>>>>>>>>>And we don't even know about the radiation yet. (At least we won't be hearing for a while about how safe and economical nuclear energy is).
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>On the contrary - if you have any interest in this issue, there's an excellent analysis at http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/14/fukushiima_analysis/ .
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Nice PR piece.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>LOL - I don't know how much you follow the Reg, but the entire staff there would consider that just about a mortal insult.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>No, if the Reg writes a piece like that, it's well-researched and the opinions expressed are the results of thorough analysis.
>>>>>
>>>>>I know, what is mainstream media thinking publishing pieces like this:
>>>>>http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/fukushima-mark-nuclear-reactor-design-caused-ge-scientist/story?id=13141287
>>>>>http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/mar/16/japan-nuclear-fire-fuel-pools-radiation
>>>>>http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/16/japan.nuclear.reactors/index.html?hpt=T1
>>>>
>>>>If you relied on the media you would assume the east coast of Japan was now a radioactive wasteland.
>>>
>>>What's really funny is see stories like this one:
>>>http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/15/drug-stores-report-sudden-increase-potassium-iodide-sales/
>>>
>>>and yet I don't know anyone (not in any state, CA, OR, WA, CO, or even NC) who is even considering purchasing potassium iodide pills....let alone panicking. It's not even discussed here and yet the article makes it seem as if everyone is running around panicking...
>>>
>>>and then this:
>>>
>>>U.S. urges citizens within 80 km of Japan plant leave:
>>>http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/16/us-japan-usa-shelter-idUSTRE72F73J20110316
>>
>>I think cold weather and a lack food and shelter is going to kill more people there than this leak. It was unfortunate that the containing buildings got damaged in the explosions as it gives the wrong impression of the amount of damage. This is absolutely nowhere near the scale of Chernobyl. That was ejecting radioactive debris to about 30000 feet I think the Japaneses leak is maybe reaching 1000. Also I would imagine the rain will help as it will help drop any particles locally.
>
>We really don't know yet what the eventual radiation damage will be. I don't think anyone is going to be able to draw any reliable conclusions until all those reactors are completely under control (or experience a catastrophic meltdown). Here are two articles from today's paper. The assessment yesterday of the American nuclear official, Gregory Jaczko, was much more concerned than anything the Japanese government or the plant operator has been willing to say. There seems to be a growing sense that they have both been stonewalling.
>
>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/world/asia/18nuclear.html?_r=1&hp
>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/17/world/asia/17tokyo.html?ref=asia

keep it in perpective. At Chernobyl the actual reactor was running at full power during a poorly planned test and exploded. The graphite in the reactor then caught fire . Nothing approaching that is happening in Japan.