People are rightly concerned about the radiation leaks in Japan. However, we are clearly seeing two kinds of caution being exercised.

Scientists are gleefully proclaiming that the radiation risks are very low, there is nothing to worry about, etc. - despite the fact that Plutonium is escaping. Unless this is a magical kind of very safe Plutonium which I’m unaware of, this is Very Bad.

On the other hand, the UN is pushing for exclusion limits to be expanded. I can’t believe for a moment that the UN makes this decision without some kind of scientific input.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12916688

Someone here is wrong. I’m not sure who, but I am willing to believe that there is pressure on scientists (both in Japan and abroad) to talk down the threat and talk up the safety aspect. With everyone wanting to go nuclear, there’s a lot of money involved, and public opinion needs to be on their side. The UN is clearly wanting to preserve health of a population and ensure that the environment isn’t borked for for an unforeseeable amount of time.

i do not want nuclear in this country, end of ...

Better stock up on candles then.

so what would replace Nuclear power stations to supply the UK energy requirements?

Burn the politicians and royal family.

Are they slow-burning? Can we try a few to find out?

And would we be able to resist the temptation to burn them all at once, rather than ration them to conserve resources?

Very heavy protests here about banning nuclear plants. The mainstream media, especially in America, seem to be trying to make the situation seem much worse than it really is and trying to scare people - scared people watch more news.

well I do - the more the better

That's the first problem right there - the level of concern isn't right. The scientists and the UN are being cautious but the press isn't.

This is irrational hysteria based on sensationalised articles written by journalists who crave attention, want to make money and crucially have no idea what they're talking about.


Plutonium has been detected in the soil around the plant - yes.

However, the clue is in the word "detected". Plutonium, unless it is in large lumps, isn't actually very dangerous.


Nobody is wrong. The IAEA is a governmental organisation and has to act on the basis of law and regulation. The radiation in Iitate village has exceeded a legal limit and so the IAEA is obliged to recommend an expansion of the evacuation zone. That does not mean that they believe the radiation is dangerous.

The legal limits are intentionally set very low so that even if an accident vastly exceeds them, no harm will be done. For instance:

• 250uSv - EPA yearly release limit for a nuclear power plant
• 390uSv - The personal yearly dose from the Potassium in your own body
• 70uSv - The yearly dose from the bricks in your house

So yes the radiation is legally very high but is still very low in reality

Hope this helps

Yes how else will you get your super powers?

You might consider a move to Australia, New Zealand, Italy or Austria then.

I think we (that is, the United Kingdom) should get as much of our power from nuclear as possible.

Exactly without nuclear power station where am I going to find that radioactive spider to bite me

I suppose you're one of those hippies who thinks we should live "in harmony sith the earth", marry animals and plants, trade goats milk for a day's work yadda yadda yadda. The type of person who would have stopped man venturing outside of his cave.

I see nuclear as the only really viable option at the mo. Other renewable technologies are currently useless for our needs. To live the lifestyle we do, we need something like nuclear. Or we have to go back to burning candles at night, no hospitals, leeches for diseases etc.

That will be a somewhat inaccurate assumption.

I know but I felt like spluttering some [LIFTED].