Three Mile Island: History Repeats Itself?

Today is the 32nd anniversary of the “accident at Three Mile Island” in Pennsylvania. What has since become the punch line for jokes about radiation was not in the least bit funny at the time.

The lives of a million people living in a radius around that nuclear plant were hanging in the balance. As it turned out, a minor technical malfunction (a valve that didn’t close) was compounded by human error (water to cool the fuel rods was INTENTIONALLY cut off). The result was a public relations nightmare and a panic the likes of which had never been seen before in the U.S.

There may not be an adequate parallel with what is now happening in Japan, since a natural disaster caused the radiation leaks that are happening at this very moment. Only time will tell if this nuclear reactor disaster rivals or exceeds that of Chernobyl, to date the worst nuclear accident.

As the only nation to have two atomic bombs dropped on its population, the stark reality of radiation and its deadly effects are not merely theoretical. Japan knows all too well what happens when humans are exposed to dangerous levels of radioactivity.

Of course, the larger question is whether we should proceed with nuclear power as an energy source—or if it is simply too dangerous to accept the consequences of another major disaster. Those who advocate for nuclear power would point to the Gulf oil spill or the Exxon Valdez as proof that disasters are potentially connected to all forms of energy production.

Opponents of nuclear power need only point to a state of the art facility like the one in Japan—and state that Mother Nature still has the final say. If an earthquake/tsunami or other natural disaster can trigger a meltdown, there are no designable failsafe features that can prevent a major catastrophe.

Both sides are right—and yet it will likely depend on dollars. As the price of oil continues to rise (making nuclear energy cheaper), the drive to increase our nuclear power “position” will grow. Here below is an excellent 6-part program on Three Mile Island—the fact that the movie “The China Syndrome” was released just DAYS before the accident clearly created more panic:

Part 1




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLPAigMuBk0

Part 2



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUaywLEEN9U&feature=related

Part 3



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O67dw-5MNlQ&feature=related

Part 4



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv-sV5zfmhM&feature=related

Part 5



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAd8eSxr1Y0&feature=related

Part 6



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X7fi6spyXo&feature=related


I’d love to hear your comments on nuclear power—whether we should continue to improve and safeguard the process—or whether we should essentially “punt” and gravitate towards other sources of energy.


If you’d like my blog in your box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com