There were cheers around Germany when Chancellor Angela Merkel announced last year, in the wake of the Fukushima disaster in Japan, a swift end to nuclear power in favor of renewable energy sources like wind and solar. But only 18 months into the plan, the cost of the switchover is beginning to sink in.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called on the international community to work out unified guidelines to prevent accidents such as the Chernobyl disaster 25 years ago while continuing to develop nuclear energy.
Traces of radioactive material from the endangered Japanese nuclear plant are being detected from coast to coast in the United States and in Iceland, but amounts continue to be far below levels that would cause health problems.
As the nuclear events unfold in Japan, they not only fail to reveal a cascading crisis, but they represent a favorable confirmation of the viability of nuclear power ("Exodus from Tokyo begins," Page 1, Wednesday). Japan has just undergone seismic events with minimal consequences.
Fears about health risks rose dramatically in Japan Tuesday with news of a greater radiation release and renewed warnings to remaining residents within 20 miles to stay indoors.
Fears about health risks rose dramatically in Japan Tuesday with news of a greater radiation release and renewed warnings to remaining residents within 20 miles to stay indoors.
The news from Japan sounds terrifying _ radioactive steam spewing from nuclear reactor explosions and frantic efforts to prevent a meltdown. So far, though, the health threat is not substantial if details that officials have released are correct, radiation experts said.
