Statement

Let’s Debate on the Nuclear Crisis at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant Now! Radioactive Substances Have Already Invaded the Body!

April 27, 2011

 

At 14:46, March 11, Japan was attacked by a catastrophic disaster which everyone is unable to forget. That is the mega-quake and tsunami named “the Great East Japan Earthquake”. The number of the killed and missing people has totaled some 26,000. The disaster engulfed human life and the local infrastructure. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed by the disaster, and express our sincere sympathy to all the victims.

Besides the March 11 quake and tsunami, we have been hit with the shock of the nuclear crisis. In late April, according to the news reports, radioactive substances were found from maternal milk. The Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry has launched its actual condition survey on this matter. The government eventually raised its severity assessment of the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant to the highest level of 7 under the IAEA standard, putting it on par with the 1986 Chernobyl catastrophe which is causing extensive damage even today after 25 years from the accident. It is also said that the potential damage by the Fukushima plant could be bigger than the one caused by the Chernobyl accident. The local residents around the nuclear plant are suffering the quadruple disaster, “March 11 quake, tsunami, subsequent nuclear crisis and harmful rumors.” The story that the radioactive contamination exercises a negative influence on human body has turned to reality. It is clear that we inflict immeasurable risk on our children if nothing is done.

Besides an enormous impact on the local residents around the plant, the nuclear accident poses hazards for their lives and environment, and gives them unbeheld fear, which is expanding further damages to them. Though nearly two months have passed since the disaster, the situation is far from being resolved, and growing steadily worse.
The myth of the “nuclear safety” which has been insisted by the advocates has been proved false. Given the current reality, who could say that the nuclear plant is safe? Among scientists or technical experts who used to be promoters of nuclear power, many of them actually express their regret and reconsideration now.

The JRU cannot exactly say that we have had exhaustive discussions over nuclear issue recently. It is an undeniable fact that Japan has actively pursued the development of nuclear energy for the good reason that “Japan needs to secure alternative energy to hydro power and thermal power due to resource scarcity,” relied on nuclear power and received favors from it. Though Japan is the only country to have ever suffered a nuclear devastation, it has now become the third biggest nuke-possessing country, and its dependence on the nuclear power has continued in many fields.

Now is the time for us to directly confront the nuclear power problem on the occasion of the latest accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant. We must not refuse to face the arising reality.
We need to create the secure environment in which people can live without fear. Let’s launch serious debate on the nuke issue and act now! We have a responsibility to ensure safety of our children’s future!

Japan Confederation of Railway Workers’ Unions (JRU)