Saul Landau: The People Who Brought You Fukushima [Counterpunch]

Weekend Edition
April 22 - 24, 2011
http://www.counterpunch.org/willis04222011.html

Same Old Tricks From the Nuclear Gang
The People Who Brought You Fukushima

By SAUL LANDAU and JACK WILLIS

For 60 years the nuclear industry has promised the world cheap, safe and clean energy. As the Japanese government continues to extend its nuclear evacuation zone and with the eerie glow of the Fukishima plant as background, the pushers of nuclear power – including the President – still demand subsidies for new plants of Congress. As another Chernobyl-size disaster looms, the energy-fixated “problem solvers” continue to suffer from both temporary blindness and long-term amnesia – ignoring or down-playing the history of nuclear “mishaps.”

Behind the push for this “clean” (no fossil fuel emissions) energy source, lies a deeper motive. Would you believe money? In 2009, the government subsidized the nuclear industry with $18.5 billion, which did not cover unanticipated costs of “the next generation of plants.” The Nuclear Energy Institute – euphemism for industry trade group – now wants $20 billion more in loan-guarantees “to kick-start the long-awaited industry revival.” (Jim Snyder, The Hill June 21, 2009)

Before re-funding the nuclear gang, Members of congress might look deeper into and also beyond the current catastrophe. The Congressional Research Service could provide them with reports of some of the numerous U.S. nuclear accidents.
............. MORE AT LINK

Apples and oranges.


http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/new-nuc-plant-des-bg.html
Backgrounder on New Nuclear Plant Designs


http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf06.html
Safety of Nuclear Power Reactors
These are the only <3> major accidents to have occurred in over 14,400 cumulative reactor-years of commercial operation in 32 countries.
There have been three major reactor accidents in the history of civil nuclear power - Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima. One was contained without harm to anyone, the next involved an intense fire without provision for containment, and the third severely tested the containment, allowing minor release of radioactivity.

Little known fact, There were natural nuclear reactors 2 billion year ago.
http://www.physics.isu.edu/radinf/Files/Okloreactor.pdf
THE NATURAL NUCLEAR REACTOR AT OKLO: A
COMPARISON WITH MODERN NUCLEAR REACTORS


But then who wants facts when it is more fun to panic people.

If Indian Point blew in an earthquake it would cost a trillion and kill a million.

And the Nuke Industry is corrupt and too cheap to do proper safety or handle waste, now THAT is proven.

to put that "there have only been 3 significant nuclear accidents" meme to rest.

http://archive.greenpeace.org/comms/nukes/chernob/rep02.html