I don't have an issue with safer nuclear power, but it doesn't seem it can supply all our energy needs. And there is no reason why we shouldn't have a multi-pronged approach. The fossil fuel industry has utilized gas, oil and coal, so why not do wind, solar, hydro and perhaps nuclear?

Another consideration is the rare earth market is currently dominated by China, specifically because their land holds such a huge amount of these materials when compared with the rest of the world. So you can't just assume you're going to solve the rare earth mineral shortage by mining for thorium.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/277268/rare-earth-reserves-by-country/