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I was in Japan for 3 weeks in 1970 for Expo 70 at Osaka, and was able to tour all over Japan. I really liked Japan.
I spent time at Hiroshima. I rang the giant peace bell at the Hiroshima peace shrine. I went through the nuclear bomb museum. Even as a teenager, I was quite affected by all of this.
Subsequently during our travels in Japan, I heard about the huge controversy and the demonstrations against nuclear power. Many Japanese questioned using nuclear power in the only country that has had nuclear bombs used against them 25 years earlier.
In 1970, Japan's first nuclear power plant was 1 yr. old, and had its first maintenance turnaround. From this video documentary (English subtitles, 3 Parts, links below), I now learn it was a lot worse than the worse fears back in 1970.
The recent nuclear accident that has recently gone Level 7 (the worse possible, similar to Chernobyl) is only the icing on this deadly cake that has been festering and oozing for more than 41 years.
The power plant owners hired hundreds of "Untouchables", un-educated peasants, fishermen, and farmers to do the plant's maintenance. They worked a few minutes, or 2 hrs max. in high radiation areas, then received a day's wages. They were sent on their way, and subsequently fell ill, cast off by the Japanese nuclear industry. A cleaning rag that became contaminated with radiation was better cared for than the worker. The contaminated rag was given a protective burial and perpetual maintenance.
It is estimated that more than 290,000 peasant workers have been contaminated with nuclear materials, and are ill. More than 50 have died in the Ginza Nuclear region alone, and it is suspected that more have died elsewhere.
Workers who are contaminated and unable to work are often bought off by the nuclear plant operators for 20 to 30 million Yen (~ US$ 290,000), always on the condition of silence.
It's hard to believe that this has been occurring for more that 41 years in a country that is well known and respected for excellent treatment of its workers. Japan's dirty little secret.
Unfortunately, when there is too much at stake, as there is in nuclear power, the system always trumps the people's rights and wishes.
Part 1: 9 minutes
Part 2: 9 minutes
Part 3: 8 minutes
I spent time at Hiroshima. I rang the giant peace bell at the Hiroshima peace shrine. I went through the nuclear bomb museum. Even as a teenager, I was quite affected by all of this.
Subsequently during our travels in Japan, I heard about the huge controversy and the demonstrations against nuclear power. Many Japanese questioned using nuclear power in the only country that has had nuclear bombs used against them 25 years earlier.
In 1970, Japan's first nuclear power plant was 1 yr. old, and had its first maintenance turnaround. From this video documentary (English subtitles, 3 Parts, links below), I now learn it was a lot worse than the worse fears back in 1970.
The recent nuclear accident that has recently gone Level 7 (the worse possible, similar to Chernobyl) is only the icing on this deadly cake that has been festering and oozing for more than 41 years.
The power plant owners hired hundreds of "Untouchables", un-educated peasants, fishermen, and farmers to do the plant's maintenance. They worked a few minutes, or 2 hrs max. in high radiation areas, then received a day's wages. They were sent on their way, and subsequently fell ill, cast off by the Japanese nuclear industry. A cleaning rag that became contaminated with radiation was better cared for than the worker. The contaminated rag was given a protective burial and perpetual maintenance.
It is estimated that more than 290,000 peasant workers have been contaminated with nuclear materials, and are ill. More than 50 have died in the Ginza Nuclear region alone, and it is suspected that more have died elsewhere.
Workers who are contaminated and unable to work are often bought off by the nuclear plant operators for 20 to 30 million Yen (~ US$ 290,000), always on the condition of silence.
It's hard to believe that this has been occurring for more that 41 years in a country that is well known and respected for excellent treatment of its workers. Japan's dirty little secret.
Unfortunately, when there is too much at stake, as there is in nuclear power, the system always trumps the people's rights and wishes.
Part 1: 9 minutes
Part 2: 9 minutes
Part 3: 8 minutes