Fukushima forces world to rethink n-power strategy

In the wake of Japan's desperate attempts to stave off successive nuclear meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear-power plant, increasingly worried countries around the world have put brakes on their nuclear programmes.

Germany announced it would shut down (temporarily, at least) seven of its oldest reactors. Major safety reviews and licensing breathers have also been announced by France, the European Union, Thailand, Switzerland, the Philippines, India, and even China.

Japan itself has of course announced that the Fukushima plant would be closed down for good once the damage caused by the 11 March earthquake and tsunami is controlled.

The collective pause is striking, given that countries like India and China serve as the poster faces for the nuclear industry's much-heralded global renaissance. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, of the 65 reactors currently under construction around the world, just about half of them (32, to be exact) are found in the two rapidly emerging countries.

In the US, however, President Obama and secretary of energy Steven Chu repeatedly tried to reassure the American public. But at best they have been playing catch-up to the rest of the world, points out a Newsweek article.

When asked early on if the US should put on the brakes, both the president and Chu  had said 'no'. Instead, they proceeded to promote US nuclear power despite the catastrophe at Fukushima.