The absence of protests about the plutonium powered generator on the Pluto orbiter two days ago has meaning to me.
First, and most importantly, it clearly shows that the environmental movement has disappeared. This happened about ten years ago.
Second, the subset of enviros who could understand the threat of plutonium burning up in the upper atmosphere during a space launch, are in a moral limbo. They have discounted the threat of Saddam Hussein’s weapons program, they attacked the president and the intelligence services for over reacting to the threat of nuclear weapons and they oppose preemptive military action against Iran and North Korea. They have little moral standing to protest a cigarette package amount of plutonium.
Lastly, I believe that the great 45-65 year old post hippie generation is so depressed by their perceived failure to change the world, that they can do little more than smoke dope, watch TV and pop Prozac.