This page is intended for the Southern Cross College Geography students of Year 11-13
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
L2 Age of Oil
What is happening right now in Japan with a nuclear power station? What is the relationship between this event and energy sources? Explain why NZ chooses to be Nuclear free.
Right now, Japan is undergoing one of its most destructive disasters in history, off the east coast of Japan an earthquake measuring 8.9 occurred causing a very destructive tsunami. The tsunami killed thousands and also triggered some Nuclear power Plants to be considered a red zone.
The Fukushima Nuclear Power plant was hit by the tsunami and cooling pipes which allow cool water to be pumped throughout the Nuclear reactors to keep it from Melt-downs were separated or in this case; destroyed by the tsunami. Since the cooling pumps were not able to send cooling water through to the Nuclear reactors; the Nuclear reactors started heating up. As a result of this much of the radiation has escaped from the reactors in steam when released.
Japan heavily relies on Nuclear Fission for a means of energy supply for the country and Because of this incident japan (or most of the cities) will have little or no power at all.
All of the above pretty much explains why New Zealand (the clean and green country) chose to be a Nuclear free country. And also because if the U.S.A and the French were to test their nuclear bombs; it would have been in the pacific. So the Auckland Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) submitted its "No bombs south of the line" petition with 80,238 signatures. This was then officially agreed on in 1987 after Green Peace and friends of earth joined in.
I forgot to mention that this just goes to show that Nuclear Fission is good when it's working but can be very deadly to the environment around it, Us included. The world should take into mind what happened in japan and consider Environmentally Friendly Alternatives as a primary objective to achieve. The Nuclear event is a good energy source but when disrupted by Destructive forces which are very unexpected it can turn to a matter of life and death. On the other hand, had it been Healthier Alternatives for people and the environment for example: Wind Farms, Solar Power or Ocean Turbines; that was affected by a natural disaster, the effects of that Alternative energy source may not have been as bad as the Fukushima Nuclear incident.
On March 11 2011, became one of Japan’s darkest days when a powerful magnitude 9.0 earthquake hit off the east coast of northern Honshu Island. This trigged a tsunami with 10 meter high waves that reached the US west coast. The horrific earthquake and tsunami caused extensive and severe damage.
The fifth largest earthquake since 1900, lead to a series of destructive explosions in the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Hydrogen explosions have destroyed many of the reactors, multiple fires have broken out, meltdowns have occurred and radiation leaks that are potentially dangerous to humanity. The problem occurred when cooling systems crippled which was needed to keep nuclear fuel from melting down. Japanese authorities are injecting seawater as a coolant as a last resort. Thousands of residents have been evacuated to avoid contamination.
Nuclear power is alternative energy source that is able to replace the use of fossil fuels. Japan relies on nuclear power for 30% of electricity needs. Japan has 54 reactors supplying this nuclear power. Due to the devastating earthquake and tsunami, it significantly changes the electricity generated by nuclear power since the shutdown of nuclear power stations. Japan will require additional natural gas and oil to provide electricity which could possibly increase greenhouse gas emissions.
Nuclear power generation has been a growing debate in New Zealand. The issue of nuclear power lies in the fact that nuclear energy will never be clean, as it involves the release of radiation and waste products into the environment. Nuclear is never safe. Nuclear power will leave future generations dealing with radioactive waste that remains dangerous for hundreds of thousands of years with no solution to this nuclear waste threat. Another reason for New Zealand being nuclear free is that every step of the nuclear cycle is polluting and harmful to the environment and humankind. New Zealand’s clean green image also affects New Zealand’s decision to be nuclear free. Part of our clean green image is being a nuclear free nation. If we lose our image it will take an enormous toll on our economy.
Whats happening right now in Japan with a nuclear power station is the challenge facing Fukushima is keeping the nuclear core covered with water, which is needed to cool the fuel rods, the heart of the reactor. Nuclear power is an alternative energy source that is able to replace the use of fossil fuels. New Zealand chooses to be nuclear free because we are a green country. NZ is FOR the environment not against and nuclear energy is never clean, it releases radiation and waste products into the environment.
