Germany Will End Use Of Nuclear Power For Renewable Energy

Atomkraftwerk Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Neckar

Neckarwestheim Nuclear Power Plant

In the wake of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant disaster, Germany has decided it will move away from nuclear power. Germany is no small player in nuclear power with 17 reactors providing 23 percent of it power needs.

Germany plans to transition completely away from nuclear power and replace that need with renewable energy sources. While Germany obtains less than one quarter of its energy needs from nuclear, France relies on nuclear power for 70 percent of its energy. It would not be easy for France to replace nuclear and it has no intention of doing so. The United States gets 20 percent of it power from nuclear from 104 nuclear reactors located in plants around the country.,

To be honest this is a bold decision as nuclear power has a laudable safety record, but those instances of crisis have been grand. An article by the Associated Press titled “Germany set to abandon nuclear power for good” details Germany’s planned migration. The article even quotes how much easier the switch would be if Germany had some of the advantages of certain areas of the United States with sun and wind.

Nuclear power has not been very popular in Germany after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster spread radioactive material over Germany. This is an example of how politics are affected by events around the world and managed to push a nation in a new direction.

Chernobyl Cleanup Survivor Advises Japanese To Run Away, Now!

Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

A woman that was dispatched to help clean up the aftermath of the worst nuclear power plant disaster in history, Chernobyl, has a word of advice to the Japanese anywhere near the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant. Run!

An article titled “Chernobyl Cleanup Survivor's Message for Japan: 'Run Away as Quickly as Possible'” by Dana Kennedy March 22, 2011 and posted on AOL News tells the story of Natalia Manzurova. Manzorova was dispatched as part of a cleanup team after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster to clean up a town near the plants.

Manzurova is basically saying that everyone inside the radiation zone of the plant should protect themselves in spite of the official position coming from the government and other authorities. Her message lines up with the old adage of believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see.

She may have a point if you consider how the Fukushima Dai-ichi nclear power plant disaster has slow walked itself into an ever more serious situation daily. Recall the 10-mile evacuation zone and radiation was found in food and milk 65 miles away. The United States Navy moved the aircraft carrier USS George Washington away from its base south of Tokyo to lessen radiation exposure risk. The U.S. has passed out potassium iodide pills to its personnel and family member in the area. Radioactive contamination has been found in sea water. Recently food imports into the U.S. from the affected areas have been banned. The latest is a report that levels of radioactive iodine has been measured in the tap water in Tokyo at twice the levels recommended for infants.

Manzurova speaks from a position of knowledge. She is still alive after her team coworkers died from various ailments, but wears the scar of having her thyroid removed by surgery to avoid cancer.