World

‘This Panic Has Been Horribly Overblown’: Scientist Decries Nuke ‘Fear Mongering’

Jay Lehr, science director at the Heartland Institute, has some advice for doomsayers wondering if radiation from the crippled Japanese nuke plants could mean massive local deaths and even cross the Pacific and reach America: calm down.

In an interview on Fox News today, Lehr told host Bill Hemmer that not only is the U.S. not at risk of experiencing nuclear fallout, but he also drew stark differences between atomic bombs and nuclear reactors.

“We only have to look at the worst nuclear disaster in history, that was Chernobyl, where there was no containment structure,” he said. “10 years later when all the facts were in there were less than 10 fatalities from that explosion — only people right near the plant were affected by the radiation, 1,000 people got leukemia, 998 were cured … . It was predicted that tens of thousands of people would get cancer … [but] this never happened. This is not an atomic bomb and people don’t understand a nuclear reactor is something very different than an atomic bomb.”

“There are horrible, horrible problems in Japan and the stress that this is creating is unwarranted, unnecessary,” he added, even going as far as to call stories about a possible meltdown — which he says won’t produce massive destruction — “fear mongering”:

Lehr’s comments come as the AP reports dangerous levels of radiation in Japan. A U.S. nuclear industry official says there is evidence that the primary containment structure at one of the stricken Japanese reactors has been breached, raising the risk of further release of radioactive material.

This Panic Has Been Horribly Overblown: Scientist Decries Nuke Fear Mongering

Despit debate over the effects of Japan's nuclear ordeal, the IAEA still labels the events a level six disaster.

Anthony Pietrangelo of the Nuclear Energy Institute said Tuesday that falling pressure inside the suppression pool at the No. 2 reactor at Fukushima Dai-ichi and reports of rising radiation levels there raise the possibility that the reactor’s containment has been breached. He said the breach of the primary containment structure could lead to the release of more radioactive materials.

In a nationally televised statement, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said radiation had spread from the four stricken reactors of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant along Japan’s northeastern coast. Japanese officials told the International Atomic Energy Agency that the reactor fire was in a fuel storage pond – an area where used nuclear fuel is kept cool – and that “radioactivity is being released directly into the atmosphere.” Long after the fire was extinguished, a Japanese official said the pool might still be boiling, though the reported levels of radiation had dropped dramatically by the end of the day.

Late Tuesday, officials at the plant said they were considering asking for help from the U.S. and Japanese militaries to spray water from helicopters into the pool.

If the water boils, it could evaporate, exposing the rods. The fuel rods are encased in safety containers meant to prevent them from resuming nuclear reactions, nuclear officials said. But they acknowledged that there could have been damage to the containers. They also confirmed that the walls of the storage pool building were damaged.

Experts noted that much of the leaking radiation was apparently in steam from boiling water. It had not been emitted directly by fuel rods, which would be far more virulent, they said.

“It’s not good, but I don‘t think it’s a disaster,” said Steve Crossley, an Australia-based radiation physicist.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Comments (195)

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  • tallgood
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:09pm

    Seems to me that more people have been injured or killed in the quake and tsunami than killed at all the nuke power plan accidents combined. I’d be more afraid of the dangers of 10,000+ dead bodies scattered around and the diseases that will pop up.

    Report Post »  
  • entropy
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:08pm

    The Japs are very smart people. The containment building has floors that are 50 +feet thick of HEAVILY reinforced, high-perf concrete. The reactor vessel is about 1 foot thick and made of super alloy stainless steel etc. etc. The reactors are VERY heavy duty. Don’t write GE or the Japs off too fast. Although I loathe GE, and will NEVER buy another GE product, I have confidence in their engineers and the Japs.

    Report Post »  
  • simple thought
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:04pm

    live within 50 miles of a nuke plant in missouri, were on the new madrid falt line, i will not fear this, it is not gonna kill anyone, our militery has neclear plants on many, many ships that traval the world and have port of calls all over the world………there is a bunch of fear mongering going on here…..
    we droped two bombs on japan, they rebuilt the cities and live there as i type, they do not glow in the dark………..people need to calm down and get back to the desaster that realy counts to America,,,
    the obama adminastration,
    I FEAR OBAMA MORE THAN THE NUCLEAR PLANT DOWN THE ROAD…..you all should too…

    Report Post »  
  • rochmoninoff
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:00pm

    I used to be a US Navy nuclear trained officer.
    And I’ve studied reactor accidents a bit (it’s requried!).
    First off, a lot more than 10 died at Chernobyl.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaths_due_to_the_Chernobyl_disaster
    It’s more like 60.
    Who’s going to trust the communist Soviet Union to report accurately? Readers of the Blaze?

    Second off, I‘m pretty sure this is the first reactor accident in history that wasn’t caused by human errory.

    Third, when comparing reactor accidents it is important to take reactor design into account. A point made by several posts above as well as Jay Lehr, the subject of the article.
    Chernobyl is – to put it mildly – a CRAZY REACTOR. Nobody in the West would design something like that. The thing was a meltdown waiting to happen. The moderator was a building-sized charcoal briquet pre-heated to 1000 degrees. And the reactor had no containment and no reactor vessel.
    Three Mile Island (TMI) is the design to compare to. A proper, Western design with reactor vessel and containment building.

    Fourth: TMI was a serious accident. Over 70% of the core melted. But the amount of radioactive contamination released was trivial. And even that (due to gas venting during fighting the accident) was later ruled to be unnecessary.
    The Fukushima Dai-ichi incident already appears to be more serious than that. There are 3 reactors in crisis (not one like TMI). And radioactive contamination release is coming from secondary sources (e.g. fires in storage pools etc.).

    Fifth: Another incident to consider was the loss of the Soviet (one of a kind) Mike class SSN.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_submarine_K-278_Komsomolets
    This wasn’t a reactor accident per se. It was a out of control fire that automatic systems couldn’t control. That’s what seems to be happening at Fukushima Dai-ichi.
    If you take a look at the list of people who died during the Chernobyl incident, most of them died trying to fight the fire.

