Nuclear phaseout now

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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