Japan's Looming Meltdown Crisis

[CrazyCapnMorgan]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_japan_earthquake

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/12/japan-earthquake-live-blog-death-toll-rises-amid-widespread-destruction/

This cannot come at a worse time for the people of Japan. Hang tough, guys. Really hoping it doesn't come to that, and really hoping the world starts taking a more serious stance on looking at better ways to produce energy in the face of this disaster.

 

[DefunctTheory]

The reactor is FINE.

And Rads are not an issue. You can pee out radioactive Cesium.

And it's NOT going to blow.

There's nothing to learn from this crisis other then 'Living on Islands is Awesome, Until it Sucks.'

 

[Shoelip]

Nuclear power is great and totally safe, until it's not.

 

[Booze Zombie]

You do know that nuclear energy is still one of the very safest sources of energy ever developed? So far, less people have died in the entire history of nuclear power than die every year from particulate air pollution from fossil fuel sources. Even with this, there are few sources of energy that can even compare with the safety record of nuclear power.

They do have potential for long-lasting and terrible ruination of environments.
The main issue has got to be the waste they produce.
Eventually, you'll stop having places to bury the crap.

Anyway, I hope that the Japanese people can endure this; that said, they survived nukes so I'm pretty confident of their continued existence.

 

[CrazyCapnMorgan]

You do know that nuclear energy is still one of the very safest sources of energy ever developed? So far, less people have died in the entire history of nuclear power than die every year from particulate air pollution from fossil fuel sources. Even with this, there are few sources of energy that can even compare with the safety record of nuclear power.

I think that Chernobyl was one disaster too many. Something like that doesn't need to happen to Japan, not after what they suffered. For me, I'd love to see solar and wind technology surpass nuclear technology. This is a dream, yes, but I believe we are very capable of getting to that point. Someday.

The reactor is FINE.

And Rads are not an issue. You can pee out radioactive Cesium.

And it's NOT going to blow.

If you're not there, how can you tell? Have you heard different? Also, I doubt very highly that double the normal pressure level and not having any coolant inside said reactor is FINE.

As for the pee test...you first, pal. I wanna see someone do that and not have any side effects.

 

[Toriver]

The reactor is FINE.

And Rads are not an issue. You can pee out radioactive Cesium.

And it's NOT going to blow.

EDIT: ...and there was an explosion at one of the plants, and they are expanding the affected area. In terms of land area, this will affect a 20 km radius around each plant, which may not be much, but as has been reported, 80,000 people live within the first 10 km radius alone, and if the affected area reaches a larger city, this could affect a population in the hundreds of thousands. I still stand by this statement, though: It IS a problem, and a downright serious one, but it's certainly not the only part of the cost of this disaster, which has affected millions.

 

[Bon_Clay]

Nuclear power is fine. Living on a fault line and surrounded by water on all sides on the other hand can get messy.

 

[iblis666]

this whole thing is being blown out of proportion just because these power plants are a hot button issue but the most that will happen is a bit of radioactive venting after all these things are expensive and letting it melt down isnt an option

 

[Redingold]

You do know that nuclear energy is still one of the very safest sources of energy ever developed? So far, less people have died in the entire history of nuclear power than die every year from particulate air pollution from fossil fuel sources. Even with this, there are few sources of energy that can even compare with the safety record of nuclear power.

They do have potential for long-lasting and terrible ruination of environments.
The main issue has got to be the waste they produce.
Eventually, you'll stop having places to bury the crap.

Anyway, I hope that the Japanese people can endure this; that said, they survived nukes so I'm pretty confident of their continued existence.

Coal-fired power stations produce more radioactive waste than nuclear power stations, because of the presence of radioactive materials such as thorium in the coal.

http://www.ornl.gov/info/ornlreview/rev26-34/text/colmain.html

I also heard about nuclear power plants that produce no radioactive waste, because they turn it into lead, though I've been unable to locate a source.

 

[Guitar Gamer]

As much as an anomally that a meltdown would be with the attention that is surely being directed at the power plants (I hope) I still can't help but worry for Japan and it's power plants (nuclear that is).
If fate rolls some snake eye's and Chernobyl happens all over again, the amount of people that would be affected would be far beyond the population of Japan, China would be in the danger zone, and due to wind systems probably the west coast of north america. This is just speculation but it is enough to give me a shiver.

 

[Smagmuck_]

If worse comes to pass, Japan's going to have its own version of Chernobyl.