What Were They Thinking?

Trey Smith

On September 7, 2013 Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said to the 125th session of the International Olympic Committee, the following:

Some may have concerns about Fukushima. Let me assure you, the situation is under control. It has never done and will never do any damage to Tokyo.

This will surely be remembered as one of the great lies of modern times. In Japan some people call it the “Abesolute Lie”. Believing it, the IOC decided to bring the 2020 Olympics to Tokyo.

Japanese government spokespersons defend Abe’s statement by saying that radiation levels in the Pacific Ocean have not yet exceeded safety standards.

This recalls the old story of the man who jumped off a ten-story building and, as he passed each story, could be heard saying, “So far, so good”.

We are talking, remember, about the Pacific Ocean – the greatest body of water on earth, and for all we know, in the universe. Tokyo Electric Power Company – TEPCO – has been pouring water through its melted-down reactor at Fukushima and into the ocean for two and a half years, and so far the Pacific Ocean has been able to dilute that down to below the safety standard. So far so good. But there is no prospect in sight of turning off the water.
~ from Some Facts You Should Know About Fukushima by Takashi Hirose ~

When I heard that the IOC awarded the 2020 Olympics to Japan, my first thought was: What were they thinking? Japan is home to the worst nuclear accident in history and the IOC wants to invite the world to go there? That seems to me like a recipe for disaster.

Imagine the IOC voting to hold the summer Olympics in New Orleans just after the Hurricane Katrina or the Gulf oil debacle. That would have been a crazy decision too.

Hey, as long as the IOC is making irrational choices, why not pick Damascus or Baghdad for the 2024 Olympics. I'm sure people would be safe there!