Not against nuclear energy, but it's not the panacea many claim...

you have situations like this, Chernobyl, TMI, . .

and then there's the problem of what to do with the waste ?

bury it- but where.. no one wants it in their backyard.

We want to bury it in Nevada (Yucca Mtns) but Nevadans say "why should we take it- we didn't use it !" (came from NY, GA, PA . . ) So what do you do with it ??

Not looking good at all.

Right David.

Nuc Power is a real catch 22. Still the most consistent non-fossil generator of energy.

I still think that we are looking at this in the wrong direction.
Instead of looking for better fuels like, Bio, Nuclear , whatever.

We should be looking at (building generators) that could produce 1000 times more power, per ounce of fuel.

IMO

Still looking grim...


http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2011/03/japans-nuclear-emergency

Sorry to be worrying you all. It just occurred to me to check here. I am on the edge of my seat about all of this. The English news appears to be staying well behind the Japanese (understandably). You all know a lot, it would seem. The big issue right now is Fukushima plant 1's no. 2 reactor. It has been being cooled with seawater for the last 3 days (like 1 and 3 I believe) but last I knew, before I went to bed at 1:40 am, the valve that was allowing pressure to dissapate so they could continue to pump more water in. When I woke up this morning it seems the situation is unchanged. Radiation levels seem manageable, but the rods inside must be melting down without water to cool it. I read on report that they were managing to pump water in again, but haven't seen that again since.

This is by what I have learned in the last 3 days is the worst situation yet in the last 3 days of this crisis. The English news I have read makes it sound more manageable, which is ironic b/c the English news up until now was more dire up until this point.

Believe me, I am known among friends and family as chief worrier, but I am very worried. Yes, there is nothing I can do, but that doesn't make me feel any better. Actually, before I became an on and off denizen here, I used to live in Fukushima, for six years.

THanks Lano

Be safe over there.

I lived on the other side of Fukushima, but by other side, we have to make it clear that Iowa (my home state) is 10 times the size of Fukushima. I actually came very close to getting a job in Futaba, the town that is literally ground zero for what is going on right now.

Anyway, yes I am in Tokyo, having previously lived relatively near where all this is going on. Tokyo is 220 km south, 130 miles of there.

A meltdown seems a definite possibity. As far as I know the meltdown could eventually lead to an explosion of the nuclear material. I have read up, as far as I know this plant has 10 times the power producing potential of Cherynobyl. Whether that means 10 times the dangerous radiation, I have no idea.

Good to hear from you. I hope you're upwind.

This is not one of the newer plants, it is GE designed and built here in 1971. It contains some of the more dangerous radioactive material inside. If there is an explosion of radioactive material (of which the likelihood I don't know), some experts have said it would make the tsunami look like an entree (a near direct quote).

Lea, I had not checked my alternate email (careless of me).

I probably shouldn't be going thru these scenarios, but I am not sure how far they are from worst case scenarios. I read up a few days ago on last ditch measures, like some kind of huge cover they can cover it up with. I hear very little talk about what they are going to do if they can't get the fuel rods submerged in water.

They cancelled my workplace the last few days, as with many other places. The trains are running at half capacity to save electricity and many businesses aren't running for the same reason.

When it became clear their would be planned blackouts, people started stocking up, and stores are emptying. I was running around looking for candles and batteries. Never did find the right batteries for flashlights, but did manage to find some candles. Ironic, for the first several years in Japan, I always kept a disaster package (earthquake) for emergencies, but I had let it run low - no batteries, canned food expired 6 months ago or so. Anyway, for me the food and water isn't an issue. We have caught up on that. My eye is on the plant up north.