    Japan is in a tough spot. They want to protect their emergency responders (unlike the Soviets), but they also have to fight this thing.

    They need our prayers.

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    • Hawke17
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 2:03pm

      Chernobyl.= level 7 disaster
      Thrre Mile island = level 5 disaster
      Japan has already been described as a Level 6 disaster
      I think the world should be concerned. And Blazers should read about the after effects of Chernobyl. Alot more than 60 people died. Ask certain British farmers that to this day cannot use their land.

      Report Post »  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 4:36pm

      @rochmoninoff:
      “I used to be a US Navy nuclear trained officer”
      ______________________
      Thank you for your service to our country AND thank you for a great post! If I’m not mistaken Chernobyl actually had a “tin” roof on the reactor…isn’t that correct? When I see pictures of the crews who were cleaning up after the accident and I see that they were wearing NO protection whatsoever…their government cared NOTHING about the people…and in fact, (can’t think of the name of the town right now) but people were actually fenced into the community and remained there for the duration of their lives (due to radioactive contamination)…seems to be that I watched a documentary on this several years ago…it was heartbreaking…horrible!

      Report Post » AzDebi  
  • LadyIzShy
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:58pm

    oh I seen this and I swear when I heard this I thought he was doing good drugs. this is a danger maybe not to the USA BUT to humans.. so he needs a clue

    Report Post » LadyIzShy  
  • Bushie
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:58pm

    Where is our Commander and Idiot on this issue? You would think he would get on TV and let the American people know the truth of what’s going on. That would make sense and maybe cool our stock market as well. But, when has this miserable excuse for a leader ever made sense? Maybe he is busy spending OUR money planning the next party at the Blackhouse.

    Report Post » Bushie  
  • Nevermind
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:57pm

    “Why won’t Obama drill in the Gulf ?? Because he directly sponsored 10 billion in loans to the Brazillian drilling efforts, of which, Geroge Soro’s hedge funds have their largest amount of funds tied up in. I wonder how many of those rigs that left the gulf went down to Brazil. Stealing jobs from America, money from America, and feeding his alternative energy agenda by raising the cost of oil”

    Nice try but more lies. First off the amount was $2B not $10B and it was approved by Bush appointee’s. Plus Soros sold most of his stock in the company prior to this loan.

    I guess when you take your talkingpoints from a coked out DJ ( Beck) all these paranoid rantings make sense. Just like an old lady ( piven ) is going to destroy America. The right is so easily fool ed with talking points and scary news ,lol. If you guys woudl take time to actually read it woudl do a workld of good. Like yuour Prophet Beck says“ do your own research” Since he admitted on the view he doesnt fact check.

    Report Post »  
    • Sargon
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:29pm

      I suggest that if you want to present a credible argument in response to HOBBS57 that you first learn how to spell.

      Report Post »  
    • Oldphoto678
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 4:13pm

      Facts are facts bad spelling or not.

      Report Post »  
  • eat-more-bacon-USA
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:55pm

    Socialism + liberalism + obamanism are bigger threats to the United States than Japanese radiation.

    Report Post » eat-more-bacon-USA  
  • Impeach Obama
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:52pm

    Create fire so the world can easily be shaped = Fabian Socialism

    Report Post » Impeach Obama  
  • MontanaRob
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:51pm

    People need to realize that LIFE is deadly. There is only one outcome (physically speaking), and that is death. Everything is deadly if you get to much of it, oxygen, water, etc.

    Report Post » MontanaRob  
  • Cabo King
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:44pm

    George Sorros says were all going to die!!!! spooky dude

    Report Post » Cabo King  
  • Whostolemypig
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:42pm

    Radioactive material flowing to the US from the Japanese reactors is not near as dangerous to the health of Americans as Obama and his health and economic policies. You are many times more likely to die at the hands of a union thug, unchecked crime in the streets, over worked doctors or homelessness, than you are from radiation.

    Report Post »  
  • seerjfly
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:42pm

    Got this Saturday from an old Navy shipmate who is in the nuke power industry. He’s only been doing it for 30yrs.

    Fujishima #1 is a BWR (Boiling Water) type reactor. Negative void coeffecient means it CAN’T “melt down” as did Chernobyl — NO graphite moderator, NO positive void coeffecient to lead to an excursion and fire.

    Report Post »  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 4:24pm

      @seerjfly:
      “Got this Saturday from an old Navy shipmate who is in the nuke power industry. He’s only been doing it for 30yrs.

      Fujishima #1 is a BWR (Boiling Water) type reactor. Negative void coeffecient means it CAN’T “melt down” as did Chernobyl — NO graphite moderator, NO positive void coeffecient to lead to an excursion and fire.”
      _____________
      I did hear that…no carbon! Great post and thanks!

      Report Post » AzDebi  
  • Hobbs57
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:39pm

    You can tell, the Fed’s, Bankers, are poised to act on anything they can deem a crisis in order to flatten our market.Now that they have grabbed a huge chunk of real estate in America, nearly comparable to the Great Depression land grad. They will pull in their money and move it to where they will profit. This is always the case with these greedy ******. They use their political and media ties to gain push whatever agenda they can.
    Why won’t Obama drill in the Gulf ?? Because he directly sponsored 10 billion in loans to the Brazillian drilling efforts, of which, Geroge Soro’s hedge funds have their largest amount of funds tied up in. I wonder how many of those rigs that left the gulf went down to Brazil. Stealing jobs from America, money from America, and feeding his alternative energy agenda by raising the cost of oil.

    Problem with this move in the market and the fear mongering is Nuclear Energy is part of Obama’s plan. Wonder if Soro’s gave Obama a spanking for saying they will continue on their Nuclear Energy plan.

