How bad is it, really?

With all the hype about Japan's nuclear emergency, it's worth noting that the safety systems actually worked very well:

Japan's nuclear powerplants have performed magnificently in the face of a disaster hugely greater than they were designed to withstand, remaining entirely safe throughout and sustaining only minor damage. The unfolding Fukushima story has enormously strengthened the case for advanced nations – including Japan – to build more nuclear powerplants, in the knowledge that no imaginable disaster can result in serious problems.

Whether or not you agree with the conclusion, the writer makes a strong case for continuing to use nuclear power and blames the media for blowing the Fukushima problems out of proportion.  Worth a good, hard read.