Depending on the competence or planning of the Japanese government or industry has not been a good bet in the past, and I see no reason to believe the odds have improved.

But we can hope that the government forces the industry to solve the problem, the industry decides that competence rather than PR is the best way to go, maybe we will just get lucky.

I think some good luck is out best hope.

James Pilant

Laaska News April 17,2011 The level of radioactive water that has accumulated on the premises of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant keeps rising amid concern that the water might overflow, further polluting the ocean. The radioactive water is believed to originate from water injected to cool the Number 2 reactor, which was seriously damaged by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami. In the utility tunnel outside the reactor, the contaminate … Read More

via Laaska News http://laaska.wordpress.com (laaskanews.com)

This is a Commonweal Editorial. It says a lot of things about nuclear power and its future.

Public opinion is in flux right now. With the decision in Germany to give up nuclear power, we can expect more movement among peoples all over the earth to question the viability of nuclear energy. It can be hoped that other nations will reduce their dependence on these kinds of plants and turn to other forms of energy.

I have frankly stated that the United States government is almost a subsidiary of the nuclear energy industry and have predicted that nuclear power plant building will proceed as planned. I have no reason to believe that anything has changed or could change. There is no disaster big enough to deter the government from its plans.

Currently, the American obsession is with profit over all other values. Because of this we can no longer make rational decisions or apply a modicum of thinking to problem solving.

We live in a parched wasteland of the mind. In the public form thinking has ceased to be an important quality. I tell you truly that an intellectual wasteland often results in catastrophe or the creation of real wastelands like those around the Fukushima or Chernobyl nuclear plants.

James Pilant

Commonweal Editorial, April 22, 2011 The Editors of Commonweal Magazine In the weeks since Japan’s massive earthquake and tsunami, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has spewed contamination and displaced thousands. It has also rekindled fears across the globe about the risks of nuclear power and at least temporarily slowed the industry’s revival in the United States. Overnight, U.S. public opinion turned from cautious support to renewed skeptic … Read More

via maitreyahc

Events in Japan are having an effect on national policies. I am surprised by the totality of the response.

Do not for one tiny moment believe that the United States will change course on building new reactors. Public opinion means a lot in Europe. It means little here. The beltway is largely immune to the fears and concerns of Middle America. This is a limited democracy. Most public concern and beliefs are filtered before becoming newsworthy or politically important.

We will have the nuclear plants and there is no stopping them.

James Pilant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UwR-n3AIko&feature=feedf Germany to end reliance on nuclear power – NHK World News German Chancellor Angela Merkel says her government will end its reliance on nuclear power as soon as possible by increasing energy generation from renewable sources. Merkel spoke to reporters about the plan on Friday after meeting with ministers and all 16 state governors to discuss the energy issue. Earlier, she had suspended a … Read More

via VITALFREEDOM.net

Here we follow one man returning to his home to pick up a few things. We all go home sometimes to get things but not for the last time. This is probably his last trip home. Home is now a nuclear dead zone. Cattle roam the highway. Dogs are still tied up. Earthquake damage is unrepaired and never will be.

And there is anger. He says, “They said that the nuclear power plants were safe.”

Guess not.

James Pilant