Why Earthquake-Prone Japan Relies On Nuclear Power

Christian Science Monitor:

Nuclear energy provides an estimated 30 percent of electricity in Japan, despite it being one of the world's most seismically volatile nations.

Why?

Read the whole story: Christian Science Monitor

Comments

[Waltfl]

11:18 AM on 03/15/2011

Update. This is what I got from several British, French and German news sources this morning. Nobody seems to have or give all the news in one source:

- 4 of the 6 reactors in Fukushima I. were severely damaged by explosions. 

- These explosions happened on the 11. and 12. Footage of a cloud was shown on CNN, but what wasn't show was that this was an explosion which completely destroyed the outer containment structure of one reactor. German TV aired a before and after photo of the gutted reactor on 3/12. Now they say this happened to another reactor yesterday, so we may have two stripped reactors now. 

- one reactor nucleus is totally destroyed. This means, not the building is destroyed, but the reactor itself (!). This is what typically leads to total meltdowns a la Chernobyl. 

- there was a new explosion around 5.00 pm EST yesterday, in Reactor 2 in Fukushima I. which damaged the inner containment structure. 

- Reactor 4 in Fukushima I. was or still is (?) on fire. 

- A retention tub for the used plutonium elements cannot be filled with water any more. 

- Yukio Edano, a speaker for the Japanese Government said: There is radiation that is dangerous for human health. Yeah no sh  t. 

- German carrier Lufthansa scans all airplanes coming out of Asia for radiation. 

- All workers were ordered to leave the Fukushima plant, which means, the cooling of the reactors will  be abandoned. Has to be. 

- the radiation around 10 miles of Fukushima is now confirmed as 400 Millisievert per hour, which is about 400 times the allowed maximum for one year.

[gransview]

12:58 PM on 03/15/2011

Good work!

[james rimes]

10:54 PM on 03/15/2011

Thank You..

[Kenz300]

09:06 AM on 03/15/2011

Why would anyone want to take the risks of nuclear power when safe, clean alternative energy sources are available?

Wind, solar, geothermal, wave energy and second generation biofuels made from waste, cellulose and algae are the future.

[Peter007]

09:40 AM on 03/15/2011

cost

[Waltfl]

11:22 AM on 03/15/2011

$$$.

[buddyspa]

10:11 PM on 03/14/2011

The "genie" is definitely out of the bottle.

[sassafra]

09:06 PM on 03/14/2011

because they decided to ignore their greatest natural energy resource, tidal power.

[Christophe]

09:09 PM on 03/14/2011

Interesting.
Who has been able to do it?

[RubalKhali]

04:49 AM on 03/15/2011

They have a pilot project in the English Channel and another in the Bay of Fundy.

[ltague]

08:52 PM on 03/14/2011

While Japan has scarce natural resources compared to many other developed nations, what worries me MORE is the fact that the nuclear power plants built on the West Coast of the U.S. are built on or quite near to major fault lines (which were known at the time) because the land was so cheap - no one else wanted to build in those areas because they had the sense to realize the destruction of their buildings as well as their employees was at the mercy of Mother nature at any time. PG&E got the land for Cheap because they don't care what happens in Earthquake World as long as they make enough money before it happens!

[Dham4201]

08:42 PM on 03/14/2011

Without even reading the article, because nuclear is the future of energy production on this planet.

[Bci Kasa]

08:25 PM on 03/14/2011

Why? Because they don't have any natural resources to use for energy production and to reduce their dependency on other nations they went nuclear. They export but only in a few key areas so this power source keeps them from being overtaken by trade deficits. Also, by not being over dependent on others they keep other out of their national policies.

[Left on Red]

07:30 PM on 03/14/2011

Just listened to an "expert" on BBC America trying to explain that a meltdown at a nuclear power plant is not a "catastrophe" Fools like that should be required to move next to the facility immediately.

[ShameOnTheRepublic]

09:40 PM on 03/14/2011

AMEN! You said it brother.. I do not get it. Are All of the people in the USA dumb,deaf and blind! This is NOT a small event. .This nuke meltdown is a Global event..What the hell is wrong with you people. We are all screwed..If not now over the next few years as wind carries the waste to our front door. God Help Us all..PS Don't believe the BS from NRC or the USG..There will be a price no matter what they lie about. Just like when they said the air was safe on 911, now hundreds of first responders are dieing.

[Left on Red]

10:14 PM on 03/14/2011

Now the evacuation zone is upped to 19 miles. This will not be good. It is like someone is telling us not to pursue this option, but apparently our dumbed down country will buy anything that is fed to them by the bought and paid for media and politicians. Don't the powers that be realize that there is no escape from a nuclear disaster?