    Report Post » Hobbs57  
    • Hobbs57
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:43pm

      Oh Yeah, and who is the one calling for a stop to our pursuit of Nuclear Energy ?? Lieberman … Hmmmm … Wonder what that is all about. He is in lock step with Spooky Dude …

      Report Post » Hobbs57  
  • soapbox55
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:38pm

    I‘d be more afraid of what I know than what I don’t know–people are without homes,utilities and there are dead bodies washing up on the shore. There are many bigger problems than the fear of something that’s a long-shot at best…

    Report Post »  
  • Katayno
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:30pm

    We are probably in more danger with transfats, sugar, cellphones, food preservatives, pesticides,
    MGS and definately radical Islam. Let’s wait….and not jump to conclusions.

    Report Post »  
  • larman
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:29pm

    How many have coal and oil plants killed with polution? Im sure it is many more than any nuclear plant.
    http://www.larryfalco.com

    Report Post » larman  
    • sWampy
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:31pm

      Coal plants don’t kill with pollution, coal mining kills through accidents and breathing in coal dust, but the energy plants are very, very clean these days. There are around 200 people a year killed in gas/coal fired electricity plants in the US, zero in Nuclear.

      Report Post »  
  • HippoNips
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:27pm

    The people in the media seem to be the least informed of all.

    Report Post »  
    • Stephen
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:17pm

      I agree HIPPONIPS. Liberals claim to be more educated but don’t understand the basic physics behind nuclear reactors and the procautions taken after Chernobyl.

      Report Post » Stephen  
  • soapbox55
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:27pm

    Come on, China… Start paying. You can use the money you made from the US.
    I’ll bet your resources are sufficient to help little Japan.

    Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:39pm

      One caution with China though, anything coming from a communist nation ‘freely given’ needs to be dealt with like a trogan horse…with immense caution.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • ctate970
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:24pm

    I would feel just fine having Nuclear power plants near by. We have to get our Electricity from somewhere. To say that because of a off chance of an Earthquake we shouldnt build them is silly.

    Report Post »  
    • GBGB
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 3:09pm

      CTATE970, I so agree with you. I DO live within 45 miles of a nuclear plant and have worked there for around 20 years. Believe me, I didn’t begin to understand SAFETY until I began working there! You would NOT believe the tons of procedures, inspections, security, training and expense that goes into the safe operation of our nuclear plants. And the NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) oversight of these plants is monumental. I, personally, have a bigger fear when I get into my car to drive to and from work than I have EVER had while on my work site!

      I don’t care WHAT job or industry you talk about, there are freak accidents. We are accidentally killed in our homes from fires, tornadoes and all kinds of accidents. Roadways continue to claim thousands of lives. I can’t think of one activity that is 100 % guaranteed to be accident free. Just sitting here at my computer can be a danger if (please NO) some hacker finds their way in and can wreck havoc on my financial affairs…….even some weird electrical mishap could possibly occur. How can we possibly ever remove everything from our lives that MIGHT possibly cause a hazard? Common sense goes a LONG way!!

      Please, don’t let the media hype frighten anyone into NOT using common sense. Please? The media loves to report hypotheticals but sometimes ignores plain and simple facts. Fact is the situation in Japan is extremely rare and is being handled remarkably well to ensure safety. Let’s do our research and learn. Of course, safety should always come first and I think we are seeing a remarkable job being done. God Bless those that are doing the right thing and making every effort to keep people safe during an event that no one could ever have expected or predicted to have came about with such a force.

      Report Post »  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 4:20pm

      @GBGB:
      “CTATE970, I so agree with you. I DO live within 45 miles of a nuclear plant and have worked there for around 20 years.”
      _______________
      Having also worked at one, they are an amazing place aren’t they? AND, the people are even more remarkable! Thanks for such a positive post!

      Report Post » AzDebi  
  • jaesplin
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:19pm

    Regardless of the problems they’ve had with their reactors after the earthquake, I am still a strong believer in the US building more reactors. It is still the safest, cheapest, and best long term solution to our energy needs.

     
    • RightUnite
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:25pm

      Agreed.

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:33pm

      Agreed.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Showtime
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:48pm

      The Obama regime does not agree.

      The Obama regime doesn’t want us drilling in deep water or in shallow water, building nuclear plants, refining our own oil, or doing anything that does not hold us hostage by the Middle East.

      Showtime  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:53pm

      No kidding. Safe? How about a jihadist sabotage scenario? Does that sound safe to you? Do you think it CAN’T happen? Y’all have gone crazy politicizing this. All of a sudden you want to trust the gubbermint to take care of us. How would you like a terrorist-induced nuclear meltdown in America with Hussein in charge, huh friends?

      You are losing perspective. That commie roach is not against nuclear and oil (he is investing in both abroad). He is for destroying America, period. You guys are confusing the issues. Nuclear is dangerous and dirty, REGARDLESS of the radical left’s agenda. We need to get rid of these traitors ASAP, and then “drill here, drill now”. Peace.

      Report Post »  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 2:15pm

      @kryptonite:
      “You are losing perspective. That commie roach is not against nuclear and oil (he is investing in both abroad). He is for destroying America, period. You guys are confusing the issues…We need to get rid of these traitors ASAP, and then “drill here, drill now”. Peace.”
      ____________
      I posted previously that I would be “all in” for nuclear if all of the plants in the US were modeled after Palo Verde…They are Not! Each and every one of them is different (unlike, say in France)…because they are all different, this means that the crews that circulate from plant to plant around the US have to be “retrained” over and over again each time a Unit is down for service…it makes nuclear very, very expensive here…also, because our society has degraded to such a polarizing point (both morally and politically), nuclear, in my opinion, is just too dangerous a technology to “fall into the wrong hands”…say…like Obama’s….scary at best! Look at the work of the TSA or what they are doing to our precious health care system! Now is not the time to even consider increasing nuclear production in this country…we are in a mess!

