Fukushima Booklet Committee Position Paper

The Fukushima Booklet Committee considers the risks posed by nuclear power
plants to be disaster risks, and is clearly opposed to policies that refuse toacknowledge these risks (such as the “safety myth”). As advocated in theSendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, we have the responsibility toactively work towards reducing disaster risks and creating a safer and moresecure society for the next generation. From this perspective, we believe it isnecessary to learn from the past, and to actively disseminate the lessons
learned in Japan from the Fukushima nuclear disaster to people around the globe,
in order to create a better future. We sincerely hope that through suchactivities, an awareness of the risks posed by nuclear power plants can bepromoted amongst the citizens and governments of countries that are considering
nuclear power, and in countries and regions in which nuclear power plants
already exist, that the risks faced by residents can be reduced.
We strongly hope that Japan will stop its dependence on nuclear power as soon as
possible. However, the decision whether to build nuclear power plants or notlies with the people of each country. We hope that people around the world canlearn from the mistakes of Japan, which was at the mercy of the “safety myth,”fully understand the risks and sustainability issues at hand, and make decisions
regarding energy policy based on broad agreement.
The following are the concerns held by the Fukushima Booklet Committee regarding
the risks posed by nuclear power.
1.

Waste

The final disposal method for spent fuel and radioactive waste in Japan is not
yet decided. Even if one of the disposal methods currently under considerationis selected, it is not possible at this stage for the government of any country
to guarantee the management for tens of thousands of years.
2.

Risk of a different magnitude

Whether hazards are natural or man-made, regardless of the cause it isimpossible to reduce the probability of an accident to zero. Past nuclear

disasters demonstrate that the environmental, health and social damage andimpacts are not limited to a single region, but are long-lasting and on a global
scale.
3.

Nuclear power and nuclear weapons – two sides of the same coin

Despite being referred to as the “peaceful use” of nuclear power, it istechnically possible for the spent fuel produced in nuclear power plants to be
diverted into nuclear weapons. Furthermore, current international standards suchas those set by institutions like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
are not powerful enough to prevent them being violated by governments or nonstate actors.
4.

Human rights

Even without the occurrence of an accident, nuclear power plants create many
“Hibakusha”, or people affected by radiation. Many nuclear plant workers arein the situation of being exposed to radiation, facing serious health risks, and
it is this labor that perpetuates the use of nuclear power plants. Furthermore,
research shows that even without accidents during operations, radioactive
materials that are released affect the environment, and long-term health damage
can be inflicted upon residents of the area. Additionally, if another accident
were to occur, the permissible radiation dose is likely to be increased, leading
to people not being evacuated and being forcibly exposed to radiation.
5.

A Sustainable World

The impact of a nuclear accident lasts from decades to tens of thousands ofyears, and is a fundamental obstacle to realizing a sustainable world. As longas the probability of a nuclear accident is not zero, it is not possible tocontinue bearing such an enormous risk and create a sustainable world. Ideas andactions to eradicate this risk, or at least reduce it as much as possible, arenecessary. While developing renewable energy, we must also expand lifestyles
that are not wasteful and that save resources. A shift from a large-scale system
to regionally dispersed system can also disperse the risk.
The Fukushima Booklet is openly available as a PDF through our web site, basedontheCreative

Commons

License“Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives”

code. In order to reduce the disaster risk for residents of areas where nuclear

power plants are located and to stimulate serious debate in areas where nuclear
power plant construction is planned, the Fukushima Booklet Committee provides
partial financial support for translation and printing of the booklet according
to set guidelines. We also recommend use of the Creative Commons License“Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives” code for these publications, as isfor the original.

November 29, 2015
Fukushima Booklet Committee