nuclear-news

Nuclear technology – never really safe

I used to be a believer in “safe” nuclear technology. I saw the renaissance of nuclear plants as a means to combat global warming (please restrain the hysterical giggling at this point). After Fukushima, and in reflection on the history of nuclear power plants, I have changed my mind…….the bubble of lethal radiation around Reactors 3 and 4 could make it impossible to even send workers — except on a suicide mission — to contain the damage. And even if they are successful — and we all pray they do — it seems clear that this area of Japan may be off-limits to human habitation for a very, very long time……

Japan’s Nuclear Nightmare; Is any Nuclear Plant Safe? : SF Gate, Michael Yaki , 18 March 11, “…….The potential catastrophe at the nuclear plant is now being blamed, in part, on a combination of poor planning, judgment, response, and information from the plant owner, TEPCO, and the seemingly clueless Japanese government.

The lack of extraordinary action a situation like this demands has forced the United States to take the equally extraordinary step of disagreeing with its close ally on the severity and risks associated with Reactors 4 and 3. Indeed, Japan initially pooh-poohed our assessment that the spent-rod cooling tank on Reactor 4 is dry (I’m guessing verified by our spy satellites) in favor of continuing to focus on Reactor 3 — probably because Reactor 3 has reprocessed uranium, better known as plutonium, which is deadlier on a magnitude that we can’t possibly understand. Still, why not attack both with equal vigor?……..
the hope and pray method didn’t work in the Gulf, and when nuclear material is involved, if definitely shouldn’t be part of the response manual of any responder. When nuclear materials are involved, better to be safe than sorry, but that mantra hasn’t hit either governments or the corporate boardroom…….
I used to be a believer in “safe” nuclear technology. I saw the renaissance of nuclear plants as a means to combat global warming (please restrain the hysterical giggling at this point). After Fukushima, and in reflection on the history of nuclear power plants, I have changed my mind. For me, until someone can create a nuclear plant that is 100% immune to operator error, 100% immune to equipment failure or malfunction, 100% immune to terrorist attack and 100% immune from natural disaster, I can’t in good conscience support it any more. When something bad happens at a nuclear plant, it is very, very, bad…….
as the news reports from Fukushima come in, the bubble of lethal radiation around Reactors 3 and 4 could make it impossible to even send workers — except on a suicide mission — to contain the damage. And even if they are successful — and we all pray they do — it seems clear that this area of Japan may be off-limits to human habitation for a very, very long time……
Jor all our protestations to the contrary, we are fumbling and feeling our way down a narrow precipice in the twilight, with nothing less than the future of the human race, and our planet, in our lead-gloved hands.

Japan’s Nuclear Nightmare; Is any Nuclear Plant Safe? : Michael Yaki : City Brights

March 18, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, Religion and ethics