      Report Post » AzDebi  
    • Milkman
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 2:43pm

      Right On……

      Report Post » Milkman  
    • smartypoop
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 5:43pm

      Agreed.

      Report Post »  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 7:26pm

      @AZDEBI
      “Look at the work of the TSA or what they are doing to our precious health care system! Now is not the time to even consider increasing nuclear production in this country…we are in a mess!”

      You are a valuable asset in this time of confusion, debi. Please continue to speak out. I wouldn’t be worried sick about this situation if our political landscape were not so deeply contaminated with evil (pun intended). But it is, and I am afraid neither Glenn nor those who follow him blindly are viewing the situation beyond the “us vs. them” approach.

      I am STUNNED that conservatives actually want Obama to “go nuclear”. :(

      Report Post »  
  • 13th Imam
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:17pm

    Just In
    Captain Edward Smith Titanic, North Atlantic

    We have just struck an iceberg, a glancing blow. There is no reason to panic. The pumps are keeping up with the leaks. The crew is very busy rearranging the deck chairs. Carry on.
    Capt Ed

    Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:33pm

      I remember something more dramatic when I read a book on the sea warfare of WW2 subs in the pacific…makes a more dramatic point…and no insult is intended to the Japanese people in this case, the example is intended soley for the administration:

      The commander of SS Seadragon II wrote of his encounter with a pair of Battleships, and after firing six torpedos with one hit, he had given up the likelihood of another action. He wrote the sighting of the impact explosion as “insignificant”.

      Save for the fact within a couple of minutes the ship noticably slowed down…and…

      “A brilliant flash of light and flame lit up the horizon to great heights. Then darkness reclaimed the night, the sun has set upon one japanese battleship.”

      As with the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor, her magazines had detonated.

      A small event occured, with catastophic results.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:55pm

      Snow

      Good history reading
      An Army at Dawn by Rick Atkinson RE; WWII N Africa

      A Sailors War by Sam Lombard-Hobson

      Shattered Sword by Parshall Re; the Battle of Midway (from both sides)

      God Bless

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • Showtime
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:15pm

    I am not a scientist, but I read about the sea water (not fresh water) being pumped in with boric acid and reacting with something and forming hydrogen, and then exploding. Why would a hydrogen explosion at a nuclear plant be a good thing? Our Navy had to move its ships because of the radioactivity in the air.

    Yeah, right. “Nothing here, folks!”

    Report Post » Showtime  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:23pm

      Showtime:

      Not a scientist here either, so I am taking a leap of logic here and figure the people doing this with the seawater are in the old situation of “Choice of Evils” being at hand, or simply do nothing and see what happens, or do something, and pray it comes out better than doing nothing.

      Sometimes with hard choices such as this you do not always get it right.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • GrumpyCat
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:12pm

      I read that sea water is not the pure water normally used for this purpose so the contaminates stay radioactive longer. The operators knew full well that hydrogen would be formed if this steam was vented from the primary containment vessel to the outer containment building but deliberately elected to take that risk to contain the radiation while it dissipate rather than vent it directly outside. Now the roof is blown off the building they have to vent direct to outside. The explosions were not unexpected and could have been avoided but for the desire to do everything possible to protect the public. In hindsight now that the roof has blown off they might as well had vented direct to the outside so as not to excite the excitable with “explosions”.

      Report Post »  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:27pm

      @LEOPARD:
      “so I am taking a leap of logic here and figure the people doing this with the seawater are in the old situation of “Choice of Evils” being at hand, or simply do nothing and see what happens, or do something, and pray it comes out better than doing nothing.”
      _____________
      Know what? I hope that someone, anyone reports on what a tremendous job these people at the plants have done in this crisis! First of all, not only did these “40 year old” station withstand the 9.0 quake (a miracle in itself…they were not built to do that)…but…making the decisive decision to flood them with seawater was a tremendous statement in and of itself…they knew full well that once that was done…the plants would be permanently useless…they chose “people” over “profits”…

      And, the workers at these station have stayed in spite of the potential for lethal doses of radiation. They know it, and I think you have to call these people “heroes”.

      And now that these plants are down to minimal crews, as if they don’t already have enough to worry about, cooling systems at two other reactors, No. 5 and No. 6 are now “not functioning well.

      Report Post » AzDebi  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:39pm

      @AZdebi

      I have to agree with you, they have made the choice of the peoples safety ahead of the money; and from what I have heard there is a small crew of 50 or so who have chosen to work, despite all of the safety concerns for their own health.

      In the worst of times, we get to see the best of humanity come out for all to behold.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 2:07pm

      @Snowleopard:
      @AZdebi

      ‘I have to agree with you, they have made the choice of the peoples safety ahead of the money; and from what I have heard there is a small crew of 50 or so who have chosen to work, despite all of the safety concerns for their own health.

      In the worst of times, we get to see the best of humanity come out for all to behold.”
      __________
      I hope their story is told…

      Report Post » AzDebi  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:14pm

    What did we expect from the panic prone left? It’s bad for sure. And I hope things are salvageable. Things will work out!

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:28pm

      I wish it was just the left, Fox news seems is salivating over the possibility of nuclear armegeddon. It would be nice to have one calm voice out there in TV news land. It’s disappointing.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 2:00pm

      @RightPolitically:
      “Things will work out!”
      _______________
      “Be still and know that I am God.”

      Report Post » AzDebi  
    • Dustyluv
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 3:25pm

      It is all feramongering to stop our nuclear plants and take us to the stone age by the progressives. You who buy into it will see that these plants will hold up, they will melt down and not be able to be used again, but no one will die and no harmful radiation will be emitted, just low level stuff..

      If you bought that lie I feel sorry for you as you have been manipulated by fear. Wake up! Even FOX has this wrong!! At least Glenn showed you how it will all turn out with his M&M show yesterday…He is the ONLY one right besides a ferw other scientists. Listen!!

