| Submit your comments on this article |
| Europe |
| Nuclear Crisis Gives Euros Something Else to Worry About |
| 2011-03-15 |
| Japan's nuclear reactor emergency triggered a wave of reactions in the European Union, with environment ministers urging stress tests on operating nuclear plants and MEPs calling for nuclear energy to be phased out. Since Luxembourg and Dusseldorf are such an earthquake-prone areas... While awaiting clearer information from Japan, EU ministers and experts in charge of energy and nuclear issues will meet today (15 March) in Brussels at the request of EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger. They will mull the possible application of EU-wide stress tests for the 143 nuclear reactors currently operating on the bloc's territory, and debate the wider issue of nuclear security in Europe. EU environment ministers, gathered yesterday (14 March) in Brussels for a regular meeting, expressed support for a proposal from Austria to check the security of operating nuclear plants. German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the three-month suspension of a law aimed at prolonging the activity of old nuclear plants. Two of the 17 operating reactors in Germany are expected to be temporary shut down. Leading to temporary rolling brownouts, perchance? During the moratorium "the security of the situation will be assessed in view of what happened in Japan," Merkel said during a press conference in Berlin. Tsunamis are a big threat in Germany, one supposes. The two main parties in the European Parliament, the European People's Party (EPP) and the Social Democrats (S&D), called for security checks to be carried out at all nuclear plants in Europe. Spanish and Portuguese environment representatives (both from socialist governments) went further and called for the gradual phase-out of nuclear energy, echoing the position of the Greens. Solar. Cold-fusion. One windmill per farm. Whale-oil lamps. Britain, France and Italy asked for "calm". France and the UK are the EU countries with the highest number of nuclear reactors, 58 and 19 respectively. Italy has no nuclear plants but has embarked on an ambitious nuclear programme to reduce its dependency on external energy sources. Shirley the oil exporters are supporters. EU Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard gave assurances that "all necessary measures will be taken," but added that with 143 operating reactors, "nuclear power will be there for quite some time, whatever happens". See? Climate Action Commissioners are experts on everything! A few of several positions: German Socialist & Democrats MEP Jo Leinen said: "In the light of what happened in Japan, we need to look again at safety standards for Europe's nuclear reactors. They will not be hit by a tsunami, of course, but there are other risks, including terrorist attack. In the highly populated European continent, the consequences of a safety breakdown do not bear contemplation. Prudence requires that we re-evaluate our safety measures for nuclear reactors." Sounds calm and intelligent. Then the wackos weigh in: European Green Party (EGP) spokesperson Monica Frassoni said that "it is clear that these events only strengthen our determination to quickly phase out from this dangerous, costly and dirty energy source. We have alternatives and now governments should listen more to reality than to manipulative industry lobbies," she said in a note. Like government-supported wind and solar power, government-mandated energy conservation and rationing, government-sponsored electric cars charged by power from ... ummm ... tidal-action generators. |
| Posted by:Bobby |
| #3 The obvious solution for the Euros is to immediately start rolling blackouts, ration petrol, lay off 25% of all workers & evacuate Brussels. Then the Euros can worry about THAT. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2011-03-15 15:19 |
| #2 Harry Reid can go to hell! We need to get the spent rods away from our nuke plants and into the Nevada Waste Facility ASAP! Reactor #4's fire is H and O burning from a boiling spent rod pit. |
| Posted by: Water Modem 2011-03-15 09:57 |
| #1 Perhaps the U.S. would do well to worry about our own nuclear power plants. The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station was supposedly designed to withstand a 7.0 quake because a 6.5 quake was apparently what they felt was the greatest magnitude quake that would occur here. The Northridge quake was a 6.9 and we're always being warned to be prepared for the 8.0. (Everyone but the nuclear power plants apparently). And take a look at the tsunami protection from the photo at the link...yes, that's fencing above the wall. I feel warm and fuzzy looking at that, don't you? http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/san-onofre-nuclear-plant-can-withstand-quakestsunamis-officials-say.html |
| Posted by: Javins3089 2011-03-15 09:11 |