• by Ignacio Ramonet
• Wednesday, May 11, 2011
• Inter Press Service

Fukushima marks the end of the era of atomic energy illusions and the beginning of the post-nuclear age, writes Ignacio Ramonet, editor of "Le Monde diplomatique en espanol".

If the world's most competent scientific culture was unable to avoid this, does it make sense to allow others to continue playing with atomic fire? The temporal and spacial consequences of the Fukushima disaster are terrifying. Because of elevated levels of radioactivity, the area around the plant will be uninhabitable for millennia, and the area around that for centuries. Millions of people will have no choice but to move their home and their work, whether industry, fishing or farming, to less contaminated areas.

Fukushima has also shown that so-called "energy sovereignty", a justification for nuclear energy, is very relative matter. Despite its immense technological advancement, Japan had to draw on the assistance of the US, Russia, France, and the IAEA to try and control the situation. Moreover, supply of the uranium that powers nuclear plants will be exhausted in 80 years at the present rate of use.

Defenders of the nuclear option must admit that Fukushima has radically changed the energy equation. There are now four demands: to stop building new nuclear plants; dismantle those more than thirty years old; greatly increase energy conservation; and shift usage to renewable sources as much as possible. Only in this way can the planet, and humanity, be saved.

(*) Ignacio Ramonet is editor of "Le Monde diplomatique en espanol".

// NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN CANADA, CZECH REPUBLIC, IRELAND, POLAND, AND THE UNITED STATES //

© Inter Press Service (2011) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service

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