      Report Post »  
  • Showtime
    Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:11pm

    Say what you will, but with nuclear plants blowing up all over the place and sending plumes of smoke into the air, I’m going to err on the side of caution (and probably freak out after I am indoors).

    Report Post » Showtime  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:20pm

      Showtime

      I spent a lot of time on my grandfathers ranch watching the Palo Verde nuclear station being built and as a kid went on the PR tours given of the place as well. I will not say they are completely fail safe, as we have seen already, yet the fuel used within them is contained differently than that used within the core business portion of nuclear weaponry.

      A breach like in Japan, or even worse again like Chernoble only releases particles of the fuel, which can be dangerous yes, no denial of that. In the case of a nuke going off though, it is the tremendous release of energy within a matter of milliseconds that results in massive damage on the scale of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

      With the breach having occured, there is usually enough warning time to evacuate most or all people in the area…with a nuke, of those caught in the blast area, the truly fortunate ones will be the dead.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • chubbzbar
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:33pm

      It is all RATINGS !!

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:37pm

      @Chubbzbar:

      Unfortunately, you have a good portion of it on the money, the fake heads of the liberals and those of the progressives seek to stir the pot up, making it appear they are the one to be “in the know” of what is going on…especially when they do not.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • hauschild
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:45pm

      I’d err on the side of caution if it were me that has control of a situation. But, ain’t much I can do about nuclear reactors on the other side of the world.

      It’s the lack of education that is doing our country in. Never before have so many people claimed to be “enlightened” and “elite” and “highly educated”, yet can figure out simple truths about things like climate change and that third world countries don’t care about the things they care about.

      At first, say 10 years ago, I felt sorry for these types of people. But now after having seen the damage they are wreaking on this nation, I feel sorry for my fellow citizens.

      Report Post »  
    • stifroc
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 12:53pm

      Reporting that explosions at Nuclear reactors will not result in the utter destruction of humanity within a 20 mile radius does not get you ratings or sell papers.

      Yes it is still dangerous. Yes it is horrible. But more dangerous and more horrible gets more ratings.

      Report Post » stifroc  
    • Restored One
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:00pm

      Watch the other hand. You can never let a good crisis go to waste! Oh and did you know that Obama and his girls are off to Rio on Friday? How is it that everytime there is a disaster he has a vacation planned.

      Report Post »  
    • Boojer56
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:01pm

      Those plant ar 40 years old and they wern’t supposed to be in service that long

      Report Post »  
    • cessna152
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:19pm

      Similar to the DDT scare. Millions of people died because use was outlawed, yet no one ever really died from DDT!

      Report Post » cessna152  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:23pm

      Lehr, you lie about Chernobyl! That is the problem with nuclear accidents. Studies and people with an agenda like Lehr can say anything because its long-term effects can be downplayed, and unlike a bomb, a meltdown is a silent killer.

      The Japanese have experienced the horrors of nuclear radiation before — and nobody is saying a nuclear bomb is not worse — which is one crucial aspect Glenn refuses, or is too uninformed to mention. Don’t go telling the Japanese that a nuclear meltdown is no big deal because the number of dead people would be less than those who die in an earthquake. It is not about numbers, even though Lehr is a liar.

      Beck was totally inconsistent yesterday. First he downplayed the nuclear leaks because the NUMBER of victims is low compared to other disasters, but then he spent the last 15 minutes of his show talking about the gruesome murder of a Jewish family. So it really isn’t about the numbers, is it Glenn?

      Let me be clear, and I apologize in advance for the crude facts: If a were given the unthinkable choice of how my kids had to die, I’d pick the sword over radiation without hesitation. At least with the former, they would be with Jesus in a split second. Death by radiation is slow and excruciating.

      Report Post »  
    • missionarydad
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:46pm

      I think a total meltdown is getting closer to inevitable with each passing day. On the 13th this was a level 1 nuclear emergency. It is now up to a level 4 which means it is a very serious but manageable crisis. To put it in perspective the nuclear emergency scale goes from 1 to 7. The three mile Island incident was a level 5 and Chernobyl was the one and only level 7.

      Everybody keep praying that they will find a solution to this problem and be able to maintain the cooling that is necessary to keep this crisis manageable until they can secure stabilize these reactors.

      Report Post »  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:50pm

      @kryptonite:
      “Lehr, you lie about Chernobyl!”
      _______________
      Anyone who takes ANYONE’S word on these issues is a dam fool! If you have access to the internet and an ounce of common sense AND you WISH to know the truth, you WILL find it! We owe it to ourselves and Japan and our loved ones to be EDUCATED! A good friend of mine was part of a study conducted at Chernobyl about 10 years ago…what he came home and reported was so horrific that anyone who downplays the event or its’ aftermath either has an AGENDA or is an IDIOT!

      Report Post » AzDebi  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 1:57pm

      @kryptonite:
      “THE TRUTH ABOUT CHERNOBYL”
      _________________
      God bless you for posting this information…It is heartbreaking…AND TRUE!

      I previously posted: “Look at the deformed children that come out of it! My friends used to take children from the Chernobyl Children’s Project who were horribly deformed because of it.”

      Report Post » AzDebi  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 2:00pm

      Blaze, why didn’t you post my comment “THE TRUTH ABOUT CHERNOBYLL?

      Here’s the website, Blazers. Check for yourselves: http://www.ippnw-students.org/chernobyl/research.html

      @AzDebi
      Agreed.

      Report Post »  
    • Uncle Crusty
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 2:08pm

      for the liberals who never let a crisis go to waste, fearmongering is just another tacktic of the incurable left.

      Report Post »  
    • Uncle Crusty
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 2:12pm

      kryptonite – it is you that is a liar, have you no sense in that puny little liberal brain you supposidy have? go troll in a reactor!

      Report Post »  
    • ginsberg
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 2:27pm

      Even a small amount of research into the chernobyl disaster refutes lehr’s claim that only 10 people died in the explosion and only 2 got incurable cancer. The rise in cancer rates and birth defects in the area are very well documented. To openly lie about this tradgedy for political purposes is a moral failure. Nuclear power is fairly safe but does have real risks that need to be talked about.

      Report Post »  
    • poverty.sucks
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 2:28pm

      God our creator is a jealous one, do not idolize others. Will take a lot of prayers to overcome Japand 90% dedication to Buddhism.

      Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • Uncle Crusty
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 2:34pm

      ginsber another lefty liar, show us the rpoof…in total 45-50 died of exposeure, the rest died of drinking contaminated milk you moron!

      Report Post »  
    • watchmany2k
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 3:10pm

      I don’t think folks should panic, but they SHOULD be prepared.
      I agree with the article that a Plant is NOT the same as a bomb, however even from the first layer containment explosion there results in the SAME fallout isotopes !
      Namely caesium-137, the reason you need to stay inside and not ingest the ‘dust’ it emits gamma rays not good for flesh.
      Also Iodine-131 aka radioiodine, can cause Thyroid cancers over long term.

      If this natural disaster, and resulting nuclear emergency has not made it clear.
      You need to be prepared for anything at any time.

      So, this week I believe it’s appropriate to discuss the Bug-Out Bag at my website.
      This is MORE than a cheap plug for the site, I have been putting info up for 3 months now
      after YEARS of talking to anyone who will listen.
      Your PERSONAL 72 Hour Emergency Supply Kit
      One Bag/Kit for Every Member of your Family.

      No Excuses Now, remember the Poor 60 year old guy who ended ten miles out on the ocean, on his roof ?
      He got there because he said that he went back to his house “to get a few things”
      Even Christ said not to go back in the house to get your cloak !
      Remember Lot’s wife.
      You Must have a grab and go bag, Near the door, grab it, leave and don’t look back !

      Read it at:
      http://www.watchman2012.com

      There is also a LIVE Japan news stream
      and links for potassium Iodide tabs -Please talk to your DOCTOR first !

      Report Post » watchmany2k  
    • Dustyluv
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 3:19pm

      Yes guy is right…Dead bodies washing ashore are a thousand times more deadly. But that aint a story for the lamebrain media! Including Shepherd Smith, the media whore darling of FOX…
      I love FOX,,,Smith is a primadonna a@@wipe. He will go there but he will not get his hair messed up. What a loser.

      Report Post »  
    • ginsberg
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 3:21pm

      Uncle crusty the birth defects, cancer, kidney disease etc. caused by cherenobyl is well documented, how does pointing that out have anything to do with politics. Why dont you tell all the people born with horrible birth defects that cherenobyl was really nothing. It really amazes me that anyone would say cherenobyl did not affect many people.

      Report Post »  
    • GONESURFING
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 3:36pm

      Nuclear power is “safe” until something goes wrong, and when things go wrong they really go wrong. The truth is nuclear power is not safe, as the world is seeing why. Other power sources will never have problems as serious as this. I do hope and pray that Japan can get this under control, as they have enough to deal with as it is.

      Report Post » GONESURFING  
    • Chrono_Sleuth
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 3:40pm

      @Uncle_Crusty

      What the heck is your deal?

      1) By your own words there were more direct deaths that even Lehr posted, and then you state more died from contaminated milk (also contaminated water sources and vegetation, which is how it went into the milk in the first place). While that isn’t direct, that is still indirect exposure, wouldn’t you agree?

      2)Kryptonite might be overstating some aspects because there is very little research into direct correlations, making it hard to accurately track cancer rates as a direct result, however, that in the areas most affected by the wind movements pushing particles around at the time, and the flow of water sources (which is how crops would be affected) with contaminants there is enough to say a correlation can be made.

      3)If you’re going to damn Kryptonite, damn Azdebi, who has been a pretty staunch conservative voice on the site, and Kryptonite isn‘t exactly a liberal from all the posts I’ve read. Nor would I even consider Ginsberg a lefty “loon” as it were, not by a long shot.

      4)Calling people by names and outwardly slamming them helps no one. It only further damages any hope of discussion and further promotes a barrier and wall where nothing can be learned. If you really wanted to help out the progressive agenda of shutting down this country, you’d be their wing man without knowing it, so why not knock it the bloody heck off. The first thing we should be is civil and just look at different areas of research before we start smearing and smashing one another, then have a discourse or argument. So long as we head in the direction of truth, that is the only thing that matters.

      4)Lehr is quoting from a report by the IAEA, a group notorious for disinformation depending on who is running the show, going in one direction or another. If you want to review their findings go here:
      http://www-ns.iaea.org/projects/chernobyl.asp
      The key thing is to remember that the IAEA’s goal is to protect nuclear energy.

      5)Now, whatever research you do, the best bet is to usually take the middle ground of both levels of research, as there are far more factors that can be accounted for when considering cancer rates, such as changes in medicine, new pesticides, new food preservatives, other toxins in water sources, many of which haven’t been tested for at the same time, making it very difficult to know for sure just how many people are being directly afflicted by Chernobyl. However, you should ask yourself this:

      Why is it that the US, Russia, France, England, Spain, Australia, etc., etc., etc. will not import farm goods from the infected areas if the IAEA is so spot on and correct in their assessments?

      The key word here is always question. If you really paid attention to Beck, the first thing you’d realize is this: The man changes constantly based on new information as he finds it, as he finds it credible. If you really are a fan, maybe you should do some soul searching and stop blatantly attacking people who are only trying to further the conversation.

      Report Post » Chrono_Sleuth  
    • Penn
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 3:55pm

      Reality versus perception?

      I am not a nuclear physicist but I wonder what a comparison of the total long term negative effects of the current crisis in Japan to the recent oil spill in the Gulf or the installation of a Muslim Brotherhood in Eygpt would be. Which will ultimately result in more deaths, destruction and cost of human suffering?

