As the situation in Japan at the damaged nuclear plant continues to worsen, there are some serious questions all you Geographers/ Scientists should ask yourselves....
1. If the reactor(s) go into meltdown and have a level 6/7 nuclear emergency, does this end the era of nuclear power?
2. The speed at which modern technology develops means that better, more viable 'green' methods of creating electricity (e.g. geothermal energy in Iceland) are now at the fingertips of most countries... should we be looking to these more?
3. In a country riddled by seismic activity, should nuclear power be used at all?
4. Is this the new Chernobyl? How has the situation been dealt with better this time? Did the world learn from Chernobyl or not?
5. Iceland, like Japan, is on a plate margin. Iceland produces 99% of its electricity (and much of its hot water too) through non nuclear, non fossil fuel sources- mainly Geothermal energy which can be tapped wherever there is a plate boundary. In what ways do you think Japan should look to Iceland as it rebuilds the country and hopefully overcomes its nuclear problems?
and on a slightly different note,
6. Has the nuclear crisis overshadowed the massive humanitarian emergency that has developed in the wake of the tsunami?
