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Nuclear crisis in Japan – uncontrollable in time and space

The devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and the subsequent crisis from damaged nuclear reactors, reminds us that humanity must respect nature. We must be extremely careful with nuclear technologies that pose widespread risks to human health and the environment now and into the future. The effects of nuclear disasters – whether from nuclear energy or nuclear weapons – are uncontrollable in time and space.

Blast at the Fukushima Daiichi reactor

We express our concerns and thoughts for the people of Japan, our condolences for all those who have lost their lives, our admiration for the bravery of those working in the dangerous radioactive environment in the facilities, and our hope that the technicians and authorities can contain this current crisis. (For full message see Message of support for the people of Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami.

PNND does not have policy on nuclear energy, but does provide a forum for information and perspectives about aspects of nuclear energy relating to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. This includes analysis of the risks of nuclear weapons proliferation arising from the development of nuclear energy, security controls to prevent nuclear proliferation, and health and environmental aspects that might shed light on the health and environmental aspects of any use of nuclear weapons.
See Nuclear energy, safety and security.

A number of PNND members are also active on wider safety issues of nuclear energy, especially in light of the radiation risks from the Japanese nuclear reactors damaged in the March 2011 earthquake.
PNND Co-President Ed Markey, a senior member of the US House Energy Committee, has released a number of articles and press releases including:

• March 15, 2100: Rep. Markey: Wall Street Could Nix Nuke Power
• March 11, 2011: Markey Queries NRC on Seismic Safety of Nuclear Reactors in Wake of Japan Earthquake

PNND Council member Jonathan Granoff and PNND Senior Officer Rhianna Tyson published Wisdom or Fatal Folly in Huffington Post, exploring the risks of nuclear energy and nuclear weapons due to inevitable disasters from human or technical error:

Nuclear energy plants, like nuclear weapons systems, do not forgive mistakes of judgment, of mechanical error, or simple human negligence. Still, in the face of dire warnings to the dangers of nuclear power, humans continue to build nuclear energy plants and nuclear weapon systems, convinced that no mistakes will be made. How easily we forget a truism when greed and the quest for power intoxicate our reason: systems are only as foolproof as the humans that create them.

PNND US member Dennis Kucinich has requested the closure of US nuclear power plants that are vulnerable to similar catastrophes as in Japan, including some in his home-state of Ohio.
"Operators of nuclear power plants with demonstrated poor safety records should not be allowed to continue to put the public at risk." (See: Rep. Dennis Kucinich asks feds to shut down FirstEnergy nuclear plants)

Message of support for the people of Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami

We express our concerns and thoughts for our members, friends and colleagues in Japan in the wake of the disastrous earthquake and tsunami. We express our condolences for all those who have lost their lives, our sympathies for all those injured and our best wishes for the rescue, recovery and rebuilding efforts over the next few days, weeks and months.

We pray that no further lives are lost, and that there is no additional destruction or threats to lives from after-shocks or other damage. We sincerely hope that authorities are able to control the situation in the damaged nuclear power facilities, and we express our admiration for the bravery of those working in the dangerous radioactive environment in the facilities in order to minimize the danger to human health and the environment from further radioactive releases.

Alyn Ware
PNND Global Coordinator