S O U N D O F F
March 14, 2011
In order to provide clean, economical, efficient electricity to millions, Tokyo Electric Power has exercised the highest level of technology and safety known to mankind with their nuclear plants.
But, the combination of the record breaking 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami usurped this technology, bringing the threat of nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daini nuclear plant in Koriyama.
Watching footage of Japanese children being scanned for signs of radiation, and thinking on steps Americans should take to protect themselves from possible radiation drift, aroused deep seeded questions about the sanity of individuals who desire moving an animal disease lab into heartland U.S.A.
This lab, Plum Island Animal Disease Center (located on an island off the tip of Long Island), studies around eight animal and livestock diseases.
To non-agricultural people, moving this lab may seem a rather innocuous undertaking.
But it isn't!
An outbreak of any of the diseases, in particular Foot and Mouth, could eradicate America's food supply and economy.
Fortunately, its present location with surrounding moat (if you will not unlike Japan), provides a bit of a natural biocontainment area.
Human access isn't easy. This keeps security checks for those who step on the island, and a pathogen flushing of those who step off the island under pretty darn good control.
If moved, how would one weigh such as: Driver/pilot /sea captain error, equipment failure; weather conditions and errant drivers?
What is the danger of ferrying contagious pathogens away from Plum Island to the relocation destination in Manhattan, Kansas?
How does one prevent accidental release of a disease anytime after settling in a borderless, moat-less heartland?
Consider the extreme precautions taken by the builders of Japan's nuclear plants.
It took the equivalency of Jupiter slamming down on them to generate their present faltering.
Yet some think not, and want nuclear plants shut down.
If the same happen to the wind turbine field in Palm Springs, would you demand a stop on turbine building?
Some things are simply un-avoidable. Nothing's fail safe.
Though subjected to an un-avoidable extreme act of nature, Japan already shows promise of emerging stronger.
In comparison I wonder; How would America deal with a demolished food supply and economy brought on by an avoidable, unnecessary, foolish act of human?
When I asked a young man, "Antoine Braxton", working in the hotel's computer room where I wrote this, he stated without hesitance; "That sounds like an outbreak waiting to happen."