(credit: CBS, March 2011)
Fukushima has been compared the likes of Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. Of the two, I think Three Mile Island is the closest in comparison.
1 - The measurable scope of the radiation fallout was/will be fairly limited.
2 - The incident took place in a wealthy, capitalist society.
3 - There was/will be a large backlash from the populace regarding the expansion of nuclear energy.
In addition to the tragedy, there are now allegations that information regarding a damaged portion of the reactor were brought to the Trade Ministry of Japan by an engineer, Mitsuhiko Tanaka. He claims that "he helped conceal a manufacturing defect in the $250 million steel vessel installed at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi No. 4 reactor while working for a unit of Hitachi Ltd. (6501) in 1974." Does this change the story? the outcome?
Are we overreacting? Is nuclear energy still a "green" source of energy or is the risk too great? Is there a better solution? What else must be considered?
The Lessons of Three Mile Island
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