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Should Europe abandon nuclear energy after Fukushima?

2011-05-06Péter Zentai

Germany’s close-to-business government has made a 180-degree turnaround by coming out against nuclear energy after Fukushima. Why are other countries seemingly not following Berlin?

Since the tragedy of Fukushima I have been pondering whether the Finnish people, or the Swedes, the French, the Swiss, the Czechs, the Russians, the Chinese, the South Africans, the Turks – all of these folks, including their governments and leading scientists, are fools or simply just gamblers. Whether they are really stupid and ignorant of the fact that potential disasters are hiding in each of their nuclear plants. Or are they simply cynics? Or masochists and/or sadists, who like to toy with their own lives and the fate of their children? Is that the reason why they do not follow the suit of the Germans?

About the blog

This blog delivers opinions and interpretations on current events about the economy in the context of the EU, Hungary and Central and Eastern Europe. We live in turbulent times; the financial crisis affects all of us and has changed some economic rules and paradigms, as well as those of European integration. Here, you will read intellectually inspiring pieces – you do not necessarily have to agree with every post, but you will probably have your own opinion concerning their topics. Our goal is to make you think about what is happening in the European economy. Hungarians and expats with different backgrounds living in Hungary will be asked to contribute: businesspeople, managers, researchers, journalists, representatives of NGOs, those who have special knowledge in this field. Politicians? We will see. Party propaganda – no thanks; policy issues – why not? If you feel like writing a post, do not hesitate to contact me: martin.jozsef.peter@gmail.com.

About the editor

József Péter Martin was trained at the Corvinus University of Budapest as an economist; he also studied in Leuven (Belgium) and Groningen (The Netherlands). He started his career in journalism at the Hungarian business daily Világgazdaság, then worked 12 years at the editorial office of business weekly Figyelő, where, after several other positions, he was editor-in-chief from 2003 until 2009. Nowadays he appears regularly in the domestic and international media as an economic and EU analyst and columnist. He is author of more than a thousand articles and dozens of studies on economy and politics. In 2010, he co-authored a book on the financial crisis (“Álomcsőd” – The Default of a Dream). He also holds lectures on European studies and economic journalism at the Corvinus University of Budapest. He is a member of the supervisory board of Transparency International in Hungary.