Fears of a nuclear disaster
The badly damaged reactors of the Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant are still not under control. While the levels of radioactivity continue to rise in Japan, the threat of another catastrophe like that in Chernobyl is spreading fear all over the world.
Mladá fronta Dnes - Czech Republic | Thursday, 26. May 2011
Political indicators in Germany increasingly point to an early nuclear phase-out. This will be expensive for its neighbours, the left-liberal daily Mladá fronta dnes complains: » more
Political indicators in Germany increasingly point to an early nuclear phase-out. This will be expensive for its neighbours, the left-liberal daily Mladá fronta dnes complains: "The Czechs will quickly feel the repercussions, and the development of alternative energy sources will have serious consequences. These alternative sources already heavily destabilise power supply lines in Europe. To prevent the power grids from collapsing altogether neighbouring states will have to invest billions in their power lines, and that will raise energy prices. ... In addition it is one hundred percent certain that Europe's dependence on natural gas imports will grow. Gazprom has already announced price hikes from the current 350 dollars to 500 dollars for 1,000 cubic metres. And with this rise in energy prices the competitiveness of European industry will sink. And let's not forget, the nuclear industry is the only sector in the world that systematically analyses all disasters and regularly updates the regulations for operating nuclear plants. In the chemical industry, which is just as dangerous, there is nothing of the sort."
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All available articles from » Pavel Paral
Corriere del Ticino - Switzerland | Thursday, 26. May 2011
The Swiss government on Wednesday decided in favour of a gradual nuclear phase-out. The country's five existing nuclear power plants are to be taken off the grid at the end of their operating times. A premature decision, the liberal daily Corriere del Ticino complains: » more
The Swiss government on Wednesday decided in favour of a gradual nuclear phase-out. The country's five existing nuclear power plants are to be taken off the grid at the end of their operating times. A premature decision, the liberal daily Corriere del Ticino complains: "The prospect of more environmentally damaging energy sources and importing French nuclear power if our energy needs can't be covered at an affordable price is not very attractive. ... The objective is to switch the Swiss energy system to renewable and safe energy sources. ... This is an intelligent goal. But setting deadlines and procedures and ruling out the possibility that the technology that is advancing at a lightning pace today might also produce new solutions in the area of nuclear energy in the next two decades doesn't exactly testify to farsightedness."
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All available articles from » Moreno Bernasconi
Hospodářské noviny - Czech Republic | Monday, 23. May 2011
German Chancellor Angela Merkel confirmed at the weekend that Germany plans to dispense with nuclear power entirely in ten years. At the same time it's still unclear what exactly the stress tests for European nuclear power plants put on the agenda after the Fukushima accident will look like. The business daily Hospodářské noviny sees all this as very questionable: » more
German Chancellor Angela Merkel confirmed at the weekend that Germany plans to dispense with nuclear power entirely in ten years. At the same time it's still unclear what exactly the stress tests for European nuclear power plants put on the agenda after the Fukushima accident will look like. The business daily Hospodářské noviny sees all this as very questionable: "Do tests exist that can uncover and eliminate all possible dangers? At the end of the day security is always a compromise between what is technically and humanly possible and what is financially viable. This raises the question of to what extent the current opposition to nuclear energy is just short-term political agitation and to what extent it's a long-term political strategy. If Europe wants to live without nuclear energy then it should make the decision only once it knows how it's going to replace that energy. Attempts to do this with renewable energies are proving just as hopeless as a return to coal."
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All available articles from » Julie Hrstková
taz - Germany | Wednesday, 18. May 2011
According to a report by the Reactor Safety Committee (RSC), none of the 17 Germany nuclear power plants comply with the high safety standards forming the basis of the stress tests performed after the Japanese nuclear disaster at Fukushima. The report will mainly serve the purposes of the nuclear lobby, fears the left-leaning daily tageszeitung: » more
According to a report by the Reactor Safety Committee (RSC), none of the 17 Germany nuclear power plants comply with the high safety standards forming the basis of the stress tests performed after the Japanese nuclear disaster at Fukushima. The report will mainly serve the purposes of the nuclear lobby, fears the left-leaning daily tageszeitung: "The authors themselves admit that the time schedule was too tight and the data insufficient for a detailed analysis of which nuclear plants are unsafe. So the conclusions of the report are correspondingly vague - nothing new. That most German nuclear power plants are either not at all or too little protected against plane crashes has been common knowledge for a long time. Fukushima didn't change that one bit. ... But despite the shortcomings the RSC does describe the German plants as 'highly robust'. So should Germany phase out nuclear so quickly? The danger that the pro-nuclear lobby will use this hastily composed report for its own purposes is obvious."
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All available articles from » Stefan Reinecke
Le Monde - France | Wednesday, 18. May 2011
The nuclear disaster in Fukushima is just as hard to fathom as the sudden downfall of the French almost-presidential candidate Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Both events give clues to the inner workings of our society, writes Hervé Kempf in the left-liberal daily Le Monde: » more
The nuclear disaster in Fukushima is just as hard to fathom as the sudden downfall of the French almost-presidential candidate Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Both events give clues to the inner workings of our society, writes Hervé Kempf in the left-liberal daily Le Monde: "Is there a relationship between these two unimaginable events? Yes, because they work according to the same logic. A logic of 'excessiveness' or hybris, a concept from Greek Antiquity. Hybris designated the pride that pushes humans to exceed their just boundaries and strive for things beyond what fate has meted out to them. This idea resounds strongly in today's culture, which demonstrates an insatiable greed while the biosphere has absorbed about as much as it can take of the ill effects of human activity. ... The Greeks associated hybris with its own punishment, nemesis or destruction: an excessive desire for power, money or sex brings disaster on he who is but the plaything of such hybris."
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All available articles from » Hervé Kempf
The Irish Times - Ireland | Tuesday, 26. April 2011
Atomic power remains a key energy source despite the nuclear catastrophes in Chernobyl and Fukushima, writes the liberal daily The Irish Times: » more
Atomic power remains a key energy source despite the nuclear catastrophes in Chernobyl and Fukushima, writes the liberal daily The Irish Times: "The nuclear material will remain active for 100,000 years. Such facts were a great setback for the nuclear power industry, reducing the number of plants built in the 1990s. ... Yet these worries receded as improved technologies emerged, coupled with growing awareness of how climate change is caused by greenhouse gases. Rapid economic development in Asia and Latin America is mainly based on fossil fuels, natural sources of energy are insufficient, so nuclear power appears attractive as a cleaner alternative. Throughout the world, some 430 nuclear power plants in 31 states supply about 15 per cent of electricity needs. However, the nuclear industry must convince sceptical publics it is not disaster-prone if it is to be accepted as an efficient, accountable, cost-effective and relatively clean technology."
