Fukushima upgraded to Chernobyl

A few weeks ago, when the disaster at Fukushima Daiichi was just beginning to unfold, I compared the crisis in Japan to the catastrophe in Chernobyl, 25 years ago. A few nuclear boosters, and a respected engineer of my acquaintance, popped up to declare that this disaster was different. That it could never be compared to Chernobyl, that the damage would be contained and the contamination would never spread so far and affect so many.

Never say never, I replied.

Today, “officials from Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said that the cumulative amount of radioactive particles released into the atmosphere since the incident had reached levels that apply to a Level 7 incident.” Making it, at least on paper, as serious as the accident in Chernobyl. Quibbling about whether it is a level 5 disaster, or a level 7 disaster, is of course not very important to the tens of thousands of people who have been forced to evacuate, with no timetable for return. The technicalities of classification are lost on those who don’t know anymore what’s safe to eat or to drink. In the end, even if the total amount of radiation doesn’t reach or exceed that released at Chernobyl, Fukushima is going to go down as one of the worst nuclear accidents of all time.

So, I reiterate the point I made in that column of March 15: although nuclear power promises, at its best, to be the cleanest, safest, most efficient way of producing huge amounts of power, at its worst it leads to devastation, disease, and geographic abandonment. It is not, therefore, a source of “clean energy.” It should be grouped with coal and oil, as energy sources that should be sunset and replaced with renewable, non-polluting sources such as solar, wind, geothermal and tidal. California is leading the way here, with Gov. Brown set to sign legislation that will require the state to produce 33% of its power “from solar panels, windmills, landfill gases, small hydroelectric plants and other renewable sources” by 2020. Let’s fight for a more aggressive renewable portfolio requirement in Virginia, as well.

Drivers put brakes on fuel usage as pump prices soar

The average price of gas across the country is now $3.77, which is 32% more expensive than in the first week of April last year. U.S. drivers used 3.6% less fuel than they did in the same period last year.

“Even with the better labor market, consumers are cutting back on their driving,” Mr. Gamel said. “That is something we will have to watch.”

The decline may also be caused by Americans’ switch to more fuel-efficient cars since 2008.

Driving less. Buying more fuel-efficient cars. Not coincidentally, the total amount of CO2 released so far this year is also lower. This is why I like high gas prices. Get on your bikes, people!

Bike Norfolk at Kerouac Cafe

If you’re a fan of the bicycle, come join the people of Bike Norfolk, a group dedicated to promoting bicycles and bicycle infrastructure in and around the city. Their monthly meeting is tonight, April 12, 6:30 p.m. at Kerouac Cafe, and it is open to all. They’ll be discussing the plans for Bike Month, coming in May, as well as other exciting developments in the Norfolk cycling scene.

Rigell defends his “no” on budget vote

Scott Rigell, like most all Republicans, claims that we need deep budget cuts in order to save our economic future. Given that we are, as a country, currently printing about 43% of the money we spend each year to cover our excess, I can accept that cuts are needed.

And then I see this. On page 4 of the front section of the Pilot two stories lie next to each other. The first explains that Republicans have targeted Education, Labor, Health and Human Services for $19.8 billion in cuts, out of a total of $38 billion. Cuts to the military budget, on the other hand? None. As in, $0 in cuts.

On the same page is a story about the new laser gun system that the Navy has just tested. The Navy has spent a billion dollars to build a system that allowed them, in a test, to “set a small motorboat on fire.” Oh. My. God.

Republicans, I’m telling you, if you really, really want to cut spending and save our economic future, I’m WITH you. Just be sensible and fair about it. If your cuts are just a smokescreen for an ideological purge of public institutions like the NEA, PBS, and NPR, or an attack on the health care bill, forget it. Fricken’ lasers for the Navy are a lot more expensive than education programs, and less likely to save us than a generation of smarter kids would be.

Labyrinth!!

In case you somehow haven’t heard, there will be a labyrinth at the Half Moone cruise ship terminal, opening in June. As in, something else fun to do in downtown Norfolk this summer. This is really good news. And Grant Cothran is my new hero.