I know no one asked for it, but I'll give my totally uneducated worst case scenario outlook on the whole disaster:
Not the end of the world, but the end of our lives as we recognize them. Let's say that all 6 reactors go into full meltdown, all at once, possibly triggered by an explosion in reactor 5 or 6. I do believe that a release of that magnitude, all shooting up into the air would circle the globe. There would be places that would be largely unaffected, but even for them, because of the damage to the rest of the world, their lives would not be the same as they are now.
I do believe that air travel would become very limited, mainly military for the first few years. Driving would be allowed, but I do think that cross country travel would be restricted by contamination "zones". Rest stops are the norm now, decon centers would become the norm. Our economy, globally, would falter, as transportation would take longer and would be more carefully controlled. I wouldn't be surprised to see heavy rationing of fuel and food, even water. No more washing the car or watering the lawn.
The economy would also suffer as our lives become less convenience based and more survival based. Scientific advancements would be focused more on medicine and construction, less on the next video game system. Due to massive amounts of damage done to the climate, I believe there would be extremely strict "green" guidelines for every household, company and person in order to reduce further impact.
Many of the things that we are used to seeing would change dramatically, including animal and human forms, and it wouldn't be as much of a tragedy to hear that someone has cancer, as we will become desensitized to it. Those with money will get better and be cured, those without will die quickly, and I believe that the sanatoriums would return, not for TB, but for cancer, as the hospitals would be overwhelmed.
Mnay of the things that we take for granted would become rare delicacies, such as food that weren't canned, grown inside or completely man made. The days of futuristic meals in a capsule would become reality. Fishing and hunting would become largely unsafe, except in the unaffected areas.
Internationally, we would all become secluded, because if we have food or other technologies, we would keep it for our own. And I would feel for any Japanese that were stuck outside of their own country when it finally happened, because, even though this was a company's fault, many will see them as the enemy.
ETA: Then again, what do I know? I only started really learning about any of this a month ago, and I've always been a bit of a pessimist.