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Karjalainen - Finland | Tuesday, 26. April 2011
On the 25th anniversary of the nuclear catastrophe in Chernobyl, the liberal daily Karjalainen complains of the world's continued dependence on atomic power and calls for the development of alternative energy sources: » more
On the 25th anniversary of the nuclear catastrophe in Chernobyl, the liberal daily Karjalainen complains of the world's continued dependence on atomic power and calls for the development of alternative energy sources: "The Chernobyl disaster was the consequence of a failed experiment. ... After the accident the world was assured that similar accidents could be avoided with the aid of new reactor types, stricter safety requirements and better controls. ... But as the disaster at Fukushima has shown, not all accidents can be prevented. ... Nevertheless for now we cannot dispense with nuclear energy altogether, because the other energy sources at our disposal do not cover the world's energy needs. ... The development of new and safer forms of energy production continues to be a priority."
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Lidové noviny - Czech Republic | Tuesday, 26. April 2011
Despite the Chernobyl catastrophe 25 years ago and the most recent nuclear disaster in Fukushima the conservative daily Lidové noviny says there's no point in getting hysterical: » more
Despite the Chernobyl catastrophe 25 years ago and the most recent nuclear disaster in Fukushima the conservative daily Lidové noviny says there's no point in getting hysterical: "The first fears after Chernobyl that hundreds of thousands would die never became reality. No one can claim that the area is idyllic today but nature regenerated quickly. ... Today's reactors are much safer. Yet we still can't be satisfied. We still know too little from serious sources about the accident at Fukushima to draw any conclusions. But there are studies about how many people die from the emissions from coal-fired power plants and how many miners die each year in the mines. These numbers simply lack the spectacular backdrop of a damaged reactor. Road traffic kills many more people each year that nuclear accidents do. Perhaps the anti-nuclear activists would be better off fighting for a ban on cars."
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All available articles from » Martin Zvěřina
Il Sole 24 Ore - Italy | Wednesday, 20. April 2011
The Italian government on Thursday decided to shelve plans for a return to nuclear power for the time being. A moratorium on the plans had already been declared at the end of March. The country lacks a clear energy policy, the business paper Il Sole 24 Ore writes: » more
The Italian government on Thursday decided to shelve plans for a return to nuclear power for the time being. A moratorium on the plans had already been declared at the end of March. The country lacks a clear energy policy, the business paper Il Sole 24 Ore writes: "Until yesterday reintroducing nuclear energy after it was renounced in 1987 … was a clear goal as an admission of political and technological guilt. Today it is a goal that the government will give up, or at least postpone, for the sake of a referendum that was triggered by Fukushima. ... This understandable opportunism and political caution can be easily explained by the upcoming local elections in May. ... There is no sign whatsoever of scientific debate or serious programmatic planning. This is Italy, the country where there simply is no energy policy."
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All available articles from » Federico Rendina
Diário Económico - Portugal | Friday, 15. April 2011
Both the accident at Fukushima nuclear power plant and the global financial crisis have demonstrated poor global risk management, writes Economics Nobel Prize laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz in the business paper Diário Económico: » more
Both the accident at Fukushima nuclear power plant and the global financial crisis have demonstrated poor global risk management, writes Economics Nobel Prize laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz in the business paper Diário Económico: "Both events provide stark lessons about risks, and about how badly markets and societies can manage them. Of course, in one sense, there is no comparison between the tragedy of the earthquake and the financial crisis. ... But when it comes to the nuclear meltdown at Fukushima, there is a common theme in the two events. ... Research in economics and psychology helps us understand why we do such a bad job in managing these risks. We have little empirical basis for judging rare events, so it is difficult to arrive at good estimates. In such circumstances, more than wishful thinking can come into play: we might have few incentives to think hard at all. On the contrary, when others bear the costs of mistakes, the incentives favour self-delusion. A system that socializes losses and privatizes gains is doomed to mismanage risk."
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Libération - France | Monday, 18. April 2011
The head of the company operating the damaged nuclear reactor in Fukushima announced on the weekend that it will take another three months to ensure the adequate cooling of the reactors and the storage pool on site. The left-liberal daily Libération writes that it will be a lot longer before the world can fully turn its back on nuclear energy: » more
The head of the company operating the damaged nuclear reactor in Fukushima announced on the weekend that it will take another three months to ensure the adequate cooling of the reactors and the storage pool on site. The left-liberal daily Libération writes that it will be a lot longer before the world can fully turn its back on nuclear energy: "There is no end to the drama, the emergency lags on. The feeling of abandonment will never have been so strong among the survivors in the region and the 80,000 displaced persons who still don't know if they'll ever be able to go back home. ... The countdown concerns not only the Japanese, but also all the major powers. Serious researchers confirm it will take at least three or four decades to come up with a realistic alternative to nuclear energy. So no one has put nuclear technology behind them yet, or Fukushima and its devastating consequences either, for that matter."
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All available articles from » Vincent Giret
Kansan Uutiset - Finland | Wednesday, 13. April 2011
The Japanese Atomic Energy Agency has raised the accident at the Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant to the highest level on the international scale for measuring nuclear accidents, putting it on a par with Chernobyl. And the true scale of the disaster is still unclear, writes the leftist weekly Kansan Uutiset in its Internet edition: » more
The Japanese Atomic Energy Agency has raised the accident at the Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant to the highest level on the international scale for measuring nuclear accidents, putting it on a par with Chernobyl. And the true scale of the disaster is still unclear, writes the leftist weekly Kansan Uutiset in its Internet edition: "In Fukushima what should never have happened actually did happen. ... The damaged nuclear plant will go on emitting radiation for years to come. Even though much is being done at the site to contain the problem, a full picture of the true extent of the catastrophe has yet to emerge. The operator Tepco, for its part, has warned that radiation levels could still rise even higher than those following the Chernobyl disaster. It is also worrying that the emergency crews have still not got the situation in the damaged reactors at Fukushima fully under control - unfortunately."
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Der Standard - Austria | Tuesday, 12. April 2011
The Japanese government announced yesterday that it would further extend the evacuation zone around the damaged nuclear reactor Fukushima 1. The left-liberal daily Der Standard welcomes the step but criticises Japan's policy of information regarding the catastrophe: » more
The Japanese government announced yesterday that it would further extend the evacuation zone around the damaged nuclear reactor Fukushima 1. The left-liberal daily Der Standard welcomes the step but criticises Japan's policy of information regarding the catastrophe: "Rather than sowing tangible fear ... the information that reached the public this month ... must have instilled diffuse feelings of unease among those affected. Because the constantly changing radiation levels published by the plant operator Tepco and the authorities since then have even experts in nuclear energy scratching their heads. To put it cynically, one thing those responsible cannot be accused of is panic mongering. But this sort of information policy is an open invitation to cast doubt on all the data released to date on the state of affairs, and rouses the suspicion that tactical considerations have also played a part in the crisis communication. Such concerns are absolutely out of place when the health of thousands of people hangs in the balance."
