As the news from Japan about the extent of damage and death and misery unfolds, I'm also following closely the threat of nuclear emergency and the possibility of some degree of nuclear meltdown at one of the many nuclear power plants on the northern island.
In particular, this from a UK Guardian report jumped out at me:
"According to the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Authority, 20% of the world's 442 working commercial nuclear power stations are in areas of "significant" seismic activity."
Full news report:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/mar/13/nuclear-power-station-plans-criticised
These developments, whether they turn into a radioactive disaster for Japan or not, has very ominous implications for the United States. It also may provide important lessons for U.S. energy policy. Lessons that we should take directly to our elected leaders, both locally and nationally, to assert our rejection of nuclear power as an option to throw in the mix.
To those who say, "Wait! We need transition power options before the green energy options..." I say: baloney! It is the same arguments I heard in the late 1970s when I advocated for a clean, renewable energy transition for this country (and, indeed, the world!). The real holdup? The oil, gas, nuclear and coal industries that wine and dine their way into the hearts and minds of our elected leaders-- at the expense of the public interest. Now it is time to take our cue from the courageous protesters from the Middle East and insist on absolutely no compromise on what a vast majority of Americans want: a robust, more egalitarian economy powered by clean, renewable energy.
We have to hold our elected leaders' feet to the fire, figuratively speaking, of course! No more excuses. We have a magnificent nation of honest, caring, intelligent citizens and there is nothing we can't accomplish when we put our minds (and hearts) to it! Of that I have no doubt.
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