Is Nuclear Energy dangerous?

Recently, due to the catastrophic events in Fukushima, Japan, I came to think whether nuclear energy is safe enough for us to take advantage of it. As seen in Chernobyl, the worst-case scenario of a meltdown can destroy the entire environment near a power-plant, contaminating it for years to come. But, sadly, noone learned anything, and now even countries like India and China with high corruption-rates and low security-standards build nuclear power plants.

Which leads to other Questions: Are there alternatives? Is green Energy worth the effort?
Can a highly industrialised Nation relinquish Nuclear Energy and adapt itself to a more ecologic Power-Source?
In my Opinion, Yes. Even if Officials say that their Power Plants are 99.99% safe, in my Opinion we shouldn't wait for Doomsday and start thinking for ourselves. Because i do not want to be the one to explain to his child, that it has a missing pancreas because it "was good for the economy".