Some natural disasters change history; Japan's tsunami could be one. For the moment, the country is still coming to terms with the scale of the calamity, trying to contain the accident at the damaged nuclear plant and restore normality to suffering people. But in the longer run, it is just possible that some good may come of this catastrophe. Past natural disasters in Japan have been followed by big changes of direction, and the country is sorely in need of change. For the rest of the world, the biggest question Japan's tsunami throws up concerns nuclear power.
Not only are humans fallible and the world troubled by terrorists; nature regularly unleashes disasters that cripple our abilities to keep the nuclear genie safely contained. Whether through human error, terrorism or natural disaster, the outcome — a release of radioactivity in a populated area — is unacceptable.
We should not turn our back on a technology that has so far been much safer than coal, and offers a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels that is cheaper than most renewables. Before we scream no more nukes, let us examine the whole picture and look at today’s modern, safe facilities.
(Image source: The-peoples-forum.com)
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