Pretty amazing though that life is already thriving around the disaster area, even if it's a bit unusual. Same with Chernobyl, nature has completely taken over again despite the radiation. It may be a cliche by now but life always finds a way.

Okay, let's talk about the daisies first. What you see here is a phenomenon called  'stem fasciation'. It has been found in hundreds of plant species and is a normal mutation. It occurs sporadically and is not hereditably. These daisies have been found in Nasushiobara, which is 100km away from Fukoshima, where, according to experts, the radiation level is unproblematic. The likelihood that particles from the nuclear plant are responsible is low.

About the rest. Hmmm...for me this sounds like you've fallen victim of astroturfing. I don't want to go into detail here, but the fact alone that ²³³uranium is one of the waste products is a big no no for me as it can be used for nuclear weapons. A byproduct is ²³²uranium, which emits gamma radiation. The technology is still at an immature stage, so risks, costs and consequences can't be predicted. There is an interesting survey study commissioned by the Norwegian government, which didn't lose its significance, although it's from 2008.

https://www.regjeringen.no/globalassets/upload/OED/Rapporter/ThoriumReport2008.pdf

http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/02/15/us-norway-nuclear-thorium-idUSL1538756620080215

And no, I'm not a friend of producing energy by nuclear fission. I totally out myself as a supporter of the green energy concept.

Fukashima, like Chernobyl and even the earlier 3 Mile Island, are all vivid reminders of why large stand alone nuclear power plants are an ongoing problem.  In a world of terrorists, such power plants are also too inviting as a target.

Wind, wave and solar energy certainly need to be further exploited in an increasing power hungry world.  However, I suspect that the global catastrophe of global warming will not be stopped by the puny efforts of the worlds governments or global corporations.  

The entire history of nuclear technology can be summed up into leaping before we looked.

As I am an engineer, I'm much less a candidate for getting my crank yanked. I've been following the Fukashima disaster since it's very first hours. What happened was basically very simple- the power that ran the cooling system failed. The consequences were anything but simple.

A more precise and detailed account of what happened would take volumes and some of it would be pure conjecture because the events were so radioactive that not even drones or remote sensors would have survived to offer readings.

We can't just turn them off. We can't even figure out how to clean them up. What we have to do is find a replacement that doesn't offer the same or even worse risks and environmental costs.

What has to happen is to leave Uranium behind as nuclear fuel. The best candidate replace it is Thorium. If a different set of decisions had been made in the fifties, we wouldn't have this problem now.

Well, I didn't mean to insult you or your expertise, James. Astroturfing is an interesting phenomenon, which doesn't necessarily means you're getting your crank yanked, but that interested parties want certain things to be discussed.

There are also wind power and solar power.  Yes, they're not as cheap as nuclear power, but they're getting there.  They burn nothing so there is no emission issue.  Most high schools here have solar cells roof over the parking lots, so school can generate self-sufficient power usage and perhaps sell extra power in Summer for money.  20% of SF's power is generated by Hetch Hetchy hydro plant, though the reservoir that keeps the hydro plant is a controversy in itself.

The problem with wind and solar power- and any credible engineer will back me on this- is that the power produced is  inconsistent. It simply can't create a reliable base line of power that you need to build a power grid when it's dark and the wind isn't blowing.

Geothermal power has that potential but Obama's backers didn't invest in it so it is being overlooked. That seems to be the acid test on which alternative energy methods is getting the federal billions.