Going Ahead: Pro-Nuclear Program after Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster

I have dicussed the environmental impacts from 2011 Tsunami and the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster. The nuclear meltdown could have been prevented if not for the poor site selection. However a few years after the incident, Japan government has announced plans for a pro-nuclear program. In this blog post, I will explore how the government influence and ‘control’ its people to accept the construction of nuclear plants since the past till now.

In the past, nuclear program was introduced as an essential energy source for the people of Japan. The Japan Atmoic Energy Comission justifies that “since natural energy resources are scarce in Japan, uranium resources must be utilized efficiently in order to enhance the stability of nuclear energy as a domestic energy source” (Suzuki, 1997). Not only is uranium used, plutonium is also applied in the nuclear reactors. Such highly radioactive elements will inevitably cause the people to worry over possible health threats. To reduce public resistance, a series of pro-nuclear propaganda was conducted at all scales. Nuclear reactors were advertised as being beneficial to villagers, since it provides job. Also, TEPCO (Tolyo Electric Power Company) assured the people that nuclear reactors are safe. Here, I would like to draw a link to my classmate’s blog about nuclear reactors. Gabriel did mention about siting nuclear reactors amongst mountains and green trees to make it look safe. This strategy has been pretty effective thus far. In addition, an advertisement about plutonium being completely safe was circulated. An example is the video below which was aired in the 1990s.

Video 1: Plutonium Nuclear Reactor Propaganda Video in 1990s 

After 2011 Fukushima disaster, the people of Japan has experienced the terrifying power of what a nuclear plant can do. However in August last year, the Japan government approved a revival plan for TEPCO to continue its nuclear business. This is because the meltdown of Fukushima plant has placed TEPCO under huge financial pressure. Since the government owns majority of the company, collapse of TEPCO can cripple the already fragile Japan economy (Phillips, 2014). For economic reasons, Japan’s trade ministry has thus approved a 10 year business plan by TEPCO. The proposal includes restarting Kashiwazaki reactor, which is the largest in the world. Despite “strong public opposition to restarting nuclear plants, however the current Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has argued that nuclear power is necessary for powering Japan’s economy” (ibid.). This move also aims to keep Japan’s energy more self-reliant as currently, the nation imports 84% of its energy. Plans to increase reliance on nuclear energy to 50% by 2030 has since been targeted.

To achieve the stated goals, Japan has once again utilized pro-nuclear propaganda materials to suppress public opposition. For the first time in 30 years, students in Fukushima are given textbooks about radiation but “parents and teachers say the books are nothing more than pro-nuclear propaganda” (Aljazeera, 2011). The book fails to address the severity of radiation contamination, and teaches that radiation could be found naturally (ENE News, 2011). In fact, kids were taught that risk from radiation is smaller than smoking or dying from old age (ibid.). A recent cartoon advertisement (see video 2 below) assures the people that Fukushima disaster “wont be as bad as Chernobyl” as quoted from the video. Truth be told, many scientists claim that Fukushima is worst than 1986 Chernobyl incident as Fukushima is still boiling with radionuclides till today, whilst Chernobyl went up in one go (McNeill, 2011). Incongruent facts like these are seen in this propaganda video.

Video 2: Nuclear Boy as Fukushima Nuclear Disaster in 2011

Nuclear Boy is depicted as Fukushima power plant and the radiation leakage is illustrated as poop. Also, doctors in the video correspond to plant operators. Their hard work in trying to contain the poop is glorified here. It is obvious that the cartoon aims to boost the morale of Japanese and maintain public peace. It strives to educate its people that the problem will cease overtime as nuclear boy matures into a main in future. What were not mentioned are the repercussions of the disaster, chronic diseases and other public threats. This propaganda video is thus aiming to get Japan tide over this tough period before the public agrees to the commissioning of more nuclear power plants.

Though there is public opposition to constructing nuclear power plants, their voices could hardly be heard. This is inherently linked to Japan’s culture whereby people are expected to follow higher-up orders. In the arena of nuclear power, “Japanese leaders and civil servants envision public opinion as malleable” (Aldrich, 2012). It is expected that people’s perspective change to match the perspective of administrators (Jacobs et al., 2000). Hence the views of public are negated as the government proceeds with their nuclear program.

I have touched on how the government controls and proceed with their nuclear program since the past till today. We can expect more nuclear power plants to be commissioned in coming years as TEPCO materializes the 10-year business plan. This places Japan at a more vulnerable spot, as their geographical location is already prone to earthquakes and tsunamis. With global warming, the intensity of natural disasters is expected to increase. With the nuclear blueprint, it is possible that more nuclear disasters may ensue in coming years and this can potentially be a global environmental catastrophe.

References

Aldrich, D. P. (2012). Networks of power: institutions and local residents in post-Tōhoku Japan. na.

Aljazeera.com,. 'Revised Textbooks Spark Row In Japan'. N.p., 2011. Web.

Caldicott, Helen. '"Prescription For Survival": A Debate On The Future Of Nuclear Energy Between Anti-Coal Advocate George Monbiot And Anti-Nuclear Activist Dr. Helen Caldicott'. Democracy Now!. N.p., 2011. Web.

Enenews.com,. 'Japan Teachers: Students Being Taught Pro-Nuclear Propaganda — Told Radiation Risk Is Less Than Dying Of Old Age (VIDEO)'. N.p., 2011. Web.

Jacobs, Lawrence and Shapiro, Robert V. (2000). Politicians Don’t Pander: Political Manipulation and the Loss of Democratic Responsiveness, Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

McNeill, David. 'Why The Fukushima Disaster Is Worse Than Chernobyl'. The Independent. N.p., 2011. Web.

Phillips, Ari. 'Japanese Government Approves Revival Plan For Owner Of Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant'. ThinkProgress. N.p., 2014. Web.

Suzuki, Atsuyuki. 'Japan's Nuclear Fuel Cycle'. Asia-Pacific Review 4.2 (1997): 40-53. Web.