#accelerate #donate#controversial#crisis#planned#avoiding#nuclear German Chancellor Merkel said that in view of the nuclear crisis in Japan, she hopes to speed up Germany's transition from nuclear energy to renewable energy. Merkel told the German parliament that she would submit to parliament a timetable for a "planned withdrawal" from nuclear energy. Only last year, Germany also made a controversial decision to extend the life of the country’s existing nuclear reactors. And this week, Merkel ordered the shutdown of the seven oldest nuclear power plants in Germany and an emergency safety inspection. Merkel also urged the Germans to let the Japanese know about Germany's support for Japan.