution of food. Desalination, irrigation, and the transport of food produce are all cheap. Europe's interventionist, tariffs-crazy degrowth cult has ended, allowing Africa to feed large parts of the world. Nicole Kidman returned to enjoying BBQ with friends rather than eating bugs for Vanity Fair.

Culturally, the world has undergone a profound transformation. The acceptance of nuclear energy has reshaped societal values and priorities. The fear and stigma once associated with nuclear power have been replaced by an appreciation for its potential to provide clean and reliable energy. Education systems emphasise the importance of science and technology, inspiring a generation of engineers and scientists dedicated to advancing nuclear technology. Creative energy at universities was redirected from cancel culture to the pursuit of truth and problem-solving. Academic journals moved from pal-review back to peer-review. Harnessing the power of nuclear fusion is close. Women's sports and prisons are back to single-gender facilities. TITS (Texas Institute of Technologies and Science) has replaced Harvard as the go-to university for the most ambitious, and men who think they can breastfeed stopped being hired by Facebook as fact-checkers. King Charles now promotes air conditioning rather than bovine flatulence capture devices, thus saving thousands of lives during heat waves.

Environmental consciousness is at an all-time high. Reducing fossil fuel consumption has improved air quality, and the lakes everywhere are as clean as in Switzerland. Once choked with smog, urban areas boast clean skies and green spaces. Around 7-10 million lives per year are saved by going nuclear. Bike lanes in most cities have expanded, which has resulted in a fitter population, enhancing longevity and quality of life while reducing traffic and health care costs. Immigration issues have eased materially with less political tension and more economic upside optionality. Oil heating has disappeared, replaced mainly by geothermal and electric heat pumps, as electricity is cheap, clean and abundant. The shift away from fossil energy has nurtured a culture of sustainability, with communities actively preserving their natural surroundings and seeking innovative solutions to environmental challenges. Greta Thunberg now sells e-bikes on the outskirts of Malmö and has made peace with capitalism.

Hydrogen finally entered the energy mix in a meaningful way as the costs of the electrolysis were reduced drastically. Hydrogen fuel cells produce only water vapour as a byproduct, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. Jule Verne was right in the end; water turned out to be the future coal, and now fuel cells are powering almost everything. Even jet fuel is now clean. Leonardo di Caprio still jets around the world talking about melting glaciers and dying polar bears, but now he does so with a zero carbon footprint and clean eco-conscience.

The arts and media reflect this optimistic outlook. Films, literature, and music celebrate human ingenuity and the harmonious relationship between technology and nature. The narrative of energy abundance has replaced the dystopian fears of resource scarcity, inspiring stories of progress and cooperation. George Orwell's books didn’t age well and were displaced by the works of Jane Austen. History teachers celebrate Winston Churchill’s birthday rather than wearing Che Guevara T-shirts. The Disney Star Wars series again includes Caucasian heterosexual men, and Hollywood’s idea of having an African-American lesbian in the role of Tarzan was dropped.

The reduction in geopolitical tensions has allowed for a re-evaluation of priorities. Investments in education, infrastructure, health, wealth, human rights, and the diversification of economies are transforming most regions of the world. The focus on human capital and sustainable development is paving the way for long-term stability, peace, affluence, and growth—a quantum leap in humanity’s pursuit of happiness.