Nuclear Aftershocks

In March 2011, when a huge earthquake and tsunami shook the northern coast of Japan, one of the casualties was the Fukushma Daiichi nuclear power plant. The ensuing explosions and fears of leakage sent shudders throughout nuclear nations around the world. Filmmaker Jon Palfreman's PBS-aired Frontline documentary looks at how countries are re-evaluating the future of atomic power in the wake of the disaster. Some nations, such as China, remain fully committed to nuclear energy, while Germany, afraid of something they feel they can't control, has made the "bold bet" that alternative energy sources like solar and wind power can provide for their future needs. The leader in the high stakes nuclear game is the U.S. with a record 104 nuclear plants to feed Americans' insatiable appetite for energy. But almost all of these facilities are old and will need improvements in a decade or two—a case in point being the aging Indian Point facility, located a mere 35 miles north of New York City. Of course, plants face numerous other threats besides earthquakes and aging, notably hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, and terrorist attacks. Nuclear Regulatory Agency officials, along with critics and industry defenders, are interviewed here on issues ranging from overconfidence about nuclear safety to gambling on energy alternatives. As Nuclear Aftershocks notes, important decisions need to be made, and time is running short. Offering an informative and balanced look at today's nuclear power dilemma, this is recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)