Understanding the radioactivity at Fukushima

This is the best presentation on the dangers of the Fukushima nuclear  plant disaster I have seen.  The presentation comes from Physics professor Ben Monreal of UCSB, which happens to be my alma mater.  Bone up on your periodic tables.

http://online.kitp.ucsb.edu/online/plecture/bmonreal11/pdf/BMonreal11_PublicLecture_KITP.pdf

Conclusions
• The worst general-public effects of Chernobyl were
stress/fear; HUGE education/communication failure
• You have the information: count the millisieverts and
decide how to respond
• My feeling: the worst-case radiation hazards from
Fukushima are mitigatable and local
• (early evacuation + controls on 131I in food)
• My feeling: the global radiation hazard is nil.
• The best way to reduce worldwide low-level radiation
releases is ... stop burning coal
• Save your energy for those affected by the tsunami and
“50 plant workers” at Fukushima
Ben Monreal, UCSB Physics 3/11