Japan Earthquake Raises Questions About U.S. Nuclear Future

Sorry, Monday is not my "inclusive and tolerant" day. Instead, how about a little reality.

First, everyone take a deep breath and remember, the experiment has already been done regrading fallout. Hiroshima and Nagasaki blew more nuclear dust and ash into the upper atmosphere than the steaming fizzle will at the Japanese power plants. During the following decades there was no increase in cancer rates on the West Coast.

Furthermore, in the Pacific, more than 125 nuclear bombs and devices were exploded, under the sea and above ground, by the United States, England and France between 1945 and 1962 (That's where that whole mutant Godzilla thing got started - Finally being killed in Tokyo Bay by Dr, Sarazowa's "oxygen destoyer"...sorry, I couldn't resist) . Anyway, entire fleets of ships were sunk - all were full of fuel oil and other chemicals as well. All that radiation was a heck of a lot closer to the West Coast than the tiny amounts being released in Japan.

France detonated more than 40 nuclear bombs and devices in the Sahara desert from 1956 through 1962.

At Novaya Zemlya testing grounds the Russians preformed over 50 underwater and atmospheric nuclear tests between 1955 and 1963. Among these were the largest nuclear blasts on record.

Between 1951 and 1962 approximately 100, "above ground", nuclear bombs were detonated in the Nevada desert. These "tests" were conducted approximately 65 miles from Las Vegas and less than 100 miles "up wind" of St. George Utah.

Thousands of U.S. soldiers were exposed to some of these blasts - sometimes close enough to burn their skin. Often, after the initial blast, these men were ordered to immediately march through "ground zero" - the center of the blast zone. The shock wave and hot wind could often be felt on the streets of Las Vegas. The incidence of various cancers were greatly increased in the area - and are still slightly increased. The soldiers exposed to the radiation suffered cancer rates nearly double those of the general population.

That said, it must be stressed that these "explosive" exposures were at ranges of under 100 miles and sometimes as close as five miles. The low level radioactive release from Japanese power plants it relatively free of particulates and is released at comparatively low altitudes - nearly 6000 miles away - not 60 miles.

At this juncture it's important to accept that windmill, solar panels or fairy-dust is not going to be enough. We haven't built a nuclear plant since 1966 - I don't know about you, but I'm thinkin' we've moved ahead technologically since The Temptations released, "Ain't Too Proud To Beg".

We need to utilize everything; coal, shale, natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric, oil, hydrogen and "green energy".

Note, since we have harnessed the atom, nuclear power has killed less than 200 people - fewer than one plane crash. Each year thousands die from electricity, fire, natural gas, coal mine and dam disasters.

Even Igor knew, "Fire Good!".

R.L. Schaefer of CA 1:44PM March 21, 2011