The European Union has announced plans to build the world's first fusion reactor, along with co-operation from six other nations. Construction of the fusion reactor will begin in 2007 in France, and will cost around 10 billion Euros to complete. With gas and oil prices going through the roof, and nuclear power dogged with fears of radioactive contamination, it is hoped a fusion reactor could help ease the burden on the world's ever increasing energy demands. 

Quote: "European Union nations on Monday endorsed a pact to build an experimental fusion reactor with the aim of developing a cheaper, cleaner, safer and endless energy source. Six other nations - the United States, India, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia - also aim to ratify the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, or ITER, fusion energy project this year so that work can start in 2007 on the 35-year project.

Meanwhile other nations are continuing with plans to build their own nuclear power stations. Britain needs to build at least 10 new nuclear power stations just to meet demands, as older power stations come offline within the next few years. Iran is of course pressing ahead in developing their own nuclear programme, for dubious reasons. And today, Egypt, at the bequest of Hosni Mubarak's son, has also announced plans to build a nuclear power plant.

Quote: "Egypt is to revive the civilian nuclear power programme it froze 20 years ago following the accident at the Chernobyl plant in Ukraine. Egypt's energy minister told the state-owned al-Ahram newspaper of plans to build a nuclear power station. The plant will be constructed at El-Dabaa, on the Mediterranean coast, within the next 10 years.

All this talk of developing nuclear power stations reminds us of the prophecy in the book of Revelation concerning the star Wormwood. The word "Chernobyl" is the Ukrainian word for "Wormwood", a type of bitter grass that grows in the area. Revelation describes a "star" called "Wormwood", burning like a lamp and descending on the rivers, making the water bitter and causing many people to die. Essentially a nuclear power station works much like the core of a star, and the glow of the initial explosion at reactor number 4 at Chernobyl must have looked like a lamp burning in the night. Although the incident happened over 20 years ago, there is still danger from more contamination at Chernobyl. Most of the 200 tonnes of nuclear fuel is still contained with the sarcophagus, which it is feared is in danger of collapse.

Revelation 8:10-11
And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

Source Jerusalem Post, BBC, Dallas News