Antinuclear

Japan’s nuclear power history littered with problems

Japan’s history of civilian nuclear power generation is also littered with problems,

Japan’s Nuclear Half-Century New Matilda, 15 March 11, All eyes are on Fukushima but this is not an isolated crisis. Mark Pendleton looks at how nuclear accidents have shaped contemporary Japan

As news from the Fukushima nuclear plant meltdowns looks more and more ominous, it is worth remembering that much of Japan’s contemporary history has been shaped by nuclear power and debates around its use. This history will frame how Japan responds to its latest nuclear crisis.

The twin US destructions of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 brought the end of World War Two and the onset of a half decade where fears of nuclear annihilation haunted much of the globe. In Japan, these fears were particularly stark as the nation struggled to deal with the over 200,000 hibakusha, or victims of the atomic bombings. Hibakusha struggles for recognition, medical care and financial support continued well after 1945.

They were not, however, the only victims of nuclear bombs. ……

Japan’s history of civilian nuclear power generation is also littered with problems, particularly as its large number of nuclear plants ages. Since 1999 there have been several accidents that have marred what was perceived as a safe industry. In 1999 in the town of Tokaimura in northern Ibaraki prefecture, three workers suffered severe radiation exposure as a result of inadequate training and safety measures, with two of them dying. The area around the Tokaimura plant was also evacuated.

Five people also died in an accident at Mihama plant in western Fukui prefecture in 2004, at a site with a long history of problems.

The last decade has also revealed serious shortcomings in Japan’s safety, construction and equipment inspection systems. For a period in 2003, TEPCO, a major nuclear operator and the one responsible for the Fukushima plants at risk this week, was forced to shut down all 17 of its reactors for inspections. Investigations revealed potentially serious incidents that had not been reported in 1999 and 1978.

The risk of earthquake damage to nuclear plants was also highlighted in 2007, when the Niigata Chuetsu-Oki earthquake caused ground acceleration exceeding the design limitations of a major nuclear plant in the region. This was not the first time that the earth’s movement had outpaced design specifications, although in this case, significant damage was caused to the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant. The quake prompted a major investigation by the government in conjunction with the International Atomic Energy Association. The initial reports from Fukushima suggest that similar failings may be revealed in the planning and construction of these plants. There are visible contradictions in Japan about nuclear energy. Mass opposition to nuclear weapons — but mass reliance on nuclear power. Mass support for non-proliferation — but mass ignorance of Japan’s position under the US nuclear umbrella. Even as the extent of the meltdown in Fukushima becomes clear, this catastrophe is simply the latest reminder that nuclear energy is far from safe — particularly in a land at such risk of seismic shock.http://newmatilda.com/2011/03/15/japans-nuclear-halfcentury

March 15, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized