EU Intent on Hosting International Fusion Reactor

Raunch writes "The BBC says that EU is determined to be one of the sites that host the multi-billion-dollar International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Even if they have to do so less-than-internationally: 'If there is no agreement at six we are determined to do it with fewer.' Not only that, but 'The EU wants an agreement on the project before the end of the year'"

Comments

*Sigh*

[Tethys_was_taken]

This is something so important to the people of the world, and all the politicians can think of is to fight about where it will be placed.

I just wish, for once, these people would get out of their petty mindsets and realize that the more important issue here is NOT where it's going to be, but what it is going to do.

Er, go ahead with the flaming about the evil terrorists who will destroy the reactor or take over the worlds energy sources now.

The EU isn't stupid...

[Coryoth]

A significat new energy source is going to be huge, especially with world demand for oil (due to the growth in Chinese industry) rising to the point where its pushing supply to the limits...

Supposedly this reactor would represent the last major step required before, hopefully, fusion power stations could become a reality. The EU very naturally wants t locate it in Europe, thus giving Europe a stronger edge and focus in alternative energy research.

Interestingly the alternate site is not in the US, but rather in Japan. And that is certainly what the EU is worried about - the Japanese economy, afte a decade and more of recession is finally starting to crawl back. And the Japanese are very good at small and efficient, and are already leading the world (jointly with Korea I guess) in alternative power transport (hybrids, and hydrogen fuel cell cars).

It will be interesting to see how the fight finally plays out.

Jedidiah.

A bunch of cowboys

[jaymzter]

I'm tired of the Euros and their damned 'go it alone' attitude! The world just became a more dangerous place.

1 month = 1 reactor

[Anonymous Coward]

With the cost of Iraq war draining at about $1.5B per week, it roughly takes 1 month of war for 1 reactor, in monetary terms.

Re:To preempt some things

[MyLongNickName]

Problem is -- this fight was going on BEFORE the US got back into ITER. I've been following this politicial fiasco for years. Maybe Clinton was right to pull us out when he did. Too much politics. Not enought science.

But anything that suggests that the US is anti-science and politically vindictive automatically gets a +5 insightful.