Of course the situation in general in the wake of the terrible earthquake and subsequent tsunami the situation is horrific, but the ensuing problems at the nuclear plants seems to be a nightmare waiting to happen. But the reports in the media are often vague confusing contradictory and sometimes downright scaremongering.
I’ve seen a couple of decent blogposts and articles which to me seem to give a more realistic and balanced assessment. Of course there are a few caveats and if you read through the comments in the articles as well you will see some of them raised. Make up your own mind.
(I’ll update as I see more relevant info, please add any more tips in comments)
Why I am not worried about Japan’s nuclear reactor – Morgsatlarge
(updated post, edited by MIT Dept of Nuclear Science & Engineering)
Explosion at Japan nuclear plant – Richard Black on BBC News Online website
Media suffers a Fukushima meltdown – PR perspective from Paul Seaman’s online blog
Japan’s nuclear reactor overreaction – Post by Phil Plait on his Bad Astronomy blog
Nuclear Experts Explain Worst-Case Scenario at Fukushima Power Plant – Article from Scientific American magazine (online)
Channel 4 News post after the 2nd reactor building explosion – by Tom Clarke (@TomClarke10 on Twitter)
Fukushima Crisis: Radiation exposure, beyond the numbers – blog on Nature.com
Workers strain to retake control after blast and fire at Japan plant – post from NDTV.com
BBC Material World podcast (MP3 link for episode 17th March 2011) – Quentin Cooper discusses the current situation and tries to dispel some of the wilder misconceptions.
Fukushima one week on: Situation ‘stable’, says IAEA – Article from The Register 18th March 2011.
“Shameful media panic very slowly begins to subside”. By Lewis Page
By Tor's Words Of Wisdom 