Report on Fukushima

Japan Apocalypse _DDC3785 (Photo credit: Abode of Chaos)

The Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission has published its report and it is a blockbuster.  The accident would not have happened if government and the nuclear industry were not good buddies.  Furthermore, the commission chairman said, “What must be admitted, very painfully, is that this was a disaster ‘Made in Japan.’ Its fundamental causes are to be found in the ingrained conventions of Japanese culture: our reflexive obedience; our reluctance to question authority; our devotion to ‘sticking with the program;’ our groupism; and our insularity.” 

The nuclear regulators let Tepco avoid implementing basic security measures, despite the fact that Japan is earthquake-prone.

The commission chair asserted, “It was a profoundly man-made disaster that could and should have been foreseen and prevented. And its effects could have been mitigated by a more effective human response.” Communication - between Tepco and the government, between the government and its citizens - was very poor.  It's likely that most of the damage was caused by the earthquake, not the tsunami as Tepco claimed.

All in all, a damning report.