After what happened in 1986 at Chernobyl, is Nuclear Energy worth the risks that come by using it? I would say no. Even though Nuclear energy produces clean renewable energy, it makes me nervous to see the aftermath of what happens if something does not go right. The most recent example of this is the nuclear disaster that happened in Fukushima, Japan.
What happened at Fukushima was the result of a natural disaster with the forces of an earthquake that set off the Tsunami that hit the nuclear facility. Japan acknowledged that it made a mistake at Fukushima. In an article by the BBC, Japan made a public statement that it was unprepared for the disaster that happened at Fukushima. The article discussed how over 80,000 people living within a 12 mile radius had to evacuate while the plant continued to leak radioactive material nearly three months after the accident. The Prime Minister had feared the disaster was going to be worse than Chernobyl, however that was not the case. It did manage to let out double the initial radiation into the atmosphere than was earlier predicted, which effects all of us globally. Japan was also unprepared and was left basically defenseless when the seawall aimed at protecting the plant was only built at 20 ft high and the wave of the Tsunami was over 50 ft. If Japan was better prepared the nuclear plant may have not been destroyed as bad.
A New York Times article also discusses that if Japan was better prepared at the nuclear site, the accident would not have been such a catastrophe. In a 500 page report from the Japanese government, gives details of inspectors abandoning the reactors and leading to delays in letting the public know how much radiation actually leaked out into the atmosphere. The article also tells us that radiation levels at this site have not been seen since the accident at Chernobyl. In another BBC report, water from the plant has leaked and is contaminated. Not only has it leaked into other parts of the plant, but officials are also saying that some water has leaked through the concrete base and is now in the sea. This disaster not only has effected the citizens of Japan, but now is a threat to citizens of other countries worldwide. By radiation leaking into the sea, to the radiation leaking into the air, it will effect the jet stream and weather to come. So the next time it rains or snows you may not want to be opening your mouth to catch that snowflake or raindrop.
It was also believed that if nothing had been done, this disaster could have been much worse than predicted, and even much worse than Chernobyl, which has the title now of being the worst nuclear disaster in World history. The fuel rods were crippled by the tsunami and earthquake and also wreaked the cooling systems because there was no power. With the potential radiation emmitted into the air, Tokyo could have become a ghost town. Nearly 30 million people would have been affected, Japan was almost on the brink of collapse as some top officials and the Prime Minister had initially feared, but thankfully none of that happened.
After reading more articles about the disaster at Fukushima, my opinion on nuclear energy does not sway, it only enhances my feeling towards it. Natural disasters like an earthquake can happen at any time, whether it be big or small, if it hits close to a nuclear power plant it could cause chaos and catastrophe just like we saw at Fukushima. With living so close to nuclear plants with one up in Seabrook, New Hampshire and another down in Plymouth, Massachusetts, it seems that if they are not prepared like Fukushima was, we may fear the same fate.
References:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16032975
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13678627
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/08/fukushima-nuclear-disaster-pm-japan