Should Japanese Trust The Nuclear Power Again?

Post the March 2011 disaster situation has never been the same in Japan and among their people. Many of the survivors of this disaster currently have no jobs as well as not sure about their future as well. According to the report published in the Japan Times on 9th Sept 2014, there has been a sudden increase in the number of people committing suicides; this is especially regarding the survivors of the disaster.

The report also highlights the fact that there has been a sudden increase in the stress levels as among the survivors currently being treated at the Minami Hospital. This hospital is located just 23kms away from the site of the disaster.

Not the first time? 

If we can remember, this is not the very first time when people have become the victims of nuclear power disaster. Who can forget the nuclear weapons and their bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki? This incident is still fresh in the mind of many people and it will so strong that it out a fear among the people pertaining to the nuclear weapons.

Nearly after 2 decades when people starting to recover from this disaster, another power plant was built called as Fukushima Daiichii Nuclear Power Plant. According to the Assistant Professor in the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactors at Tokyo University, Tetsuo Sawada, lot of assurance was required to persuade people regarding the safety of the power plant.

They were being informed about the safety and the benefits that the country will get through this new plant. So much so that 1955 saw a law being passed commanding that nuclear power should be used only for peaceful purposes. But when it came to common people, they were still not convinced about the nuclear power based on the new law.

According to the professor, a country’ economy is vital for giving assurance to people to accept nuclear power. Post the plant establishment, the Fukushima region saw a great deal of development and increased number of jobs for the people at that time.

There were many people towards accepting the nuclear plant until the Fukushima disaster. Now even after 4 decades, people still can’t trust the government as well as their feeling towards the nuclear power has evolved into complete fear.

This incident increased the perception of the people pertaining to the risks, accidents, environment pollution and complete change in opinion about the law and policy on nuclear energy.

According to the study by Noriko Iwai, people relate earthquake risk with that of nuclear plant distance. If a person thinks that the area they stay has low earthquake risk and live close to the plant, then they object to the abolishment of the power plant.

As per the chief priest in Fukujuji temple, Miharu Town, Fukushima Prefecture, Sokyu Genyu, since 80% of the Fukushima residents are objecting to the idea of power plants, then the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and the Daini nuclear power plant needs to be shut down. But according to the Government and the local scientists, Fukushima is completely safe.

Currently the local scientists and doctors are investing their time to educate the people that the radiation at Fukushima is no longer harmful and will not have any impact on their health. The disaster was not about the effects of nuclear radiation, but was about the shaken trust in the people about the technology.

Although it’s been 3 years since the disaster, the PM of Japan, Shinzo Abe is very keen to start their nuclear power plants. Reopening of the Sendai power plant has been approved by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority for 2015.