Feature: Japan nuclear crisis: how it has changed the world's perception of nuclear power

The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant's Unit 3 on Monday 
after a second hydrogen explosion. Photo: AP/NTV

Japan is facing a nuclear meltdown after an 8.9 magnitude (later revised up to 9.0) struck about 382 kilometres north-east of Tokyo on March 11, 2011. Japan is situated on the "Pacific Ring of Fire" and is a highly dangerous area.


The massive quake shook buildings and caused damage in the city of Tokyo, the world's largest urban area with 30 million people. The earthquake also unleashed a powerful Tsunami that wrecked through coastal towns. All this has resulted in a nuclear disaster unfolding in Japan.


Switzerland has halted it's plans to build new nuclear power plants, Germany has raised questions over it's nuclear future and Turkey and South Africa are opposing atomic reactor constructions. 


Fears about nuclear safety that took a generation to overcome after the accidents at Chernobyl in the Ukraine and Three-Mile Island in the US are resurfacing around the globe. They are casting new doubt on a controversial energy source that has seen a resurgence in recent years, amid worries over volatile oil prices and global warming.


The Japanese crisis may slow the push for more nuclear plants, but appear unlikely to stop it, given the world's fast-growing energy needs.

The governments of Russia, China and Poland said they were sticking to plans to build more reactors. Even earthquake-prone Chile says it would not discard a nuclear option. Spain warned against such decisions.


I believe that this nuclear crisis in Japan has had a massive impact on other countries converting to nuclear power. Australia will again be asking whether or not to go with nuclear power. I think that countries will still adopt nuclear power but will have ti acknowledge that there is a risk in doing so.