Pop! goes the weasel...

[GravityKills]

... and the funny noise you just heard was a nuclear power station that blew up in a puff of smoke. [I]Another one[/I].
I visited Japan last year, and haven't seen anything like Tokyo before. It's simply incredible how many people live there. Maybe the worst possible place to have a large-scale nuclear accident. Or two.
I'm a bit worried.

[jamiem]

It's all looking pretty nasty, and whatever happens, it will have far-reaching consequences for everyone. Nuclear power "activists" will have a field day, goods from the area will no doubt go up in cost, and down in availability, and worst of all, if something does go pop in a major way, the humanitarian cost could be insane. Fingers crossed it doesn't get any worst over there....

[scallybert]

[URL="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/14/fukushiima_analysis/"]Fukushima is a triumph for nuke power: Build more reactors now! ? The Register[/URL] puts quite a different spin on things (it might be that [I]spin[/I] is the active word...)

"[B]Analysis[/B] Japan's nuclear powerplants have performed magnificently in the face of a disaster hugely greater than they were designed to withstand, remaining entirely safe throughout and sustaining only minor damage. The unfolding Fukushima story has enormously strengthened the case for advanced nations – including Japan – to build more nuclear powerplants, in the knowledge that no imaginable disaster can result in serious problems."

While I suspect the author is a nuclear fan-boy, he does seem to make some good points, and seems well-informed.

[GravityKills]

oh so they were [I]not [/I]designed to withstand the quake.
Congratulations, a triumph indeed.
Now why am I getting even more worried... :)

[coptermanic]

The Japanese are a common-sense nation - OK, despite the Kimi-Kaze suicide missions - and they will sort it out. If there was a nation in the world to pick that would come through all this, these guys would be near the top, if not, at it!!!!!!!!