The Three Mile Island nuclear accident was unfolding. Following TMI, substantive change began in the nuclear industry. A lot of that change began within the framework of the recommendations of the Report of The President's Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island (aka The Kemeny Commission Report). I'd love to be able to say that we're perfect by now, but we are not. I will say that, from everything I have seen, the operators and all other workers at nuclear plants are held to high standards...
Nuclear failures indeed have the potential to cause more widespread problems than some other means of power production. However, in almost every case, these failures do not have a single cause. Most large scale problems come about from multiple equipment and human deficiencies. The sensational nature of the Fukushima coverage and the ability for a lot of information (some correct, some not so much) to travel THE ENTIRE WORLD quickly have, at times, seemed to overshadow the underlying issues in Japan. There was a KILLER earthquake that generated a KILLER tsunami. Yes, the nuclear plant issues compound the problem. However, thousands of people were killed and thousands are still missing. And for those who are still alive, many lost friends and/or family members. Of course, the people can't be replaced by any amount of help that the Japanese people are receiving. Less importantly, but still painful, the material possessions gathered over the courses of the lives involved can only be replaced slowly, if at all. And yet, the most pressing issues are basics. Food, water, shelter...
Keeping that in mind, I've placed a Red Cross banner on the upper right hand side of this page. Just click it if you would like to donate...
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