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Rebecca, you invited people to an expert discussion on Fukushima this week.
The catastrophe happened over two years ago, so why now?
Why is Fukushima once again a topic of discussion?
Through my many contacts in Japan, as well as with European and US nuclear experts,
I know that Fukushima is not yet under control,
that the situation has turned into a catastrophe, and I am very concerned
about those who live on the edge of the contaminated zone, who think that they could live
if only there were major efforts made to decontaminate the area.
What would happen if the region were hit by another earthquake?
If there were another huge earthquake, which is something that people
in the region live in constant fear of, then the remains of the reactors, the ruins,
could collapse and trigger another major chain reaction or nuclear meltdown
What interest does this hold for you as a European,
aside from the fact that the people in Japan are suffering?
Is there a connection with Europe?
I think it is extremely irresponsible that the International Atomic Energy Agency
is letting TEPCO and the Japanese government do what they want
and just confirms all reports issued from Japan.
When people report that Fukushima is currently in cold shutdown,
then this nonsense is simply passed on.
What does cold shutdown mean?
Cold shutdown means that any functioning systems
in a facility have been closed down or turned off.
There are no systems left in this facility - these crumbling reactors, these ruins -
that could actually be turned off.
Fukushima houses the ruins of reactors and the remains of a fuel assembly storage pool
and we still do not know exactly what condition it is in.
How can the situation in Japan be brought under control? What would you suggest?
We organised the meeting because we want
to systematically reassess the IAEA as well as Japan’s crisis management system
We - and by ‘we’ I mean myself and several experts -
also suggest setting up an international task force including top experts
who can evaluate the catastrophic situation facing both the reactors
and the people living in the area around what was once the Fukushima nuclear power plant,
and can develop and implement an enhanced and more responsible crisis management system
than the one currently in place.
This is really a matter of finding another way to bring the ruins
of Fukushima under control , preventing something that has
up to now just been accepted, namely the slow, permanent and catastrophic
contamination of the oceans, and providing much more protection
for people in Japan, especially for those living in the region around Fukushima.
So what do you plan to do once you have drawn up your master plan, as it were?
Will you send it to the IAEA? What will happen to it?
We will of course again pass on our suggestions
to the Japanese government as well as the IAEA,
and I will then pass it on to the International Olympic Committee.
It is not an absolutely terrible idea o hold the Olympic Games in Japan,
but if that happens, if it means that giant Olympic stadiums
will again be erected all over Tokyo,
at the same time there must at least be measures to improve crisis management
at Fukushima, which is only 200 km away from Tokyo.
We cannot pretend that we know nothing about what happened there.
Thank you very much.