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All available articles from » Gudrun Springer
Le Quotidien - Luxembourg | Wednesday, 6. April 2011
The nuclear disaster in Japan has given the environmental movement in Luxembourg fresh impetus, writes the daily Le Quotidien, noting that companies now recognise the advantages of sustainable development: » more
The nuclear disaster in Japan has given the environmental movement in Luxembourg fresh impetus, writes the daily Le Quotidien, noting that companies now recognise the advantages of sustainable development: "Environmental activists are not just bang on trend but also have economic arguments in their favour now. This has businesses listening to them. For a long time people saw the environmentalists as a group of enlightened prepared to do anything to save our planet. Today anyone who combines the saving of the Earth with economic interests is demonstrating a certain pragmatism. The demands of environmentalists that we radically change our excessive consumer habits and give up our wasteful lifestyles no longer seem so unreasonable in this light. ... Sometimes it doesn't take much to turn a profit without harming the environment. At a global level this is no doubt more complicated, but the awareness is already there."
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Financial Times Deutschland - Germany | Tuesday, 5. April 2011
Tepco power company, operator of the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant, has dumped 10,000 tons of radioactive water into the Pacific. As a nuclear disaster always has international repercussions, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) must be granted more competences, writes the liberal daily Financial Times Deutschland: » more
Tepco power company, operator of the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant, has dumped 10,000 tons of radioactive water into the Pacific. As a nuclear disaster always has international repercussions, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) must be granted more competences, writes the liberal daily Financial Times Deutschland: "At present the Agency may only become active at the explicit request of the affected state, and its safety standards are non-binding. This lack of supervision is disproportional to the damage that a nuclear accident may wreak internationally - like the contamination of the environment or the disruption of the economy resulting from the interruption of supply chains. For this reason the G20 states and the EU must set a good example and make safety standards binding. Moreover the IAEA must be granted additional rights. It should be able to intervene and exert control as soon as an accident takes place, without waiting to be invited. Now that the shock of Fukushima has roused international public opinion the time is ripe to put atomic energy supervision where it belongs: on an international level."
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Neue Zürcher Zeitung - Switzerland | Tuesday, 5. April 2011
The West's coverage of Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster in the past few weeks has highlighted the cultural differences in the way disasters are dealt with. The German Japan expert Lisette Gebhardt criticises this coverage in the liberal-conservative daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung as full of clichés about the Japanese sense of community and suffering and argues that it is more important to emphasise the things we have in common: » more
The West's coverage of Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster in the past few weeks has highlighted the cultural differences in the way disasters are dealt with. The German Japan expert Lisette Gebhardt criticises this coverage in the liberal-conservative daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung as full of clichés about the Japanese sense of community and suffering and argues that it is more important to emphasise the things we have in common: "In a globalised world the focus should be on questions other than those pertaining to cultural norms in dealing with natural disasters. Precisely because the Western industrialised societies, like Japan, are at the mercy of the advantages and disadvantages of technology we should be asking: What can we learn from Fukushima? ... How can the global community best help Japan? What alternatives are there to nuclear energy in a country where politics and the nuclear lobby are in cahoots with each other? A country which has forgotten the old virtue of saving energy in a criminal way and where to top it all there is a great potential for thermal energy? ... If there is a ray of hope regarding Fukushima it is that it will provoke an objective global debate and a dialogue that transcends the exotification of other cultures and one's own."
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All available articles from » Lisette Gebhardt
Vilniaus diena - Lithuania | Tuesday, 5. April 2011
Doubts about the use of nuclear energy are growing in Lithuania. The daily Vilniaus Diena is not surprised: » more
Doubts about the use of nuclear energy are growing in Lithuania. The daily Vilniaus Diena is not surprised: "A survey shows that the worrying events at the Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant have made an impact. Whereas until recently the number of proponents and detractors was roughly equal, now nine out of ten Lithuanians don't want a new nuclear power station to be built in their country. The fear of radioactive contamination in the event of a disaster has displaced the desire for energy independence. At the same time other surveys show that the Lithuanians reject Russian and Belarusian plans to build nuclear power plants directly on their borders. ... Moscow and Minsk however will hardly be deterred by this negative stance, considering that they pay little attention to public opinion in their own countries."
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All available articles from » Stasys Gudavičius
De Standaard - Belgium | Tuesday, 5. April 2011
In view of the Japanese nuclear accident, several television stations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland have refrained from broadcasting episodes of the satirical cartoon series The Simpsons which feature a nuclear disaster. That is wrong, writes the chairman of the Flemish nationalist N-VA party, Bart de Wever in his column for the daily De Standard: » more
In view of the Japanese nuclear accident, several television stations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland have refrained from broadcasting episodes of the satirical cartoon series The Simpsons which feature a nuclear disaster. That is wrong, writes the chairman of the Flemish nationalist N-VA party, Bart de Wever in his column for the daily De Standard: "Perhaps for the German public sphere The Simpsons and Fukushima ... lie too close to the border between comedy and tragedy. The idea that the Japanese reactor could be managed with impunity by people who are more like Homer Simpson and Monty Burns than we would have thought possible is painful indeed. We prefer to see the tragedy of the courageous Japanese, and their superhuman fight against a fate which was cause not by humans but the hand of God. When fear rules, laughter must give way."
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Die Welt - Germany | Wednesday, 30. March 2011
Almost three weeks after the accident at Fukushima nuclear power plant the situation remains critical. However the world's interest is fading fast, writes the conservative daily Die Welt: » more
Almost three weeks after the accident at Fukushima nuclear power plant the situation remains critical. However the world's interest is fading fast, writes the conservative daily Die Welt: "Fukushima can still not be compared with Chernobyl. ... The situation in Fukushima is unclear, one could even say imponderable. Things are touch and go. ... Much is conceivable, even of course that the situation will gradually come under control. But a steady increase in heat resulting in a true catastrophe, an explosion, is also possible. The Japanese are the most affected by events and bear a heavy burden, much weightier than that of the Germans, whose irrational burst of emotion would be unheard of in the land of the rising sun. Now politicians here have done a turnaround and are racing head over heels to introduce an energy transition. The main thing is that the Germans must be clean. A gradual loss of interest in Fukushima can bring no good - and it has already begun."
