8.8 Quake hits Japan... tsunami warnings issued

[Alex]

That's because it was an irrigation dam (but the point is valid). I'm far more concerned about Oroville Dam in a 6.0 earthquake than I am our various nuclear plants in an 8.5.

Or look one one accident at a single drill site did last year in the Gulf.

This is not to say that what is happening at the Japanese reactor isn't serious. But it can be serious and still be true that the press is over-reacting.

And having a 6 rating on that scale does not mean that it will have any serious impact on anything other than a local scale.

[JWBear]

I haven't fact checked this yet, but I just read a comment that every nuclear plant in operation saves the burning of about 2 million tons of coal a year. With 442 operating nuclear plants worldwide that's a total of 884 million tons per year. Just think how much mining, waste, and pollution those nukes prevent.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by JWBear

I haven't fact checked this yet, but I just read a comment that every nuclear plant in operation saves the burning of about 2 million tons of coal a year. With 442 operating nuclear plants worldwide that's a total of 884 million tons per year. Just think how much mining, waste, and pollution those nukes prevent.

Not to mention the thousands of miners that are killed in coal mining accidents each year.

[Morrigoon]

Plus, we're talking about a 30-year old plant. Newer nuclear plants can be built upon more advanced earthquake-safe building standards.

[JWBear]

Actually, the plant survived the earthquake without any damage whatsoever. It was the tsunami that caused the problems - by wiping out the back-up generators for the cooling system.

[innerSpaceman]

As overblown as it may be here, I imagine it's pretty darn terrifying in Japan.

If such a thing happened here, how likely would you be to believe the government or the utility companies or even the press as to how dangerous the radioactivity heading your way was??

And how would you like to be trying to get out of Los Angeles if there were even credible RUMORS of radioactive clouds headed this way after being traumatized by unfathomable natural disaster life???







Yes, I imagine this is all pretty upsetting in Japan.

[Alex]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

If such a thing happened here, how likely would you be to believe the government or the utility companies or even the press as to how dangerous the radioactivity heading your way was??

Reasonably likely, except for the press. I never trust the press to ever accurately represent risk.

Per Lani, who is able to watch NHK without help, the Japanese press doesn't seem nearly so overwrought though they are definitely giving it plenty of attention.

[€uroMeinke]

I'd believe the utility companies

[JWBear]

I've been reading the BBC coverage of the situation. Unlike the American press, it's calm, informative, and fact based. Quite refreshing.

[JWBear]

And the thousands, if not millions, of coal related cancer deaths.