Japan's Realization: Nuclear Energy Is Not So Good After All

        Before the catastrophic events that occurred on March 11th, Japan was well on its way to producing 50% of its energy from nuclear power plants spread around the country.  However, now, after an earthquake caused dangerous predicaments to arise, Japan is realizing that nuclear energy is not the safest solution at all.

A nuclear power plant

        The country had decided to partly rely on nuclear energy in order to meet their pledge of reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25% of 1990 levels by 2020.  Most of the reduction of these gases was due to switching fossil fuels with nuclear power.  However, as proved by the frightening situation in Japan, nuclear energy is helpful but extremely hazardous.  Radiation is fatal to humans and can alter the code in DNA.  The effects are not pretty, ranging from hair loss to nausea and cancer or more serious sicknesses.  Sadly, only 1% of Japan's energy comes from renewable energy such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass.  And just 8% of the electricity comes from hydroelectric power (using water to produce energy).  All the rest of the energy comes from harmful sources such as nuclear and fossil fuels.
        Japan would do well to concentrate on the more beneficial, renewable energy sources.  It would easily be able to obtain the utilities needed to create power from these sources.  Moreover, the risk to humans is definitely less severe than nuclear energy.  The country would be able to save the environment and the many ecosystems in it while providing safe energy alternatives.  Greenhouse gas emissions would certainly decrease even more.  All in all, using renewable energy sources that are helpful towards the environment and safe will ultimately be a good idea for Japan and for the world.  


Some information I used can be found here and here.  My first picture came from here and my second picture came from here.  


~ Starflower794!