      The reality is that tens of thousands of people die in car accidents in this country every year while airplane crashes result in the low hundreds and yet air crashes get the coverage. I guess it’s why murderers like Mao Tse Dung and Che Guevara get a pass and Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher get left.
      Not to belittle the suffering of the Japanese people. They need and deserve our prayers and any aid we can provide. What they don’t need is a bunch of hyperventilating, sensation seeking, ratings craving incompetents proclaiming a new “Japan Syndrome”.

      Report Post »  
    • Chrono_Sleuth
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 4:42pm

      @Penn

      Now that I do agree with. There is a fine line to walk here. We don’t really know how bad this will be. So far the highest recorded radiation is below levels that induce radiation sickness. The only major problem would be sustained radiation (in this case the biggest threat is to the workers who are still stationed in that power plant) thus far. We really don’t know anything about what will happen, as the leaks haven’t been anywhere near Chernobyl, and there are far more protections and barriers in place here. So saying the world will end, or that Japan will go down in nuclear fallout or at least giving people that sense is just as insidious as the worst case scenario.

      You forget what is possibly the biggest killer of all: Stress.

      Report Post » Chrono_Sleuth  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 5:27pm

      @Uncle Crusty
      Don’t you dare call me a troll just because I expose the lies of the IAEA and the UN, who periodically lie about everything under the sun. You are obviously an ignoramus where those two organizations are concerned.

      I can assure you my brain is better informed and thinks more clearly than yours, and I don’t have an iota of liberal in my blood, d-a**.

      Report Post »  
    • vernva
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 5:32pm

      Snowleopard, A nuclear reactor built for power generation can not and will not explode. There are several reasons for this. The primary two are a lack of Fast Fission critical mass. Reactors operate on slow fission (several seconds between neutron generations) a bomb operates on fast fission (less then a nano second between generations) – basically between the mass of fuel and geometry of the fuel it can’t happen. Disaster – yes, explosion – no. Piles of dead from radiation – VERY unlikely. Chernobyl lost all containment within minutes of the event. As each day passes the risk to the public from Japanese reactors decreases. The press wants to halt any return to nuclear power in the US and continue our addiction to oil.

      Report Post »  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 6:28pm

      Great article at frontpagemag.com
      “Nuclear Disaster in Japan?”

      http://frontpagemag.com/2011/03/15/nuclear-triumph-amid-natural-disaster/

      Report Post » AzDebi  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 6:38pm

      I am so disappointed in The Blaze. Are dissenting opinions from scientists too much of a threat to your asinine determination to downplay Chernobyl, Glenn? God forgive you, because you don’t know what you say! Your reasoning skills tilted with the Earth’s axis.

      Today on your TV program you started fine, and then fell back into the tsunami wave of illogical reasoning that has engulfed some on the right. Yes, a nuclear meltdown is NOT a bomb. It is both a SILENT and a LONGT-TERM killer THEREFORE, don’t expect to trip on the bodies unless you are in the immediate vicinity of the leaks/meltdown. Zero deaths in Japan? That’s because there has not been a nuclear meltdown (and we all pray there won’t be one), but leaks HAVE occurred. Give it time. Some of the workers trying to contain the damage have already been hospitalized with symptoms of radiation sickness. You wouldn’t want to be in their shoes, believe me.

      I don’t know about the long-term effects, and guess what, neither do you, Glenn. Even in this short lapse of time there have been attempts to downplay the gravity of the situation by the Japanese gubbermint. So why would I trust them?

      Actually, surprise, surprise, the companies in charge of nuclear energy in Japan have a history of under-reporting or covering up nuclear accidents. Here’s a preview, but go to the website and see for yourselves:

      ==> “There were efforts to cover up several of these incidents or lessen their perceived extent. The operators of the Monju fast-breeder reactor edited videotapes of the leak to cover up the extent of the accident but this became public and did nothing to reassure the public. Managers at the Tokaimura fuel reprocessing plant, where 37 people were exposed to radiation, “coerced workers into telling a consistent but false timeline of events”. In addition there were revelations about the poor safety measures undertaken at the centre.” http://www.uow.edu.au/~sharonb/japan.html

      There is nothing IRRATIONAL or EVIL about fearing or reporting on the leaks and possible meltdown of those nuclear reactors in Japan. Glenn is not God, so he has no authority to state that this will very likely end well; we all can only hope and pray it will. He certainly is misinforming his audience when he says that if a meltdown does happen, it’s, nah, no big deal because less than a dozen people died in the Chernobyl explosion and only 4,000 were affected by the ensuing fallout. Fool you once, shame on them. Fool you twice, shame on you, Glenn.

      I do appreciate you, Glenn, but I’m glad you are not my messiah. Thank God I don’t follow mortal men; only Jesus and His Holy Spirit.

      Report Post »  
    • NotaLemming
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 6:39pm

      Overblown?!!. Only becouase NO ONE is discussing this! Buildings 1 and 3 blew up right?….. You better go look at this article and then ask what the hell is REALLY going on folks! Now the location of these rods has been confirmed by NPR… yea NPR but its ok they aggregated the graphic from another website so I think we can trust it.

      Radioactive Spent Fuel Rods blown into atmosphere at Fukushima No1 & No3: Where is the press? http://wp.me/p121oH-28v

      Report Post » NotaLemming  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 7:09pm

      @vernva
      “As each day passes the risk to the public from Japanese reactors decreases.”
      ———
      That’s obviously not true. Here‘s the almighty IAEA if you don’t believe me:

      Timeline for Tuesday, March 15
      13:35
      No fly zone declared for 30 km around the Fukushima I plant. Prime Minister warns of radiation hazard and further radiation leaks.
      16:09
      There is a fire at a spent fuel pond of a reactor and radioactivity has been released into the atmosphere, says the IAEA according to AFP news agency.
      16:38
      More on the fire at a spent fuel pond at Fukushima: It is at the number 4 reactor and “radioactivity is being released directly into the atmosphere”, AFP quotes the IAEA as saying.
      17:00
      The fire at the spent fuel pond has been put out by Japanese authorities according to the IAEA they state “Japanese authorities have confirmed that the fire at the spent fuel storage pond at the Unit 4 reactor of Fukushima I nuclear power plant was extinguished on 15 March at 17:00 JST.”
      17:03
      There has been a slight rise in temperature of two more reactors at Fukushima I nuclear plant, the chief government spokesman says according to AFP.
      18:00
      Japanese nuclear safety official has confirmed reports that the water inside the waste fuel storage pool for the number 4 Fukushima reactor may be boiling, AP reports.

      Wednesday, March 16
      Nuclear Reactor # 4 on fire. (Wikipedia) According to Fox News, this reactor has no containment wall.

      Report Post »  
    • bullcrapbuster
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 7:14pm

      It seems to me that the biggest meltdown is in the minds of some of us nuclear
      power station experts here on the blaze. My expert guess is that the complete melt down talk is all bullcrap. Then later,when the time is right the Japanese prime minister gets to go on air and announce that he and his colleagues have saved the day.

      Report Post » bullcrapbuster  
    • Cemoto78
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 7:31pm

      Good point.

      Report Post » Cemoto78  
    • Chrono_Sleuth
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 7:38pm

      @Kryptonite

      I understand your position, but I believe you are misunderstanding Glenn. He isn’t perfect for sure, but his point about the Nuclear situation here is true, there are major differences between this and Chernobyl. This is also being overblown by many on the left, almost as though they’re praying for a Chernobyl to occur so they can knock off Nuclear plants on the list. So far the other power plants are doing fine, their biggest problem is in terms of overload, and we still don’t know why exactly the backup generators failed, or we wouldn’t even be in this mess to begin with. We also don’t yet have a meltdown, and the radiation levels, while there are more leaks than they are stating, are still not high enough to indicate even a partial meltdown just yet, though Reactor 4 is the biggest cause for concern right now, because if it does, Japan is in for major radiation. As for the workers at the plant, yes, that is a problem, but you forget, even at lower radiation, consistent exposure will build up levels in the body, and that is likely the cause. Not pretty, nor an excuse to say “it’s all fine and well”, I’m just saying that Glenn does have a point and so far I see this as being overblown, especially when most of the media is treating this like we’re already experiencing Chernobyl.

      @Bullcrapbuster

      Maybe, but you’re ignoring a lot of reporting out there, like the workers at the plant who have been taken to the hospital and treated for radiation poisoning. There are levels of toxicity and radiation poisoning for sure, but that is a very serious condition that can cause permanent damage even at low exposure such as defects built into your sperm so all your future children will be born with birth defects, or completely killing any chance of causing fertility in the first place. Not to mention we haven’t seen much specific information from the power company, which is alarming considering the serious consequences should they actually have a meltdown. As was stated above, even spent rods can melt, and they do contain the same levels of radiation as active rods, just that they’re less reactive and do not produce anywhere near the same level of heat. Just do a little research on it.

      Report Post » Chrono_Sleuth  
    • RedPillPatriot
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 8:24pm

      This is the most untrue article I have ever seen, does this guy work for the nuclear industry or something. Chernobyl was responsible for thousands of deaths. My uncle died as a direct result to the clean up of Chernobyl, and many thousands more. Not to mention the thyroid cancer rate skyrocketed in the surrounding states after and continues to be much higher than before. So this is a total snowjob!! They are lying to us once again!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post » RedPillPatriot  
    • Wilma
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 8:38pm

      Fear mongering or informing the Japanese of the of what is possible so they can take precautions? It is foolish to pretend there is no danger because this crisis is still evolving. In fact, reactors are still catching fire. The 4th reactor has been on fire for two days and it is NOT encased in concrete. It is an older reactor. It is probably too late to avoid contamination. God help them and those who did not give them proper warning.

      BTW, I am NOT against using nuclear energy as a power source.

      “Studies of populations exposed to high levels of radiation have shown increased risk of cancer. High-dose exposure, above 500 millisieverts, has been associated with leukemia, breast, bladder, colon, liver, lung, esophagus, ovarian, multiple myeloma, and stomach cancers, according to the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.”

      The air near Fukushima Daichi measured 400 mSv before the 4th reactor caught fire.

      http://www.wdtn.com/dpps/health/healthy_living/what-you-should-know-about-radiation_3748213

      Report Post » Wilma  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on March 15, 2011 at 8:57pm

      Of course the “panic” is over blown. That is how the media gets viewership and ‘sells’ its product.

      You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see the media are FULL of idiots and at the same time the same people pretend to have some knowledge.

      If there ever was a population of people who are ‘sensitive’ to the affects of nuclear “power” it is the Japanese. I’d listen to their assessments and act accordingly. Obviously, when these plants were commissioned less understanding of the potential for the initiating disaster existed.

      Not one person became ill or died from the American nuke incident in the 1970′s. As far as safety goes, nuclear power is as safe as it gets. I’m all for it and would have no problem with a reactor in my area or working at it.

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:57am

      Chrono_Sleuth,
      My beef with Glenn is not in re the difference between a low-level radiation leak and a meltdown. I don’t dispute that. I am upset about other things he has said these past two days. First, he has downplayed the effects of the Chernobyl meltdown, in a pretty insensitive manner I might add. Since the worst nuclear accident in history was blown out of proportion, why should anyone be concerned about the current lesser threat? If you have been reading the Blaze since the quake hit, you probably noticed a stark difference between the general tone of the articles before Glenn got back from vacation and after — it’s like night and day. Second, he has accused the media of hyping this issue and creating panic, an ironic reversal of roles, since Beck is constantly being accused by the MSM of doing just that, and he has always defended his right to warn people of possible “worst-case scenarios,” so they can prepare. Everyone is entitled to their fears, don’t you think?

      Report Post »  
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