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All available articles from » Andrea Seibel
Diário de Notícias - Portugal | Tuesday, 29. March 2011
The election victory of the Greens in Baden-Württemberg underscores the German environmental party's leading role worldwide, writes the daily Diário de Notícias: » more
The election victory of the Greens in Baden-Württemberg underscores the German environmental party's leading role worldwide, writes the daily Diário de Notícias: "When a poll carried out by German news magazine Stern last October showed that 24 percent of Germans would vote for the Greens Germany reacted with disbelief. But in the election on Sunday the Greens obtained precisely 24 percent, allowing them to form a government with their social democrat allies and oust the Christian Democrats from power for the first time in over half a century. The nuclear debate hurt Merkel's party: the Greens were rewarded for their consistent criticism of nuclear power plants on German soil while the CDU showed concern only after the tragedy in Japan. ... The result in Baden-Württemberg is a ominous sign for Merkel and her coalition government with the Liberals in Berlin. It confirms however that Germany's Green party is the most powerful green party in the world."
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Élet és Irodalom - Hungary | Friday, 25. March 2011
The earthquake in Japan and the ensuing tsunami will have a greater impact on the global economy than most of the natural disasters to date, writes the economist Miklós Losoncz in the left-liberal weekly Élet és Irodalom: » more
The earthquake in Japan and the ensuing tsunami will have a greater impact on the global economy than most of the natural disasters to date, writes the economist Miklós Losoncz in the left-liberal weekly Élet és Irodalom: "In addition to the big Japanese companies (Toyota, Suzuki and so on) and their foreign subsidiaries there are a number of multinationals world wide (General Motors, Sony Ericsson, Volkswagen, Boeing, etc.) whose production depends on a constant supply of building components and spare parts from Japan. Because of the natural disaster these deliveries have begun to falter. The standstill in Japanese production could slow down the dynamics of industrial production in other countries within a very short time. If the situation doesn't improve sooner or later the multis will start looking for other suppliers which would entail a considerable loss of market share for Japanese companies. ... For insurance companies the damages payments after this natural disaster will also be enormous."
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The Guardian - United Kingdom | Friday, 25. March 2011
A study by the Arizona State University deals with the roots of human altruism, for which the workers in the Japanese nuclear power plant Fukushima - subject to high levels of radiation on a daily basis - provide a sterling example. The basis of such selfishness is more cultural than genetic, writes Johnjoe McFadden in the left-liberal daily The Guardian: » more
A study by the Arizona State University deals with the roots of human altruism, for which the workers in the Japanese nuclear power plant Fukushima - subject to high levels of radiation on a daily basis - provide a sterling example. The basis of such selfishness is more cultural than genetic, writes Johnjoe McFadden in the left-liberal daily The Guardian: "Most individuals in modern hunter-gatherer groups are unrelated. They are friends, rather than family. Of course we don't know if our ancient ancestors lived in the same way as contemporary hunter-gatherers. But the predominance of this pattern amongst so many diverse groups suggests that it is ancestral and possibly key to what makes us human. The researchers argue that this more dispersed pattern of human relationships allowed early humans to make loose though extensive alliances with friends and neighbours in nearby groups. A key component of these alliances was likely to be the emergence of kindness towards strangers, not through genes, but a product of culture."
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Neue Zürcher Zeitung - Switzerland | Thursday, 24. March 2011
The nuclear disaster in Japan has triggered a debate about the future of nuclear power in several European countries. The liberal-conservative daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung points out that renewable energies also have their price, even if it can't always be translated into precise figures: » more
The nuclear disaster in Japan has triggered a debate about the future of nuclear power in several European countries. The liberal-conservative daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung points out that renewable energies also have their price, even if it can't always be translated into precise figures: "By pure force of habit we tend to set greater store by values that can be quantified. Today, at a time when all nature's assets are in danger, even if they can't be quantified or labelled with a price tag, it has become a necessity to to give them a value that carries just as much weight as quantifiable material assets do in the process of assessment and political decision-making. The conflict between sourcing energy and protecting landscapes is just one example of this. In this respect it should be pointed out that the use of water power has already been expanded on a large scale to the extent that there are only few remaining stretches of water that are unused and still in their original natural state."
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The Daily Telegraph - United Kingdom | Wednesday, 23. March 2011
In reaction to the catastrophe in the Japanese nuclear power plant Fukushima Daiichi, Germany has temporarily shut down seven of its oldest reactors, while the EU energy commissioner has called for a nuclear phaseout. The conservative newspaper The Daily Telegraph finds such panic mongering uncalled for: » more
In reaction to the catastrophe in the Japanese nuclear power plant Fukushima Daiichi, Germany has temporarily shut down seven of its oldest reactors, while the EU energy commissioner has called for a nuclear phaseout. The conservative newspaper The Daily Telegraph finds such panic mongering uncalled for: "In a serious nuclear incident, panic will win out over reason unless there is someone who is both trustworthy and informed to speak out on behalf of reason. Cases like this need good risk analysis that can be handed to the media and so calm the debate. What was missing in Japan, the European Commission and Germany was the authoritative voice of a chief scientific adviser, who can quell the panic and point out any problems. Because until we know that, none of us can begin to understand how to manage the risks associated with disasters, whether delivered by humans, or nature, or both."
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Les Echos - France | Tuesday, 22. March 2011
The catastrophe at the Japanese nuclear plant Fukushima 1 got people around the world debating the viability of nuclear phaseout again. France, which gets around 70 percent of its electricity from nuclear energy, is no exception. For the business paper Les Echos, safety precautions must be taken against such accidents, even if the cost will trigger an enormous increase in the price of electricity: » more
The catastrophe at the Japanese nuclear plant Fukushima 1 got people around the world debating the viability of nuclear phaseout again. France, which gets around 70 percent of its electricity from nuclear energy, is no exception. For the business paper Les Echos, safety precautions must be taken against such accidents, even if the cost will trigger an enormous increase in the price of electricity: "There are plenty of so-called 'alternative' scenarios. The most responsible of them point out that the best kind of energy is the energy you don't consume, and go on to work out elaborate programmes for 'energy moderation'. But consumers and industry have resolutely opted for unlimited consumption of cheap energy. The scenario which addresses the root of the problem must dare to foresee a tenfold increase in standard energy prices so as to guarantee the financing of comprehensive nuclear safety measures (should nuclear energy still be in use then). ... But anyone who supported such a measure would certainly be punished. For having told the truth."
