On: Dramatic escalation in Japan (Fukushima Nuke Plant...

[ANH]

Historically, coal-fired power plants have been much more dangerous for humans than nuclear power plants. I think the record shows that nuclear power is on the whole pretty safe.

Regarding proof: I don't think anything has been proven, yet, except that there have been a lot of powerful forces at work with this disaster.

[hop → ANH]

Yes, in history. But that turns an eye to black swan events of mass proportion that only nuclear power is capable of.

[ANH → hop]

Only nuclear power? What about the BP oil spill? Exxon Valdez? Coal slurry wiping out homes in West Virginia?

[hop → ANH]

Caesium-137 has a 30 year half life. If that blew into Tokyo, the city would be uninhabitable for 200 years - just like Chernobyl.

[sho_hn → hop]

That said, there have been some pretty nasty events associated with coal as well, which are however surprisingly unknown: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston_Fossil_Plant_coal_fly_... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_County_sludge_spill

Doesn't compare to the potential consequences of a nuclear incident, but it's quite possible to build and mishandle crappy coal infrastructure, too.

[memetichazard → hop]

So, coal is the car, and nuclear power is the airplane.