The Sentinel

Commentary |
The path forward for real environmentalism

by Sam Holmes

Guest Commentator

As the country and world grapple with an ongoing pollution crisis and demands for cleaner energy, the discourse on combating the negative environmental consequences of human civilization almost universally revolves around renewable energy and “sustainable living.” Yet, there is one crucial tool that is almost universally overlooked in this conversation, and that is the use of nuclear energy.

Despite its clear potential andproven track record of powering the lives of millions around the world with minimal environmental damage, the use of nuclear energy remains an issue that is very divisive. It’s time for us to embrace nuclear power as a cornerstone of what real environmentalism looks like, a cornerstone that prioritizes both sustainability and human prosperity.

At its core, environmentalism is about preserving the planet for future generations, safeguarding ecosystems, and ensuring that the constant stream of human progress doesn't come at the detrimental cost of environmental destruction. Yet, the universal consensus on how we should do so seems to be entirely focused on wind, solar, bioenergy, and carbon capture. While some of those efforts can be useful in certain circumstances, they are not without severe limitations.

For example, solar and wind energy are intermittent, relying on favorable weather conditions. They require vast amounts of land to even produce the same energy output as traditional sources such as oil or natural gas. Whereas in contrast, nuclear energy offers a much more stable, reliable, and highly efficient source of energy. In fact, nuclear power plants are built to withstand severe natural disasters of all kinds. Wind and solar, on the other hand, are often damaged beyond repair by mild tropical storms or even the occasional hail event.

Nuclear materials are by far the most efficient source of energy on the planet. A single uranium fuel pellet, which is roughly the size of a fingertip, contains as much energy as 1,780 pounds of coal, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute.

This high density of energy means that nuclear plants require less resources compared to their “renewable” counterparts. In addition, nuclear power plants on average only take up a measly one third of an acre of land, while the average wind farm spans a grotesque 2-40 acres per megawatts produced. Given that a nuclear plant produces on average 1,000 megawatts, at minimum, any given wind farm would require 2,000 acres of land to compete with nuclear energy’s output, as according to the U.S Department Of Energy.

Despite these advantages, the use of nuclear energy remains mired in public skepticism, often due to safety concerns and historical accidents like Chernobyl and Fukushima. These events are undeniably tragic with lasting environmental damage, but the media and academia have disingenuously shaped public perception, making nuclear energy appear far worse than its actual track record. Nuclear energy remains among the safest forms of energy ever invented, especially when contrasted to fossil fuels, coal burning, and “renewable” energy sources. While nuclear accidents can have severe consequences, nuclear plants are among the safest and most secure facilities on the face of the planet as a result of past incidents.

As citizens who truly care about the world around us and its longevity, we must call upon our state and federal governments to directly incentivize nuclear technology through tax incentives, joint public-private projects, and academic or federal grants to ensure maximum fluidity.

In summary, the path forward for real environmentalism requires a pragmatic approach that embraces all available tools. While solar and wind energy can be useful in certain circumstances like powering a home or providing energy in remote locations, they cannot even come close to powering the American grid let alone the world for that matter. Which is why nuclear energy, with its reliability, efficiency, and minimal presence, must be recognized as a cornerstone of our future global effort to conserve our beautiful planet.

It’s time to move beyond fear and misconceptions and embrace nuclear energy as the most powerful ally in our admirable fight to safeguard our home for future generations.

About the author:
Sam Holmes is a freshman at the University of Illinois. When he is not studying, he is constantly stimulating his mind and body, whether that be from doing wordles daily or going to the gym and lifting weights. He believes mankind's greatest truth is in embracing our fragility, finding the strength to live authentically and ethically within the mystery of existence.

Business |
Restaurants, retailers face growing number of "friendly fraud" transactions

Friendly fraud presents a real and persistent challenge for modern businesses. Here's how businesses can protect themselves against this new deceptive practice.

by Ben Robertson
The Sentinel

In an increasingly digital economy, one type of fraud is becoming a growing concern for businesses of all sizes—"friendly" fraud. Though the name suggests harmless intent, the impact can be anything but. For merchants, chargebacks can lead to lost revenue, extra fees, and strained relationships with payment processors. Fortunately, there are practical steps businesses can take to protect themselves.