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All available articles from » Laura Berny
Lietuvos rytas - Lithuania | Monday, 21. March 2011
The Fukushima reactor catastrophe in Japan has revived the nuclear debate in Europe. Lithuania wants to replace its Ignalina nuclear power plant with a new one and must therefore reopen the discussion of nuclear power, demands the daily Lietuvos Rytas: » more
The Fukushima reactor catastrophe in Japan has revived the nuclear debate in Europe. Lithuania wants to replace its Ignalina nuclear power plant with a new one and must therefore reopen the discussion of nuclear power, demands the daily Lietuvos Rytas: "The Soviets never asked us whether we wanted a nuclear plant or not. They had actually planned to build four reactors but in the end only built two. ... In this way Lithuania was forced to become a nuclear state against its will, and it didn't even secure us cheaper electricity. We have often paid more per kilowatt hour than in Latvia or Estonia where there is no nuclear power. Even today no one asks us whether we really want a nuclear power station, and no one has commissioned a survey. It hasn't even occurred to Parliament that such an important issue needs to be discussed with experts and representatives of the public. ... The general public may have very different ideas about a new nuclear power plant. We are the citizens of the country, not a voiceless mass manipulated by amorphous interest groups."
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All available articles from » Vytautas Plečkaitis
Dagens Nyheter - Sweden | Monday, 21. March 2011
The situation at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant has stabilised after engineers were able to reconnect all of the reactor blocks to the power grid by this morning. But even if nuclear energy is indispensable at present we must learn the lessons of Fukushima, the daily Dagens Nyheter urges: » more
The situation at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant has stabilised after engineers were able to reconnect all of the reactor blocks to the power grid by this morning. But even if nuclear energy is indispensable at present we must learn the lessons of Fukushima, the daily Dagens Nyheter urges: "We will have to live with nuclear energy for the foreseeable future. ... It's a fact that further use of nuclear power is one of the most important prerequisites for ensuring that greenhouse gas emissions at least don't increase. ... The accident in Japan is very serious but so far doesn't appear to be life-threatening. ... Unfortunately from a global and Swedish perspective there is an enduring threat: namely the nuclear power plants in the old Soviet Union which despite safety deficits continue to be in operation. The most important task at hand is to join forces to have them shut down or replaced ... to minimise the risk of a new reactor accident."
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Népszabadság - Hungary | Saturday, 19. March 2011
The massive earthquake off the coast of Japan and its immediate consequences have shown how vulnerable humans are to nature's forces, writes Miklós Hargitai in the left-liberal daily Népszabadság. Even now it is clear that one natural catastrophe or another will seal mankind's fate, Hargitai predicts: » more
The massive earthquake off the coast of Japan and its immediate consequences have shown how vulnerable humans are to nature's forces, writes Miklós Hargitai in the left-liberal daily Népszabadság. Even now it is clear that one natural catastrophe or another will seal mankind's fate, Hargitai predicts: "The quickest way this could happen is as a result of global warming. Water levels will rise an average of two meters, meaning that at least a third of the most densely populated areas and 20 to 25 percent of the land cultivated today will be swallowed up by the sea. This will not fail to have apocalyptic consequences. The volcano eruption on Iceland last year ... showed that a single volcano can cause a change in the climate. ... Of course, humans themselves also bring a host of dangers. ... If we continue our unbridled consumerism and the profligate waste of natural resources, the earth will not be able to support so many people for long. We must get used to it: the current phase of peaceful growth is nothing more than a transitory state of emergency."
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More from the press review on the subject » Natural disasters, » Natural disasters, » Global
All available articles from » Miklós Hargitai
Der Standard - Austria | Friday, 18. March 2011
In the wake of the nuclear catastrophe in Japan the German and Austrian social democrats want to gather signatures across Europe for a definitive nuclear phaseout. If the petition gathers a million signatures from at least seven member states the EU Commission would have to take a justified stance on the issue. Such an initiative is senseless, writes the left-liberal daily Der Standard: » more
In the wake of the nuclear catastrophe in Japan the German and Austrian social democrats want to gather signatures across Europe for a definitive nuclear phaseout. If the petition gathers a million signatures from at least seven member states the EU Commission would have to take a justified stance on the issue. Such an initiative is senseless, writes the left-liberal daily Der Standard: "Right now it will be pretty easy to get a million Europeans to sign a petition against nuclear power plants in Europe, as the Fukushima shock and feelings of insecurity run deep. Nevertheless such a vote will be of no avail at present, because such a pan-EU petition will only be legally feasible in 2012 - and by then the tabloids will have long since moved on to other provocative issues. In addition, the EU Commission is not obliged to pass a law against nuclear power just because a million EU citizens say it should. And a pan-European nuclear phaseout is a protracted affair - with uncertain parameters as far as alternatives go. Developing something like that will take time. A political flash in the pan will be no help at all."
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All available articles from » Petra Stuiber
Kauppalehti - Finland | Friday, 18. March 2011
In reaction to the nuclear disaster in Japan, Germany has put a hold on the planned extension of nuclear plant running times and taken the seven oldest plants off the grid pending safety tests. For the business paper Kauppalehti this is nothing but action for action's sake in the run-up to state parliament elections: » more
In reaction to the nuclear disaster in Japan, Germany has put a hold on the planned extension of nuclear plant running times and taken the seven oldest plants off the grid pending safety tests. For the business paper Kauppalehti this is nothing but action for action's sake in the run-up to state parliament elections: "Seven state elections will take place in Germany this year, the next in about a week in Baden-Württemberg. This flurry of activity is pure electioneering on the part of Merkel and her standard bearers. ... According to a current survey, 70 percent of Germans are against nuclear power. By shutting off nuclear plants and stopping various 'extensions', the government is trying to cut its losses. In any case it shows what nonsense was being fobbed off on German voters before the earthquake in Japan. ... From a sober standpoint, Germany has just as many reasons to say no to nuclear power now as it did before the earthquake. One of those is the unresolved question of where to permanently store nuclear waste. Nevertheless this real risk has always been played down."
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More from the press review on the subject » Environmental Policy, » Elections, » Natural disasters, » Natural disasters, » Catastrophe, » Germany, » Japan
El Periódico de Catalunya - Spain | Friday, 18. March 2011
Establishing a no-fly zone was the very least that could be expected of the international community, the left-liberal daily El Periódico de Catalunya writes with relief: » more
Establishing a no-fly zone was the very least that could be expected of the international community, the left-liberal daily El Periódico de Catalunya writes with relief: "The resolution passed yesterday evening by the UN Security Council has put an end to the feeling that the Japan tragedy was overshadowing the killing in Libya, and that Colonel Gaddafi would be able to quash the opposition, right down to the last rebel, with shameful impunity. The approved text authorises the international community to neutralise any attempt by the Libyan dictator to continue bombing from the air and at the same time obliges it to take all necessary measures short of an occupation force to defend the civilian population. This is the least that could be expected of the major powers in stopping the carnage, especially after even the Arab League asked the UN to declare a no-fly zone."
