Fukushima, Nuclear Catastrophe and the Precautionary Principle

The "precautionary principle" or the better safe than sorry approach cannot obviously be applied to all technological innovations - the divining of the relative costs and benefits of any technology cannot never be an unambiguous affair. Then there is always the issue of costs and benefits for whom?

However, when it comes to nuclear energy, nothing is better than the better be safe than sorry maxim. But just because the problems with some technologies are transparently self-evident, will not in and of itself put a damper on the absurd talk of nuclear reactors being the alleged solution, via something called "clean energy", for global warming. Over the past few years or so, the nuclear energy industry has been been using the climate change issue to peddle its deadly wares. While the proverbial "wake-up calls" might put many to sleep, the unfolding tragedy at the Fukushima reactors exemplify the inherent risks of nuclear energy. The tragic effects of the quake and the tsunami are now compounded by the radiation spewing from the reactors.

Meanwhile, as AP reports, radiation has been detected as far Yokosuka, south of Tokyo. American service personnel posted at the bases in Yokosuka and Atsuki have been advised to stay indoors for the time being:

"WASHINGTON – More U.S. military crews were exposed to radiation Tuesday as the Pentagon ramped up relief flights over a Japan reeling from an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis.

The Defense Department said the Navy started giving anti-radiation pills to some of those exposed, and Americans on two military bases south of Tokyo were advised to stay indoors as much as possible. Meanwhile, U.S. aviation and energy officials also worked with Japanese counterparts on the nuclear developments.

With more aid for victims on the way, the U.S. Navy said it was redirecting three ships to work in the Sea of Japan on the country's west coast rather than risk the hazards of radiation and the debris field in the waters off the east coast.

Sensitive air monitoring equipment on the aircraft carrier USS George Washington detected low levels of radioactivity from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant as the carrier sat pier-side at Yokosuka, Cmdr. Jeff Davis, a spokesman for the U.S. 7th Fleet, said Tuesday.

While he said there was no danger to the public, the commander recommended military personnel and their families at Yokosuka and Naval Air Facility Atsugi limit their outdoor activities and seal ventilation systems at their homes as much as possible."

Yokosuka