4 comments:
Right now, Japan is undergoing one of its most destructive disasters in history, off the east coast of Japan an earthquake measuring 8.9 occurred causing a very destructive tsunami. The tsunami killed thousands and also triggered some Nuclear power Plants to be considered a red zone.
The Fukushima Nuclear Power plant was hit by the tsunami and cooling pipes which allow cool water to be pumped throughout the Nuclear reactors to keep it from Melt-downs were separated or in this case; destroyed by the tsunami. Since the cooling pumps were not able to send cooling water through to the Nuclear reactors; the Nuclear reactors started heating up. As a result of this much of the radiation has escaped from the reactors in steam when released.
Japan heavily relies on Nuclear Fission for a means of energy supply for the country and Because of this incident japan (or most of the cities) will have little or no power at all.
All of the above pretty much explains why New Zealand (the clean and green country) chose to be a Nuclear free country. And also because if the U.S.A and the French were to test their nuclear bombs; it would have been in the pacific. So the Auckland Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) submitted its "No bombs south of the line" petition with 80,238 signatures. This was then officially agreed on in 1987 after Green Peace and friends of earth joined in.
I forgot to mention that this just goes to show that Nuclear Fission is good when it's working but can be very deadly to the environment around it, Us included. The world should take into mind what happened in japan and consider Environmentally Friendly Alternatives as a primary objective to achieve. The Nuclear event is a good energy source but when disrupted by Destructive forces which are very unexpected it can turn to a matter of life and death. On the other hand, had it been Healthier Alternatives for people and the environment for example: Wind Farms, Solar Power or Ocean Turbines; that was affected by a natural disaster, the effects of that Alternative energy source may not have been as bad as the Fukushima Nuclear incident.
On March 11 2011, became one of Japan’s darkest days when a powerful magnitude 9.0 earthquake hit off the east coast of northern Honshu Island. This trigged a tsunami with 10 meter high waves that reached the US west coast. The horrific earthquake and tsunami caused extensive and severe damage.
The fifth largest earthquake since 1900, lead to a series of destructive explosions in the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Hydrogen explosions have destroyed many of the reactors, multiple fires have broken out, meltdowns have occurred and radiation leaks that are potentially dangerous to humanity. The problem occurred when cooling systems crippled which was needed to keep nuclear fuel from melting down. Japanese authorities are injecting seawater as a coolant as a last resort. Thousands of residents have been evacuated to avoid contamination.
Nuclear power is alternative energy source that is able to replace the use of fossil fuels. Japan relies on nuclear power for 30% of electricity needs. Japan has 54 reactors supplying this nuclear power. Due to the devastating earthquake and tsunami, it significantly changes the electricity generated by nuclear power since the shutdown of nuclear power stations. Japan will require additional natural gas and oil to provide electricity which could possibly increase greenhouse gas emissions.
Nuclear power generation has been a growing debate in New Zealand. The issue of nuclear power lies in the fact that nuclear energy will never be clean, as it involves the release of radiation and waste products into the environment. Nuclear is never safe. Nuclear power will leave future generations dealing with radioactive waste that remains dangerous for hundreds of thousands of years with no solution to this nuclear waste threat. Another reason for New Zealand being nuclear free is that every step of the nuclear cycle is polluting and harmful to the environment and humankind. New Zealand’s clean green image also affects New Zealand’s decision to be nuclear free. Part of our clean green image is being a nuclear free nation. If we lose our image it will take an enormous toll on our economy.
Whats happening right now in Japan with a nuclear power station is the challenge facing Fukushima is keeping the nuclear core covered with water, which is needed to cool the fuel rods, the heart of the reactor. Nuclear power is an alternative energy source that is able to replace the use of fossil fuels. New Zealand chooses to be nuclear free because we are a green country. NZ is FOR the environment not against and nuclear energy is never clean, it releases radiation and waste products into the environment.
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