Japan Nuclear Disaster Put on Par With Chernobyl

The only similarity between Fukushima and Chernobyl is that they are nuclear power plants which are/have been in difficulty.

The Chernobyl incident was created by wilfull and egotiscal mismangement of a performance test. Performed outside of the recommended operating parameters and to the exclusion of higher authority.

Fukushima has occurred due to an unprecedented "double whammy" natural event. That being a +9 richter earthquake and a tsunami wave, that has devastated much of the rest of the countries infrastructure in that area.

Unlike the Chernobyl, Fukushima has been responded to by Japanese authorities from the get go. Through the unyeilding eye that is modern communication, we have all had access to relevant (and often unrelevant/hysterical) reporting of information as it became/becomes available.

It will take a long time before any 20/20 analysis can be done on the rights and wrongs of the Fukushima incident. This situation is not over by a long shot, that's the trouble with people today they all want instant results...

I can't count how many people I have heard ask why don't they just "shut it off" ...

I'd be willing to say that 97% of the population have absolutely no idea how nuclear energy is made, and that once started cannot be "turned off". What's even worse, is when people who really don't know what they are talking about go on public television/radio and spout off like they do.

I swear some of the reporters I have seen cover this are just aiming for the biggest "wow" factor, and instill mass panic and fear into something they don't have a basic understanding of.