What will happen after Japan's nuclear disaster?

Japan's nuclear disaster is just another story in the long line of the misuse of nuclear energy. In the article published by bloomberg.com, some of the current nuclear reactors have been getting approved for continued running, even after there are certain vital components that we're skimmed over, needed restructuring, or to be completely replaced. In the article it states that, "Revelations from 2007 that the utilities had regularly doctored safety records were a repeat of a 2002 scandal that brought public apologies from Tokyo Electric, the resignation of its chairman and president, and a government shutdown of all 17 of the company’s reactors. The utility said in that year it had falsified reports on power plant repairs for two decades." Now if you realize that some businesses are truly that cheap to cut corners and assume as long as it's intact and running decently, then we don't have to do anything about it and everything will be fine. Then we see disasters like the one after the tsunami/earthquake which just hit Japan cause a more disastrous situation then there should be. Since for the reactors, if a company builds it properly up to code and it is maintained to that same standard, then even if the core melts down, there will be no collateral damage to any part of the world. Obviously most people will make the point about the fact of the Chernobyl disaster. But if you actually look into the reports of how the disaster happened, the USSR never built a concrete container around the reactor.
The people will want to forever stop nuclear energy because of the disaster it caused, but as long as people understand that it could have ultimately been prevented, I'm more then sure the world will still continue to use nuclear energy, but nowadays the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a tighter grip on keeping buildings up to code. For japan, there is no other solution since the oil it uses, is completely 100% imported. So then the Oil producing nations will take advantage of it and do the same thing they did to the U.S.

General Inquiry

According the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) there are 35 operational Boiling Water Reactors (BWR)that we're built by GE. BWR's are the 2nd most common nuclear reactor right next to a Pressurized water reactor (PWR) which is the most common type. The most obvious main difference is in a PWR, the water which is the main coolant is pressurized, whereas in a BWR, the water is boiled hence the difference in the names. Although now currently there have been new reactors being built called Advanced Boiling Water Reactors, according to GE the ABWR is a direct cycle Light Water Reactor that reflects the continued evolution from GE’s initial BWR concept. Some modifications include a sophisticated control system, which are now fully digital, providing reliable and accurate plant monitoring, control, and diagnostics. These reactors produce about a 1350 to 1460 megawatts range, which in comparison to a coal power plant, or you basic hydroelectricity power plant, dwarf the output in both MW produced and the cost to produce the energy, in the sense that the cost is significantly less.

Quick bio

Hello, my name is Alexander Wingate. I am currently a biology major at Purdue University North Central. I graduated from Chesterton Senior High School in June 2010. I decided to attend PNC because of its closeness to home, since I didn't feel the need to go to Purdue West Lafayette because I knew I would end up being a party animal down there and ultimately drop out of school, and be completely screwed over. Along with the fact I didn't want to leave my girlfriend Kristin here at home, in Chesterton, I decided to attend PNC. And now I have chosen to stay here the entire 3 years because I can get my degree in Biology in only 3 years. My only real goal right now is to graduated from PNC and then move into medical school. Although I do not foresee myself being in medicine for very long, because I always have wanted to own a business, I will probably end up doing that and hope to be very successful.

The issue I will be discussing is Nuclear energy. This has been one of my favorite issues since although i know a  great deal there is still plenty of things I want to explore about it, especially with the most recent happenings in Japan with their nuclear reactor in Fukushima not being able to cool down and causing a giant public scare.