Germany’s Nuclear Nightmare
The reality of nuclear power is becoming evident, and it is a lesson to the rest of us.
I have never known of anything as divisive as nuclear power. To some, it is a deeply dangerous technology that poisons the ecosystem around it, has the potential to meltdown and kill millions, and even furthers the nuclear arms race, causing armageddon to loom heavily over our heads. But to others, it is a crucial technology that saves our precious planet from climate change, is remarkably safe, and actually stabilises international relations. So who is right? Well, Germany has just found out.
You see, Germany has promised to phase out its nuclear power entirely by the end of 2022. But why?
Germany has always held a strong anti-nuclear power notion within its cultural zeitgeist. There have been plenty of demonstrations that have disrupted planned nuclear sites over the years. But in 2010, the government passed a policy that allowed them to extend the life of their operational reactors. This prompted a vast, 100,000-person anti-nuclear march on 12 March 2010. The government took notice and realised that for them to stay in power, they needed to please the anti-nuclear crowd.
Then, in 2011, the Fukushima nuclear incident happened. The shock of the horrifying impact it had on…