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Eesti Päevaleht - Estonia | Friday, 18. March 2011
First the media reported extensively on the uprisings in the Arab World, now they are focusing almost exclusively on Japan, the daily Eesti Päevaleht writes disapprovingly: » more
First the media reported extensively on the uprisings in the Arab World, now they are focusing almost exclusively on Japan, the daily Eesti Päevaleht writes disapprovingly: "The earthquake and the subsequent nuclear catastrophe are overshadowing everything else. For example, developments in Ivory Coast were given only minimal coverage in yesterday's barrage of news, although the country is on the brink of civil war and 380,000 people are trying to flee from the threat of mounting violence. This once more confirms the old maxim: public attention can only focus on one major topic at a time. And while people concentrate on this issue to the exclusion of all others, many unpleasant things can happen in the world without eliciting the slightest reaction."
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Finance - Slovenia | Friday, 18. March 2011
Since the nuclear catastrophe in Japan environmentalists have been proclaiming the end of nuclear power and vaunting green energy sources. But sustainable energy alone is not yet the answer, writes the business paper Finance: » more
Since the nuclear catastrophe in Japan environmentalists have been proclaiming the end of nuclear power and vaunting green energy sources. But sustainable energy alone is not yet the answer, writes the business paper Finance: "We want it all, without making any sacrifices. Everyone is for an intact environment in which enough energy is available and there are plenty of roads for fast, environmentally friendly cars. Granted, everything is not just black or white, but please let's stay sensible. Renewable energy sources still do not deliver sufficient energy to meet our needs. A further problem is that they are far more expensive. Do you know that one megawatt of renewable energy without state subsidies is around four times as expensive as the same amount of electricity from a nuclear power plant? So in future when you hear someone calling for nothing but renewable energy, you better check you purse first."
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All available articles from » Jurij Šimac
Sega - Bulgaria | Wednesday, 16. March 2011
In reaction to the nuclear catastrophe in Japan EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger announced on Tuesday that all Europe's nuclear power plants would be subjected to stress tests. This is all a farce, writes the daily Sega: » more
In reaction to the nuclear catastrophe in Japan EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger announced on Tuesday that all Europe's nuclear power plants would be subjected to stress tests. This is all a farce, writes the daily Sega: "We only need look at last year's botched bank stress tests to see what will happen. Not a single reactor will be shut down. ... The special meeting in Brussels was less about drawing up and applying standardised criteria to address concerns regarding nuclear safety than pretending that 'Europe is indivisible regarding safety' as the German EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger put it. At the same time it became clear that the standardisation will be voluntary; that the different types of power plant at different locations simply can't be compared; that some are under threat from sea waves while others are exposed to seismic dangers; that no one can assess the potential threat from terrorist attacks, and so on."
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All available articles from » Svetoslav Tersiev
taz - Germany | Thursday, 17. March 2011
The Japanese government has sent out a request for international assistance in the fight to bring its reactors under control. It is as yet unclear who would be willing to sacrifice their health in the battle, which means that the hopes of the world ride on the heroic workers at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, writes the leftist daily die tageszeitung: » more
The Japanese government has sent out a request for international assistance in the fight to bring its reactors under control. It is as yet unclear who would be willing to sacrifice their health in the battle, which means that the hopes of the world ride on the heroic workers at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, writes the leftist daily die tageszeitung: "People hope desperately for knowledgeable experts who can cap the energy now being released. But even that would not be enough. More needs to be done, and that work is being carried out by the workers on location. The entire world knows how exhausted these people must be, how much stress they are under, how much deadly radiation they are being exposed to and how futile their struggle probably is. ... They are performing well beyond their limit, putting their health and their very lives on the line. It is no less than superhuman to overcome one's own survival instinct. Japan's last hope lies with these workers, and that's why they are heroes."
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All available articles from » Isolde Charim
Avgi - Greece | Wednesday, 16. March 2011
Film director Akira Kurosawa anticipated the explosion of a Japanese nuclear power plant in his serial film Dreams. An episode of the film called Mount Fuji in Red portrays just such a scenario. This critical allusion to the dangers of nuclear energy is one of the few that were ever made in Japan, the columnist Kaki Balli laments in the leftist daily Avgi: » more
Film director Akira Kurosawa anticipated the explosion of a Japanese nuclear power plant in his serial film Dreams. An episode of the film called Mount Fuji in Red portrays just such a scenario. This critical allusion to the dangers of nuclear energy is one of the few that were ever made in Japan, the columnist Kaki Balli laments in the leftist daily Avgi: "In Japan, the memory of Hiroshima left deeper wounds than the almost daily earthquakes ever did. Even the sea offered no escape, not even for the dolphins who could swim far away. Radioactivity is faster. ... The strange thing is that Japan, despite being the only country that has previous experience with atom bombs and despite the nuclear trauma having dominated the post-war awareness of Japanese society, never doubted the safety of its nuclear power plants. ... Owing to a lack of critical media coverage [on the dangers of nuclear power] the Japanese never realised that their technologies were not as perfect as they thought. Now they are learning the hard way. With a nightmare in red."
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All available articles from » Kaki Balli
Tages-Anzeiger - Switzerland | Wednesday, 16. March 2011
If Germany turns its back on nuclear energy other countries will follow suit, the left-liberal Tages-Anzeiger concludes: » more
If Germany turns its back on nuclear energy other countries will follow suit, the left-liberal Tages-Anzeiger concludes: "Even after the moratorium nothing will be as it was before. With its rapid, abrupt reaction to the events in Japan Berlin has ushered in a new era in energy policy. Even the physicist Angela Merkel, a friend of nuclear energy in the past, is asking herself whether the cheap electricity from the reactors is really worth the potentially deadly risk. The result: nuclear energy is on the way out for good in Germany. If Germany's powerful industry now begins to look seriously for technologies to provide a nuclear-free future this will create a vortex that will pull the entire continent along with it. All other Europeans would be well advised not to miss the ride."
