Although the worst has arguably passed at Fukushima, the dangers posed by Japan’s recent nuclear disaster have not yet passed. As the world watched with bated breath, a catastrophic nuclear meltdown was closely averted, but only by pouring tons of seawater into the reactors and hoping for the best. Recently, aftershocks of magnitudes reaching 7.1 threatened to destabilize the nuclear reactors and create fissures in the containment, releasing t...
The nuclear industry, despite a rough patch in the past few decades, may be poised for a major renaissance. As the prices of conventional fuels such as coal and natural gas skyrocket, nuclear power has become increasingly attractive to utilities looking for stable operating costs, environmentally friendly sources of energy, and insurance against geopolitical threats to energy security. Finally, in an era of rising concern over energy security,...
“The sky turned red and it rained for four days straight. If there was ever a time you thought the world was going to end, it was that day.” These sound like lines straight out of a sci-fi thriller but, in fact, they are Minister Tony de Brum’s personal account of the effects of Castle Bravo, the largest nuclear test in US history. This was just one nuclear test out of the 68 that the United States conducted over a 12-year span (1946-1958) in t...
Illustration by Mark Clements Iran wants nuclear weapons, and it is about to get them. If not seriously deterred, Iran will undoubtedly (really, this time) possess nukes within the next two to three years. It is universally regarded— even by the French—that Iran’s nuclear program is much more advanced than Iraq’s ever was, and, even though Iran is a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, leaders in Tehran refused to ratify the treat...
...h our incessant sanctions. I also think that, in the future, we should work on partnering with Iran, rather than antagonizing it — theocratic Islamic Republic or not. And, yes, I’ve entertained the idea that maybe — maybe — a nuclear Iran wouldn’t be that bad. I repeat: maybe it wouldn’t be that bad. However, Waltz pushes the bounds of this argument to their breaking point and then some. All in one breath, within the first couple paragraphs of hi...
...cards right in terms of his interests. His aggressive and inflammatory anti-Western rhetoric has united his nation behind him, a major feat, given Iran’s numerous oppositional reform movements. Whether or not Iran intends its nuclear program for energy or for weapons, Ahmadinejad has utilized international debate to silence domestic opposition, promoting nationalistic pride to rally Iranians behind the government. Almost 30 years after the 1979 R...
from Wikimedia Commons The 2011 nuclear power plant disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant in Japan was the most severe nuclear accident since Chernobyl. The large release of radioactive material created a regional public health concern, and fear about the safety of nuclear power has lead Japan to plan to permanently shut down all of its nuclear plants by 2040. This shift bears resemblance to the effect of the 1979 Three Mile Island accid...
Image Taken By Israel Defense Force Benjamin Netanyahu’s rather literal interpretation the concept of a “red line” at the United Nations last month puzzled many, but it should draw as much worry as it draws laughter. It is no secret that Israel and the United States would prefer an Iran without nuclear weapons. Yet, the Obama administration’s disapproval of a unilateral Israeli strike and its lack of interest in initiating its own strike leave...
...hat can now virtually even be seen from outer space. It is clear that his military strategy proves unwavering in the continuing game of political warfare. The Kim dynasty has developed into what everyone had hoped to avoid: a nuclear brinkmanship. The actions and aggressive rhetoric echoed by Kim Jong Un raises serious concerns and often called, “unpredictable.” While previous North Korean leaders have entertained similar threats in the past, the...
The myriad risks associated with nuclear power—as recently evidenced by the horrific disasters in Japan—are clearly too great for nuclear power to continue to be heralded as a viable energy option and savior from our dangerous dependence on fossil fuels. As such the time has come to declare, no matter what nuclear supporters may say, the end of the nuclear age. Japan’s nuclear disaster illustrates the massively disruptive effects of plant...
Follow us at
Like us on
Recent Comments