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Overload: Catastrophe in Japan, and More

Nuclear fallout in Japan and American disinterest in climate change in today's daily roundup of what we're reading at GOOD Environment HQ.

Ben Jervey
By Ben JerveyMar 17, 2011
Ben Jervey
Ben is a writer and editor covering climate change, energy, and environment, and is currently the Climate and Energy Media Fellow at Vermont Law School. He was the original Environment Editor at GOOD Magazine and his work has appeared regularly in National Geographic News, Grist, DeSmogBlog, and OnEarth. He recently worked with the non-profit Focus the Nation to publish an Energy 101 primer. When living in New York City, he wrote a book, The Big Green Apple, on how to live a lower impact life in the city. A bicycle enthusiast, Ben has ridden across the United States and through much of Europe.
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A sad panda that some online commentators were breathlessly saying was reacting to the unfolding catastrophe in Japan, but which, in reality, was photographed a few years ago.

Today, we paid attention to little else than the tragic crisis in Japan.

Here's an incredibly informative infographic about how a reactor shuts down, and what happens in a meltdown.

The Union of Concerned Scientists warns that if a full core meltdown at Fukushima were to occur (still, thankfully, a worst case scenario), the radiation plume could reach Tokyo.

Joshua Hatch at the Sunlight Foundation mashed up the map that I've been waiting for: American nuclear reactors and areas of high seismic risk.

Fewer Americans are worried about climate change than any time since 1998.

Coming tomorrow: a slideshow of things you can buy—posters, t-shirts, desserts, and so on—and support relief efforts in Japan. (For the folks out there that need that little extra nudge to give).

Overload is a daily round-up of what we're reading at GOOD Environment HQ.

environmentnuclearclimate changejapanearthquakeunion of concerned scientistsnuclear poweroverload2011 japan earthquakefukushimanuclear disasternatural disasters

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