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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Energy, » Germany, » Japan
All available articles from » Nauer, David
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung - Germany | Wednesday, 16. March 2011
With the announcement that seven nuclear reactors will be taken off the power grid and that all nuclear plants will be tested for safety, the hitherto pro-nuclear German government has launched a revolution in energy policy, writes the conservative daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: » more
With the announcement that seven nuclear reactors will be taken off the power grid and that all nuclear plants will be tested for safety, the hitherto pro-nuclear German government has launched a revolution in energy policy, writes the conservative daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: "The Japanese nuclear disaster has torpedoed the coalition government's policy of extending the lifespans of nuclear plants. The current and future federal and state governments must now effect the 'energy turnabout' very quickly without jeopardising Germany's energy security or its competitiveness; other nations including neighbouring countries, or at least their presidents, seem less shaken in their belief in nuclear energy. Germany too should take care not to overreact. Nonetheless the age of energy that is 'cheap' only in the short term has unquestionably come to an end, burnt out in the nuclear fires of Fukushima."
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All available articles from » Berthold Kohler
La Repubblica - Italy | Wednesday, 16. March 2011
The fears which have led Germany to temporarily close down its seven oldest nuclear reactors are justified, the left-liberal daily La Repubblica writes approvingly: » more
The fears which have led Germany to temporarily close down its seven oldest nuclear reactors are justified, the left-liberal daily La Repubblica writes approvingly: "There are times in the history of mankind when one should not just obey the dictates of common sense but also listen to one's gut feelings. For those feelings compel us to be cautious. ... There are times of deep injury to the world, not just physical but also mental, when we must resort to different remedies - our intelligence, public debate, but also our fear. ... The philosopher Hans Jonas spoke quite rightly of the heuristics of fear when he called for mankind to assume responsibility for the future of the Earth. This fear is not the fear which paralyses but the fear which compels us to comprehend. ... It incites curiosity and wards off evil by making us cautious, raising questions and compelling us to correct our wrong thoughts and deeds."
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All available articles from » Barbara Spinelli
Les Echos - France | Wednesday, 16. March 2011
The consequences of Japan's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster have been felt by stock markets around the world. Investors are now looking for collateral security, writes the business paper Les Echos: » more
The consequences of Japan's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster have been felt by stock markets around the world. Investors are now looking for collateral security, writes the business paper Les Echos: "As soon as an event occurs that could have major global repercussions ... investors assume the worst and apply the principle of caution to their dealings around the world. That leads them to seek refuges for short-term capital investments. ... Of course it's tempting to ridicule such a herd mentality. ... But it must be recognised that in the current crisis objective factors justify such capital flight and the search for safe assets. If the nuclear risk is confirmed - which hopefully will not be the case - the human as well as the economic consequences will be immense and long-term both in Japan and around the world."
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Rzeczpospolita - Poland | Wednesday, 16. March 2011
The conservative German government's announcement that it would provisionally shut down seven nuclear power plants will have repercussions for the political balance of power in the country, writes the conservative daily Rzeczpospolita: » more
The conservative German government's announcement that it would provisionally shut down seven nuclear power plants will have repercussions for the political balance of power in the country, writes the conservative daily Rzeczpospolita: "This is not just a change in German energy policy but also a painful defeat for the government's nuclear programme. 'This change in policy will no doubt rub most CDU voters the wrong way', said [political science] professor Gerd Langguth. The opposition has no doubts that the Chancellor has taken this step for tactical reasons. The events in Japan have a direct influence on power relations in Germany. The Green Party already feels it's won. For years now it has been calling for an end to nuclear energy in Europe. These reservations are shared by EU energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger [CDU], who is calling for stricter controls of nuclear plants."
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All available articles from » Piotr Jendroszczyk
Hospodářské noviny - Czech Republic | Tuesday, 15. March 2011
In view of the nuclear catastrophe in Japan, politicians the world over are starting to react to people's fears of nuclear technology, the business paper Hospodářské noviny observes: » more
In view of the nuclear catastrophe in Japan, politicians the world over are starting to react to people's fears of nuclear technology, the business paper Hospodářské noviny observes: "The German government yesterday reversed its decision to prolong the running times of nuclear power plants in the country. Austria has called for a pan-European stress test and experts will meet this week in Brussels. ... Even the US atomic renaissance could be very quickly nipped in the bud. ... At some point Japan will be able to put a number on its victims, as well as on the repercussions for its economy. The dramatic reversal in attitudes to atomic energy cannot be translated into precise figures. The psychology of the society that uses nuclear energy is as unstable as the atom itself. All it takes is one neuron of uncertainty and the chain reaction of doubt and fear is very difficult to stop."
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All available articles from » Daniel Anýž
Polityka Online - Poland | Tuesday, 15. March 2011
In addition to ravaging the countryside, the catastrophe in Japan has wreaked havoc on the economy, writes the online edition of the news magazine Polityka: » more
In addition to ravaging the countryside, the catastrophe in Japan has wreaked havoc on the economy, writes the online edition of the news magazine Polityka: "This catastrophe has struck a special country. On the one hand it is very rich, with an exceedingly well-educated population and innovative businesses. At the same time the economy has been stagnating for the last two years, with phases of recession alternating with short-term growth. Clearly, the earthquake will hinder Japan's emergence from the current recession, although there is no shortage of optimists who believe the reconstruction efforts will give the economy a substantial boost. Nevertheless these efforts will not be sufficient to overcome the vicious circle of low interest rates and falling prices. That is the real catastrophe in the land of the cherry blossom."
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All available articles from » Cezary Kowanda
La Repubblica - Italy | Tuesday, 15. March 2011
Italy should take Germany's decision to suspend plans to extend the life of its nuclear power stations as an example, the left-liberal daily La Repubblica recommends, noting that Italy's nuclear debate is headed in the wrong direction entirely: » more
Italy should take Germany's decision to suspend plans to extend the life of its nuclear power stations as an example, the left-liberal daily La Repubblica recommends, noting that Italy's nuclear debate is headed in the wrong direction entirely: "Germany is acting in the name of safety, in the name of the health and the survival of the community. Surprising and alarming is the fact that in Italy the Minister for the Environment Stefania Prestigiacomo of all people is ignoring the call for caution and responsible action and proclaiming Rome's course of sticking to its nuclear programme with an almost challenging tone. It is to be feared that the Italian government intends to launch ... a nuclear campaign over the question of the peaceful use of atomic energy (to be resolved by a referendum), causing even more tensions and rifts."
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All available articles from » Giovanni Valentini
Berliner Zeitung - Germany | Tuesday, 15. March 2011
With an eye to the nuclear catastrophe in Japan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced a three-month moratorium on plans to extend the lifespans of the country's nuclear reactors. Now is the time for a full nuclear phaseout, the left-liberal Berliner Zeitung writes: » more
With an eye to the nuclear catastrophe in Japan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced a three-month moratorium on plans to extend the lifespans of the country's nuclear reactors. Now is the time for a full nuclear phaseout, the left-liberal Berliner Zeitung writes: "What has the horrifying catastrophe in Japan taught us that we didn't already know from Chernobyl? Nuclear power cannot be controlled, no matter how high the safety standards are. ... The conservative-liberal coalition's nuclear policy has had its day, and in one respect the chancellor is entirely right: after the moratorium nothing will be as it was before. After watching the television and surfing the Internet for the last three days, people know all there is to be known about cooling systems, meltdowns and radioactive clouds. In addition Japan - and that's the difference to Chernobyl 25 years ago - is closer to Germany than Russia was then. ... For all those who are serious about a quick nuclear phaseout, a window of opportunity has just opened."
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All available articles from » Brigitte Fehrle
De Standaard - Belgium | Tuesday, 15. March 2011
The catastrophe in Japan has fanned debate over nuclear energy across the world. However there is more to the issue than the safety of power plants, warns the daily De Standaard: » more
The catastrophe in Japan has fanned debate over nuclear energy across the world. However there is more to the issue than the safety of power plants, warns the daily De Standaard: "Almost every government now promises that it will 'learn' from the events in Japan. That is fair enough, and perfectly understandable. But at the same time the catastrophe in Japan threatens to confine the discussion about the pros and cons of nuclear energy to the potential damage from 'incidents' like natural catastrophes, plane crashes or terrorist attacks. Although potentially very risky, such incidents are not very likely. The largest safety risks from nuclear energy come not from such occurrences but from nuclear waste. This waste is a reality, not a probability. And more than a half century after the first nuclear reactors went into operation, we still have no idea what to do with it."
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All available articles from » Karin de Ruyter
Õhtuleht - Estonia | Monday, 14. March 2011
Estonia has long been weighing up whether to build a nuclear power plant. But now the plans must be reconsidered, writes the tabloid Öhtuleht, as the accident in the Japanese reactor at Fukushima proves there will always be a certain residual risk involved: » more
Estonia has long been weighing up whether to build a nuclear power plant. But now the plans must be reconsidered, writes the tabloid Öhtuleht, as the accident in the Japanese reactor at Fukushima proves there will always be a certain residual risk involved: "We remember Chernobyl - how the authorities tried to hush things up and we were given no official information, while the Finns had already changed the sand in their playgrounds and hundreds of young Estonians had been sent to work on the rescue operation where they sacrificed their health without being told what was at risk. The nuclear power plant at Fukushima is several decades old but was considered far safer than Chernobyl. Supporters of nuclear energy point to the fact that technology has been improving constantly and that there has long been a newer, safer generation of reactors. ... But no technology can guarantee 100 percent safety."
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The Observer - United Kingdom | Monday, 14. March 2011
Although the threat of a melt-down in the Japanese reactor at Fukushima will deeply shake people's trust in atomic energy, nuclear phaseout is not the way to go, writes the Sunday paper The Observer: » more
Although the threat of a melt-down in the Japanese reactor at Fukushima will deeply shake people's trust in atomic energy, nuclear phaseout is not the way to go, writes the Sunday paper The Observer: "The loss will be ours. There is an overriding reason to cling on to the development of a dependable, universally available, low-carbon form of generation which can produce massive amounts of power. Without more nuclear plants there is no chance of this country ridding itself of fossil fuels, barring a huge cut in energy consumption which no democratic state will be able to impose. Climate change should still trump the remote prospect of nuclear calamity."
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All available articles from » Julian Glover
Welt am Sonntag - Germany | Sunday, 13. March 2011
After the nuclear catastrophe in Japan the question of nuclear safety must also be reviewed in Germany, writes the conservative Sunday paper Welt am Sonntag: » more
After the nuclear catastrophe in Japan the question of nuclear safety must also be reviewed in Germany, writes the conservative Sunday paper Welt am Sonntag: "It is merely trite to say that something like this would not be possible here in Germany because our nuclear plants aren't located on fault lines running between tectonic plates. Because events in Japan show us above all that whatever can go wrong will go wrong, and worse. Many German nuclear plants are vulnerable to terror attacks from the air. Utopian? Unimaginable? After March 11 no scenario is too crazy. But those who have always warned of such disasters should withstand the temptation to reap political gain from this catastrophe. The nuclear industry must and will be the subject of new negotiations, as too many questions remain open. Nevertheless the protagonists should take their time providing answers. They should be based on reality - and not the next elections."
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All available articles from » Claus Christian Malzahn
Hospodářské noviny - Czech Republic | Monday, 14. March 2011
It would be a mistake to categorically rule out the peaceful use of atomic energy in reaction to the nuclear disaster in Japan, the business paper Hospodářské noviny: » more
It would be a mistake to categorically rule out the peaceful use of atomic energy in reaction to the nuclear disaster in Japan, the business paper Hospodářské noviny: "It sounds cynical but that's the way it is: the worse the damage caused by the accidents at the Japanese nuclear power plants, the better it is for the opponents of nuclear power. But before we reject nuclear power outright we should consider a few things. There aren't that many alternatives. Gas and oil come mostly from conflict regions like the Middle East or Russia. Alternative energy sources are still expensive and can't compete. Coal may be a cheap, local raw material but it can only be mined at the expense of brutally destroying the countryside and resettling entire communities. Under European conditions nuclear energy is the most economic and environmentally friendly source of energy because it doesn't contribute to global warning. ... The right reaction to Fukushima is to tighten safety standards at nuclear plants. And to explain the risks and advantages of nuclear energy with respect to other forms of energy under the conditions prevalent here in Europe."
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All available articles from » Petr Honzejk
Neue Zürcher Zeitung - Switzerland | Monday, 14. March 2011
The nuclear catastrophe puts a big question mark over the future use of atomic energy, writes the liberal conservative daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung: » more
The nuclear catastrophe puts a big question mark over the future use of atomic energy, writes the liberal conservative daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung: "An honest discussion on maintenance strategies ... is indispensable. Japan itself, which gets around a third of its energy from nuclear power, will be unable to avoid such a debate. In any event, since last Friday major doubts have been raised about the much-touted renaissance of nuclear energy. ... With the dramatic turn of events in Japan there will be no escaping the unpleasant question of which interests come first. How much risk are we ready to shoulder to quench our ever-increasing thirst for energy - especially considering the increasingly stringent climate policy goals and the need to dramatically sink dependence on fossil fuels in the next decades? It's entirely possible that March 11, 2011 has to a certain extent already settled this matter."
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All available articles from » Markus Spillmann
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