Nuclear energy has failed

[Onlooker]

Thank God Japan has the stringent sort of safety regulations that may prevent a meltdown. But, nuclear energy has failed nonetheless. During this horrific time of crisis in Japan, the government has had to devote major resources to the nuclear crisis, there is no quick replacement for the nuclear energy, and there are explosions being felt miles away. But, the psychological impact, especially given Truman's atrocities against Japanese civilians, must be severe. Imagine the terror that people who are hungry, have lost everything, have lost loved ones must feel knowing that they are surrounded by failing nuclear plants. Between the earthquake, the tsunami, and the explosions at nuclear plants, this is a trauma that must rival that of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

[inademv]

1. Compare to the Gulf of Mexico

[KharmaTrain]

2. So How Do You Replace 35% Of Japan's Power?

I'm no fan of nuclear for all the reasons that can be stated and have and the damage continued use of hydrocarbons and fossil fuels is also beyond question. So here's the dilemma. You have a small country with limited land and resources and a large population and industrial base that consumes large amounts of energy. Where does it come from? Wind and Solar? This may help with some of the need (and does nothing for transportation). Hydropower? More dams that could mess up an ecosystem? Thermal? Tap volcanos for power? Remember, you don't have a long time to come up with a solution here...and one will be needed as those reactors will never be operable. Remember, it was energy that was a major reason for Japanese expansionism in the 30s.

I'm just curious as to how one realistically would address the short-term crunch that Japan faces. This isn't about politics...it's about finding practical solutions to a bad situation...

[dkofos]

11. Turn off the computers.

[Systematic Chaos]

3. Because 3 million fossil fuel air pollution deaths globally per year are just so...boring.

Oh, and natural gas fracking is just so fucking healthy for America's ground water supplies and aquifers.

But we'll give all of that global destruction a free pass because after 25 years with no serious events we're dealing with a nuclear disaster in Japan.

Gotta love the DU Derp Brigade.



Oh, and by the way, care to comment on the refinery explosions over there? Or the massive oil and fossil fuel spills? Like there won't be any deaths from those?

[Thunderstruck]

6. I don't like fossil fuels either. Indeed, I would prefer a more agrarian

lifestyle, instead of chasing the current economic-growth-at-all-costs path we're on now.

I do love wind and solar though. I say if we can't live on what we can produce with clean energy, then we need to get about finding ways to do so.

[Common Sense Party]

4. Isn't this a very OLD nuclear plant we're talking about?

Might that have something to do with its problems?

[pintobean]

5. Got as far as "Truman's atrocities". Stopped and clicked unrec.

[inademv]

7. The Japanese leadership was looking to surrender

weeks before Truman decided to drop the bomb.

[Onlooker]

8. Are you defending obliterating civilians as a valid tool of war?

Even Eisenhower said it was not necessary to drop the bomb, and at any rate killing civilians is called terrorism in my country. What country are you from?

[pintobean]

9. Yes. USA

[ProgressiveProfessor]

10. Per another source there are some safety systems that were not fitted to Japanese reactors

that are in use in the US ones of identical design, including hardened vents.

[FLPanhandle]

12. If nuclear energy has failed, what would you say about coal & oil energy

Where there have been more deaths and more environmental damage?

[Cleita]

14. They are all evil.

It's time to find other sources of energy and/or cut down our consumption.

[Luminous Animal]

15. It has failed, as well. We are decades behind on replacing our dependence

on fossil fuels.

[tahrir]

13. Only those with a vested interest could say otherwise - it is shocking to hear some continue to say

How 'clean' this energy source is :crazy: