Fukushima has been one big cover up right from the beginning. It will be years before the full effects are known and yes I agree another Chernobyl in the making and yes probably far worse.

The only silver lining is that it might make the world wake up to the dangers of nuclear power. Germany's already phasing it out and hopefully more will follow.

Arjay and OUG, make sure you catch the SBS repeat of 'Gasland' this Tuesday night if you haven't already seen it. A must-see if ever there was one.

Our own little Gasland is brewing in Queensland. Hopefully the Greens and the Lock the Gate campaign can gain some traction and bring a halt to this rampaging and destructive industry. With gas set to become the new coal, it will be a tall order.

That's all very well - lets not use nuclear, get rid of coal, and dont let gas be developed. The elephant in the room here is that no-one has thus suggested alternatives. Given that we are all on-line, obviously you like using your electricity as much as I do. So what do you propose to do about it? We all love using the stuff but no-one wants their backyard impacted by any side-effects. Hypocrites....

Australia has huge gas resources and I have always considered using this resource as the optimal while we transition to renewables. The the infrastructure is in place already, whereas switching to nuclear (apart from all its attendant problems, as only demonstrated too recently with Fukushima) would use money that can be better used for the long term investment into cleaner renewable and, therefore, sustainable energy forms.

At present we urgently need further research into wind technology - given that there may be unwanted side effects of living too close to wind farms. We have already produced more efficient and economical solar panels, we have yet to harness hydro-power from our almost endless coastlines, then there is thermal energy and why aren't we utilising methane?, given that we produce a lot (some more than others) and again we have infrastructure already in place.

If the fossil energy industries want to survive, why are they not at the forefront instead of attempting to maintain 20th century thinking?

To all, I agree fracking is short term gain for dire long term consequences, the water table is the main issue, and I know a little about that.

Just to side bar, the reason half this crap is going on is either the inability or desire the of the press to report the news in a manner fitting the item. A footy player who gets thrown out of a night club gets front page and fracking gets 4 column inches on page 9. Other than the Australian the only other bastion of “report what is evident” is the Macquarie Broadcasting Network in Sydney. Controlled by John Singleton, it is a fair dinkum no bulldust arena for the truth. Both sides of politics are slaves to the frackers, , our only salvation and I hate to say it will be the Greens because the national media and the frackers are one and the same.

Ammonite:>> Australia has huge gas resources and I have always considered using this resource as the optimal<<

Ammonite, I take it by this statement that you are going to start up a fracking operation in the back yard, watch out for the sewer lines.

There other big issue is the importing of food.Even pollution from Chernobyl,Dr Helen Caldicott says don't eat nuts from Turkey.Our super markets are buying up cheap food that may well have radiation or some other problem.There are no checks on the quality and how do you prove criminal negligence? This is why there s the growth of organic foods.

Our Govts care not for the environment or your health.Their prime concern is their power base and the money to justify it.We live in an oligarchy not democracy.