Nuclear Power

Ethics topic-Nuclear Power in Japan

Background:

Japan had just recently suffered a devastating earth quake followed by a tsunami that devastated the areas that were impacted by the events. Along with the areas impacted were the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants. Ironically enough it wasn’t the earthquake that impaired the nuclear plant but the tsunami. The damage to the nuclear power plants was severe enough to release high levels of radiation effecting the people and environment by it. Before we get all anti nuclear we are going to examine the facts the lead to such damages to occur to the power plants since by design a nuclear power plant should be able to handle earth quakes and tsunami’s. It was in fact the operation of the nulcear power plant that caused it to fail which has not only lead exposed Japan with radiation but has left them with an energy crisis on how to fill that void of power.

Determining the Facts:

What is known about the Japan nuclear situation is that two of the reactors were affected and damaged by the tsunami enough so to release high levels of radiation. In addition that reactors that were affected were not new and were generation one nuclear reactors built in the 60’s. What is less talked about are the facts that lead the nuclear power plant to fail in the first place. First, the owners of the nuclear power plant.,tokyo Electric Power Company, failed to respond to warnings that the plant may be vulnerable if a tsunami would occur. One must note where in the U.S. nuclear power plants are looked over by the department of energy (DOE)where they must follow strict regulations. Japan doesn’t have the same nuclear regulations. It is owned by a company and thus they failed on numerous occasions of meeting safety checks and trying to save money. In addition there were originally going to shut down the reactors but the company requested to prolong the life of it by another 12 years despite the failure in safety regulation and stress...