The Fukushima Nuclear Crisis and the Politics of Uncertainty. “Most Significant Public Health Crisis in Modern World History” | Global Research

The Fukushima Nuclear Crisis and the Politics of Uncertainty. “Most Significant Public Health Crisis in Modern World History” | Global Research

The nuclear disaster in Fukushima which followed in the wake of
the 3/11 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami has given rise to one of the most
significant public health crises in modern world history, with profound
implications for how nuclear energy is perceived. This paper analyzes
the most dire phase of the Fukushima nuclear crisis, showing how the
level of risk was assessed by nuclear experts and state-level actors who
worked largely out of view of public scrutiny. In addition to examining
how the accident progression in the reactors was addressed and conveyed
to the general public, the paper addresses how the exclusionary zones
were determined by Japanese and foreign governments in Japan.

As the crisis unfolded and efforts to bring the reactors under
control were initially proving ineffective, concerns increased that
radiation dispersion was unmitigated, and with radiation monitoring by
the U.S. military indicating levels significantly beyond TEPCO’s
conservative assessments, the United States broke with Japan,
recommending an 80km exclusionary zone, and initiating military assisted
departures for embassy staff and Department of Defense dependents from
Japan.