The people and government of Japan learned the hard way that nuclear power is not necessarily a good thing. As the only country to experience the full force of an atomic attack they of course knew first hand how devastating atomic warfare could be. That was in the early days of atomic bombs and since then more terrible weapons of destruction have been created. Thankfully they have not been used. Not yet that is.
It had been hoped that the world could harness nuclear power as a positive. It had the potential to offer clean, cheap energy and be used for the good of all. When in 2011 a huge Tsunami and earthquake hit Japan the damaging potential of nuclear plants was all too clear to see.
A triple meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan proved hard to resolve. For those who were brave enough to tackle the problems at close range death was sure to follow.
For those of us who live many miles from Japan the disaster tends to be forgtten. For the people of Japan it is not. The negative after effects will be felt for many years to come. The people of Japan though have decided to put an end to their nuclear energy programme.
A firm committment has been made to end the country's reliance on nuclear power. Bear in mind the following "The Fukushima accident sent radioactive materials into the ocean and atmosphere, contaminated the food and water supply, and forced the evacuation of 160,000 residents" This does mean that the effects of the tragedy will be far reaching and long lasting.
Japan will end its dependence on nuclear power within the next 30 years. That may sound a long timescale but it will be the soonest that alternatives can be put into place. The old plants will need to be carefully dismantled. Currently Japan has around 50 fully functioning nuclear reactors. The potential then for a huge global disaster.
Prior to the Fukushima disater Japan had planned an expansion of its nuclear energy programme. Now the reverse will happen. By 2040 nuclear power will be a thing of the past in Japan.
Other countries though, including the UK and Germany, are looking to embrace more nuclear power as a means of sustainable and allegedly "clean" energy.
We are reminded of those adult words of childhood, "It will all end in tears"
More here at the Guardian
It had been hoped that the world could harness nuclear power as a positive. It had the potential to offer clean, cheap energy and be used for the good of all. When in 2011 a huge Tsunami and earthquake hit Japan the damaging potential of nuclear plants was all too clear to see.
A triple meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan proved hard to resolve. For those who were brave enough to tackle the problems at close range death was sure to follow.
For those of us who live many miles from Japan the disaster tends to be forgtten. For the people of Japan it is not. The negative after effects will be felt for many years to come. The people of Japan though have decided to put an end to their nuclear energy programme.
A firm committment has been made to end the country's reliance on nuclear power. Bear in mind the following "The Fukushima accident sent radioactive materials into the ocean and atmosphere, contaminated the food and water supply, and forced the evacuation of 160,000 residents" This does mean that the effects of the tragedy will be far reaching and long lasting.
Japan will end its dependence on nuclear power within the next 30 years. That may sound a long timescale but it will be the soonest that alternatives can be put into place. The old plants will need to be carefully dismantled. Currently Japan has around 50 fully functioning nuclear reactors. The potential then for a huge global disaster.
Prior to the Fukushima disater Japan had planned an expansion of its nuclear energy programme. Now the reverse will happen. By 2040 nuclear power will be a thing of the past in Japan.
Other countries though, including the UK and Germany, are looking to embrace more nuclear power as a means of sustainable and allegedly "clean" energy.
We are reminded of those adult words of childhood, "It will all end in tears"
More here at the Guardian
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