Friendly fraud was first observed back in 2010. Before then, chargebacks categorized under fraud reason codes were generally rare and almost always indicative of genuine card fraud. Mastercard says: "Friendly fraud costs merchants over $132 billion a year – and that amount does not include the additional losses merchants absorb, like the loss of goods or services they ultimately refund."

Understanding Friendly Fraud

Friendly fraud occurs when a customer makes a purchase using their credit or debit card and later disputes the transaction with their bank. The reasons for these chargebacks vary—some claim they never received the product, others say they didn’t authorize the transaction, and some simply don’t recognize the charge.

Sometimes these disputes are the result of misunderstandings. A child may have made the purchase, or the buyer might not recognize the business name on their bank statement. But in many cases, the customer did receive the goods or services and is intentionally abusing the chargeback system.

According to WAND-TV, restaurants in particular have seen a noticeable spike in friendly fraud over the past three months. This is especially costly in an industry where margins are already thin.

"When this occurs, the restaurant is responsible for the original charge, and a chargeback fee,” WAND-TV reported. “Additionally, if there are enough chargebacks, businesses’ credit card processing fees increase for every order.”

Rick Carbaugh, General Manager of Sun Singer Restaurant in Champaign, told WAND-TV that his business has been hit hard in early 2025.

For merchants, the financial damage from friendly fraud extends beyond the lost sale.

“Ever since January, Sun Singer Restaurant has lost about $1,100 in chargebacks,” Carbaugh said. “We've had 11 chargebacks since January, which for comparison's sake, between 2021 and 2024, we had four chargebacks total.”

Carbaugh noted that most of the recent disputes stemmed from deliveries to student housing. Customers would often provide inaccurate phone numbers or email addresses, preventing the restaurant from contacting them. As a result, Sun Singer was forced to stop offering online payment and delivery altogether.

The Cost to Businesses

For merchants, the financial damage from friendly fraud extends beyond the lost sale. Businesses are often required to pay a chargeback fee, which can range from $20 to $100 per transaction. Too many chargebacks can raise red flags with credit card processors, potentially leading to higher processing fees—or even termination of merchant services.

According to industry data, friendly fraud accounts for a significant portion of all chargebacks. As e-commerce grows, the opportunities for this type of abuse increase.

Prevention Starts with Clarity

One of the most effective ways to reduce friendly fraud is to ensure that the customer clearly understands what they’re buying and who they’re buying from. Here’s how businesses can improve transparency:

Use recognizable billing descriptors.
Many chargebacks result from customers not recognizing a company name on their credit card statement. Businesses should make sure their billing descriptor matches their brand or website name as closely as possible.
Clearly outline refund and return policies.
Policies should be easy to find and written in plain language. Businesses that offer refunds or exchanges reduce the customer’s incentive to file a chargeback out of frustration.
Provide order confirmation and shipping details.
Sending automatic confirmation emails and tracking information can help prove that a purchase was authorized and fulfilled.

Strengthen Internal Documentation

If a chargeback is initiated, having proper documentation on hand gives merchants a better chance of successfully disputing it. Key documents include:

Signed receipts or order confirmations
Proof of delivery, such as tracking numbers or delivery confirmation
Screenshots of product descriptions and terms at the time of sale
Communication logs with the customer

For digital goods and services, which are harder to prove as “delivered,” businesses should log IP addresses, account access, download timestamps, or user activity when possible.

Use Payment and Fraud Protection Tools

Technology can also play a vital role in preventing friendly fraud. Most payment processors offer tools for flagging suspicious transactions or verifying cardholder identity. Some of these include:

Address Verification System (AVS)
CVV verification
3D Secure authentication (e.g., Verified by Visa)

While these measures don’t prevent all chargebacks, they demonstrate due diligence on the part of the merchant and may be considered favorably during a dispute.

Stay Proactive and Respond Quickly

When a chargeback is filed, time is critical. Businesses should respond promptly and provide clear, concise evidence to support their case. It’s also helpful to monitor chargeback patterns. If a particular product, region, or customer profile seems to generate more disputes, it may be worth adjusting how those transactions are handled.

Friendly fraud presents a real and persistent challenge for modern businesses. While no system is foolproof, a layered approach that combines transparency, documentation, and technology can significantly reduce the risk.