Fukushima Daiichi could be the Shock Doctrine event that commits the U.S. to clean energy

[Auggie]

It won't happen of course. And that is truly terrible.

[villager]

1. Just like BP was... for the "new" leadership in the White House?

n/t

[DCKit]

9. Yeah, "Beyond Petroleum"... in your gas tank. They want to add it to everything.

Reminds me of the "Better Living Through Chemistry" campaign of the 50's and 60's. DDT was only the most famous of their tragedies.

[Bluerthanblue]

2. it might- at the very least it will

help re-energize the opposition to expanding Nuclear energy.

It's still early.

[jacquelope]

3. The powers that be will drive us back to coal.

We'll sorely regret this day for decades to come.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. A Teachable Moment

Lacking a teacher.

[Auggie]

5. "Lacking a teacher" -- that nails it

[TNLib]

6. I'm not sure about the US but it might be for Japan and other countries

Then maybe we'll follow suit.

[drokhole]

7. It's too bad the Shock Doctrine seems to only work in one direction.

[Imajika]

8. Yeah, no, that isn't going to happen..

When energy prices are low, Americans become interested in clean energy and the environment. This is because when energy is cheap the price becomes something of an afterthought. When prices for energy are high, Americans begin throwing all concern for the environment out the window and will support pretty much any dirty or dangerous energy whether that be oil, coal or nuclear.

It's really quite simple. Price of gas goes up, Americans begin supporting more drilling for oil, more coal mining and more nuclear. Price of gas goes down, Americans will rate the environment and clean energy a bigger priority.

Because for Americans the overwhelming concern is the cost of energy to THEM, it is very difficult to change anything. You can barely get half of Americans to accept that climate change is actually happening, and if gas prices continue going up you will see polls show less and less believe AGW is real as it becomes more and more inconvenient for them.

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. "Fukushima Daiichi." It sounds like that test that every Star Trek captain

had to go through in training. Only Kirk figured out how to beat the system.

[Duende azul]

11. Shock Doctrine will apply. But not the way you'd wish for.

If Japan can avoid mayor contamination, the country will be up for grabs.

[Earth_First]

12. I doubt it. It WILL be shocking...

Just jaw dropping exasperation in utter disbelief...