nuclear-news

AUDIO: Wider implications of Fukushima nuclear disaster

AUDIO: UN expert:Japan’s view on Fukushima too optimistic http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2012-12-03/un-expertjapans-view-on-fukushima-too-optimistic/1055192 3 December 2012 The United Nations’ special rapporteur on the right to health, Anand
Grover, says the Japanese government should consult more with local communities to assess the real impact of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Mr Grover has just returned from an 11 day visit to Japan to assess
the state of health in those areas affected by the incident and
examine the effectiveness of government actions to deal with the
aftermath.

He told ABC Radio Australia’s Connect Asia program that although each
nuclear disaster comes with its own specific issues and solutions,
authorities in Japan could benefit from looking at other example.

“There had been a trend within Japan to have a very narrow
appreciation of Chernobyl,” he said. So I stressed that they should
have an open-ended understanding of Chernobyl and not narrow, and they
were quite willing to look at that.”

Mr Grover also raised concerns that the Japanese government is not
screening enough of its people, and had been overly optimistic with
radiation exposure thresholds.

“Listening to the communities has not been a top priority and I stress
that this should be done,” he said.

Although he welcomed ongoing health checks for Fukushima’s 2 million
people, Mr Grover said they needed to be extended because the impact
of the radiation went far beyond Fukushima’s borders

December 4, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Resources -audiovicual