This section criticizes alarmist rhetoric surrounding nuclear power that relies on unrealistic extreme scenarios. It contrasts such claims with the reality of multilayered safety measures enforced under the world’s strictest regulatory standards.

2016-03-16

By citing extreme examples to stir fear, the argument becomes strikingly childish.
This section continues from the previous chapter.
“Childishly irresponsible remarks.”
It is claimed that the three pro-nuclear slogans—“safe, cheap, and clean”—have all been exposed as lies, but how well does Mr. Koizumi understand that under the world’s strictest regulatory standards, safety-enhancing measures are being implemented at nuclear power plants across the country?
From the perspective of defense in depth, multiple layers of protection—double, triple, and quadruple—have been introduced, including seawall construction, watertight doors, and countermeasures against tornadoes and volcanic activity.
Preparations of equipment and spare parts, as well as operator training, are also stipulated in the regulatory standards.
He also claims that nuclear power is an environmentally polluting industry and not clean at all, but the installation of filtered vent systems, which reduce radioactive releases to roughly one-thousandth, has been mandated to prevent the release of radioactive materials.
For boiling water reactors, installation is required as a condition for restart, and for pressurized water reactors, installation within five years has been mandated.
He further asserts that if one wanted to throw Japan into chaos, blowing up nuclear power plants to cause meltdowns would expose Japanese people to radiation and lead to widespread cancer, rendering the country finished.
He suggests that nuclear power plants themselves are equivalent to nuclear weapons aimed at the Japanese people and that attacking spent fuel storage would be enough, making attacks on U.S. bases unnecessary.
We would like Mr. Koizumi to explain how exactly one would carry out such a “nuclear plant bombing.”
The concrete protecting containment vessels is extremely thick and designed to withstand aircraft terrorism, and construction of underground fortress-style facilities capable of enduring such attacks has also begun.
Some people raise alarmist questions such as what would happen if North Korea fired a missile at a nuclear power plant, but this is the same type of absurd analogy.
Would a missile launched from North Korea really hit a nuclear power plant with pinpoint accuracy?
North Korea does not possess cruise missiles, making this impossible.
Rather, the risk of a nuclear bomb exploding over a major city is higher.
Citing extreme examples to incite fear.
The remarks are simply too childish.
To be continued.