The ongoing nuclear crisis in Japan again is illustrating in real time that, when it comes to mega disasters, the government is not to be trusted. It doesn't seem to matter what type of government we're talking about. Democracies or dictatorships. Capitalist or communist. The track records of far too many governments is to keep their own citizens in the dark for as long as possible at great risk of life and limb.
You have probably heard that Japan recently upped the assessment of their crisis to level 7, on par with the Chernobyl accident. That's the highest level on the scale! Yet, while they now admit that the situation is much more grave than they originally let on, they continue to try to soft sell it as well.
To make matters worse, 5 more communities -- some as much as 40 miles away -- have been added to the evacuation zone. People in these 5 communities are being told to uproot their lives. Why would they need to do so IF the potential health effects weren't serious?
I can certainly understand a government not desiring to foment panic as panic tends to lead to chaos. However, the avoidance of panic doesn't seem to be the prime motivator in far too many cases. No, the government wants to shield itself and the corporations involved from scrutiny and criticism.
In such cases, it seems that the corporate citizen is more highly valued than the rest of us!
You have probably heard that Japan recently upped the assessment of their crisis to level 7, on par with the Chernobyl accident. That's the highest level on the scale! Yet, while they now admit that the situation is much more grave than they originally let on, they continue to try to soft sell it as well.
The new ranking signifies a "major accident" that includes widespread effects on the environment and health, according to the Vienna-based IAEA. But Japanese officials played down any health effects and stressed that the harm caused by Chernobyl still far outweighs that caused by the Fukushima plant...Talk about mixed messages! On the one hand, the government is telling its citizens the situation is dire. On the other hand, they downplay the health risks involved. These two aspects would seem mutually exclusive!
To make matters worse, 5 more communities -- some as much as 40 miles away -- have been added to the evacuation zone. People in these 5 communities are being told to uproot their lives. Why would they need to do so IF the potential health effects weren't serious?
I can certainly understand a government not desiring to foment panic as panic tends to lead to chaos. However, the avoidance of panic doesn't seem to be the prime motivator in far too many cases. No, the government wants to shield itself and the corporations involved from scrutiny and criticism.
In such cases, it seems that the corporate citizen is more highly valued than the rest of us!
Every country and every one knows that earthquakes are common in Japan so why did they built nuclear power plants? they know very well if they blasts what will be happened. Now they facing that situation it is very bad and unfortunate. Most powerful countries in this world like Russia, America, China and other European countries should help Japan to come out from this situation as soon as Japan come out from this situation they will fulfill their needs as well before this Nuclear blast in fukushima no one dont know where this city and what is the advantage of this city. Now every one can easily identify fukushima.
ReplyDeleteThe people where the Nuclear Plant blast occurred should be shifted to safety zone where they can live without any deceases without radiation. Japan government take the help from other countries like America, Russia so they can come out as early as possible.
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