Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Nickbat]

The full effects of these disasters can be seen (to a point) in the continuing news coverage (NHK) of how the Japanese people are trying to come to terms with what happened and how they’re attempting to get some semblance normality back into their lives, it seems that it will be an arduous process and one befitting the magnitude of this almost unimaginable disaster.

Cost (financially and emotionally) aside, they will likely come out stronger, more united people. It is true that such tradegic events do bring people together, both families that may have parted, and whole communities as they help each other in this time of need.

Absolutely right and the Japanese are very stoical. They will come out of this stronger.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I think we need a big return to nuclear.

I suspect that Japan will make the voices of the anti-nuclear mob louder, yet the recent saga of these aging reactors should be looked at as a marvel of engineering - remember they were hit with an earthquake 8 times stronger than their design, and no reactor damage, and all reactor safety systems worked perfectly. They were then hit with a bloody great wave, again not part of their design, which although this wiped out the diesel generators, the reactor safety systems survived, and the cooling was happily running on battery.  It was from this point on it all started to go wrong, as they couldn't get mobile generators in place within the hours before the batteries run out - thats a procedural problem, compounded no doubt by the devastation in the area, and lack of that level of diasaster planning (which was 2 natural disasters way bigger than anyone could have imagined).


As I see it, the biggest issue with nuclear is with manmade attempts to damage the reactors.

We have to accept at some point that coal and gas will run low. Solar won't cut it, as demand is highest when the panels aren't working, wind and wave are too unpredictable, we are unsuited to traditional hydro-electric, and stored hydro-electric is only for short term peak demands (hours, and need masses of energy to repump the what back up).

So we should be adopting nuclear, initially to sit along side fossils, then gradually to replace them IMHO.

All absolutely right TB, as that is the way forward.

[Varche]

yep nuclear is the way to go. Just need to think of a way to pay for it. Scrap Trident replacement? Just put Trident2 logos on the existing stuff. No one would know as it will never be used in anger.

In the meantime we could devote our R and R to wave power development. Plenty of dependable waves, tides and currents in the world.

[Kevin Wood]

Whether we go Nuclear or (like much of Europe) we invest heavily in cleaner fossil fuelled power stations to replace those that we'll soon no doubt be fined by the EU for using, we need to do SOMETHING.

That doesn't include clinging on to the fallacy that a couple of windmills will keep the country running.

Kevin

[TheBoy]

Whether we go Nuclear or (like much of Europe) we invest heavily in cleaner fossil fuelled power stations to replace those that we'll soon no doubt be fined by the EU for using, we need to do SOMETHING.

That doesn't include clinging on to the fallacy that a couple of windmills will keep the country running.

Kevin

I disagree, Mr Wood. In Jimbob land, a windmill could work.  As could a collection and storage facility....

[Kevin Wood]

Whether we go Nuclear or (like much of Europe) we invest heavily in cleaner fossil fuelled power stations to replace those that we'll soon no doubt be fined by the EU for using, we need to do SOMETHING.

That doesn't include clinging on to the fallacy that a couple of windmills will keep the country running.

Kevin

I disagree, Mr Wood. In Jimbob land, a windmill could work.  As could a collection and storage facility....

We're back to CNG (Methane), aren't we?

Which gives me a plan. Reckon his @rse would stand 250 BAR of pressure?

Kevin

[TheBoy]

Whether we go Nuclear or (like much of Europe) we invest heavily in cleaner fossil fuelled power stations to replace those that we'll soon no doubt be fined by the EU for using, we need to do SOMETHING.

That doesn't include clinging on to the fallacy that a couple of windmills will keep the country running.

Kevin

I disagree, Mr Wood. In Jimbob land, a windmill could work.  As could a collection and storage facility....

We're back to CNG (Methane), aren't we?

Which gives me a plan. Reckon his @rse would stand 250 BAR of pressure?

Kevin

His valve seems to fail long before 250bar I'm afraid

[Jimbob]

My Arse may stand that pressure releasing......but not incoming

[Kevin Wood]

My Arse may stand that pressure releasing......but not incoming

That's fine. Incoming couldn't have been further from my mind.

 

Kevin

[moggy]

Oh I don't know, the WWF has this very appealing vision of just how we can save the planet - it all seems so logically easy.

After all, if the WWF good enough for the Duke of Edinburgh it's good enough for me.

I'm all for it.

But the Duke is only interested in preserving wildlife to ensure he has an adequate supply to hunt. 

Indeed Capt., the old boy has the head screwed on - without doubt.

DEN,you sound like yoda,