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This was the title of one (at least) Hollywood movie. Based in the West fear that any nuclear weapons could end up in wrong hands . Clear that those who decide whether they are right or wrong is the West itself, or its great Guardian, USA.

The nuclear power plant in Fukushima, Japan

before the recent earthquake (Source: equilibrioinformativo )

The recent earthquake of 8.9 on the Richter scale Japan, another country with its population density would have resulted in dire consequences, with more than a million dead, no doubt. Fortunately, Japan is the country in the world better prepared to withstand earthquakes as it is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire. Why tempt fate living on unstable ground would be another conversation.

I say fortunately , with all respect and all the grief for the tens of thousands of deaths that will be, without doubt, the final outcome of this catastrophe.

However, the biggest fear now, not only in Japan, is the Sum of All Fears caused by the fact that some of its nuclear plants are located directly on the most strongly affected by the earthquake. Nuclear power produces in the population of any part a panic fear, which often ends up being irrational.

Blame (or original sin, some call it) of nuclear power is that his first public appearance was in the shape of the deadliest weapons ever used in any war. The images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs destroyed the paths and the multiple consequences on their people (not just the hundreds of thousands of deaths) are part of popular imagination, and nurture all possible fears and fears (rational or irrational often).

I think there is another reason for this kind of panic, and it is largely unknown to their effects. More or less anyone can imagine the effect this may produce a chemical contamination. If you suddenly, for whatever reason, there is a spill (water or air) of thousands or millions of cubic meters of a chemical, its effects are known or at least understandable by anyone. Poisoning death is a death that is feasible to imagine, and was even the plot of countless novels, police or investigation of murders.

However, the effects of radioactive radiation exposure above certain tolerable limits , it is impossible even to imagine for any that is not very expert. Society and the technical personnel who are familiar with the subject, have become accustomed to driving on these issues on tiptoe, almost in hiding .

contribute to this, of course, repeated anti-nuclear campaigns and initiatives, some left, environmentalists, etc. Opposition front that has to do, originally, with the demonization (quite reasonable) use of nuclear weapons. But that extends (almost always without any filter), the civilian use of nuclear energy, in particular the mere existence of nuclear power plants.

This hiding from my point of view, has impeded progress in the serene and informed way to clearly identify risks, develop best prevention and early as possible and get the energy for civilian use is nuclear, at least as safe as the use of other technologies that we have learned to live without excessive shocks.

Furthermore, it seems, the generation of a nuclear kilowatt-hour is considerably cheaper than using traditional thermal power plants, and much cheaper than using renewable energy. This implies, of course, that the energy lobby is blindly for the use of nuclear energy.

catastrophic effects of the earthquake, the airport
Sendai, Japan
(Source: Que.es )

For

Therefore, the nuclear debate is quite bitter. An economic lobby (with all its power) is blind in favor. The environmentalist lobby is absolutely against. And the general public panics due to ignorance. A debate in which the parties have views Taliban will never come to fruition. I do not believe in Black and White, and I am convinced that there are infinite colors and shades in between. Between the YES and NO, there is certainly much more contructed intermediate positions. I lack social actors in the world that pose a clear and transparent position type nuclear power, yes but .

may have to strengthen security measures in one way or another. We must develop more effective systems for managing nuclear waste. Maybe more countries should agree to allocate some part of the territory (of little or no interest for other purposes) to nuclear power generation. In short, it would take a series of measures which, without doubt, would make a kilowatt-hour of nuclear insurance is much more expensive than it is today.

But then, while either defend nuclear rights and stand against, left, will not advance an inch to improve the quality of life for all. Each incident at a nuclear plant will have an echo in the opposition, while the very existence of nuclear powered, simply, the coffers of the energy lobby.

The Central Garoña whose closure is

by 2013 (Source: Energy in Spain )

Go ahead my grief and my sympathy to the Japanese that might be affected by problems in central Fukushima (or two would seem that might also be touched by the earthquake). Serve, in any case, as an argument so we can all move forward and make things better, and do not become the justification for opposing the front.

Ignorance, semi-clandestine and are denied most diabolical and deadly equation.

should not deceive us, of course. And if one day the sky falls, we all Pillari below. For the moment, besides, we have no very clear in which pillars hold.

JMBA