Multiple meltdowns in the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant caused severe radiation levels to escape from the confines of the structure. Three of the five reactors had explosions, and the fourth was on fire; the fifth reactor had been shut down since December, but during the disaster, the used fuel in storage pools almost went to a critical level because the cooling system of the reactor failed. Five days after the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear emergency, the officials of Japan were saying it was nowhere near the same levels as Chrenobyl, but now, two months after the disaster, they are saying it is almost to the same levels. The radiation is spreading across Japan and even reaching other countries nearby. Despite the meltdowns, Japan is unlikely to shut down development of more nuclear power plants. This of course will slow things down for a while, but Japan uses 30 percent nuclear power to supply its energy. Japan will most likely increase their safety regulations and heighten public awareness, but authorities do not plan on stopping using or creating new nuclear power plants.
Across the world, nuclear power provides 14 percent of all the worlds electricity. Japan uses 30 percent, and the United States uses around 20 percent. Around the globe, there are 442 nuclear reactors. After the worst nuclear accident in history, Chrenobyl, the world halted the construction of nuclear power plants, but not for long. During the disasters in March, Japan lost over 10 percent of its power production because they are so dependent upon nuclear energy and power. Japan has no oil, natural gas, or even coal deposits and it is one of the largest energy consuming countries around the globe.
http://www.google.com/
Dilanian, Ken, and Don Lee. “Japan’s Crisis May Derail ‘Nuclear Renaissance’.” Los Angeles Times. 14 Mar 2011: A.1. SIRS Researcher. Web. 09 May 2011.
Leahy, Stephen. “Who Controls the Nuclear Control Agencies?” Global Information Network. 23 Mar 2011: n.p. SIRS Researcher. Web. 09 May 2011.
No comments:
Post a Comment