How did Japan's nuclear industry become so arrogant?

[NNN0LHI]

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/perspectives/news/20110425p2a00m0na006000c.html

April 26, 2011

What has stood out at the countless press conferences by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and the Cabinet Office's Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) of Japan that I've attended in covering the crisis at the Fukushima nuclear plant, is the rampant use of cliches such as "unanticipated state of affairs" and "unprecedented natural disaster."

The excuses made by the organizations involved go to show that so-called nuclear power experts have no intention to self reflect or admit their shortcomings. It was this self-righteousness -- evidenced over the years in the industry's suppression of unfavorable warnings and criticisms, as well as in their imposition of the claim that the safety of nuclear energy was self evident -- that lay down the groundwork for the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant.

At press conferences, TEPCO officials repeatedly express their "deep apologies" for the trouble caused to the Japanese people. However, as soon as reporters' questions turn to the actual safety of nuclear power stations -- about which they had long boasted a multilayered safety system referred to as "defense in depth" -- they begin to act coolly. Their speech may feign civility, but they never admit to any wrongdoing and merely keep insisting the righteousness of their own claims. When particularly unflattering questions are posed to them, some TEPCO executives glower at the reporters who dared to ask and give only a brusque response.

[Warren DeMontague]

1. Look around; according to some folks here, the worst impact of Fukushima

is that more people are skeptical of the BESTESTEST, SAFESTEST, MOST ASS-KICKINGEST ENERGY SOURCE EVAH!!! :nuke:

[EFerrari]

2. It seems to be a global epidemic.

Lookit how BP was able to militarize their spill and use dispersant to make the evidence vanish.

[Aerows]

3. Those that consider themselves

the upper portion of society and elite do not like to be questioned. It is an unspoken rule; I make more than you do and hold more power, therefore I am a better person, and you are lower than me, attempting to utilize this disaster for your own benefit.

The thing is - they don't realize that not everyone operates under the assumption that self-interest is the driving motivation of all people. Their mothers knew, because they were cared for and weren't strangled in the cradle. Someone in their lives was an example of caring more about them than about themselves, but they choose to believe that upon reaching adulthood, they have no responsibility towards other people.

[defendandprotect]

4. Capitalism is based on exploitation ---- of everything -- there are no limits -- and human concerns

are to be ignored -- all common sense to be ignored --

as non-profitable ----- and a sign of weakness!!

[robdogbucky]

5. Don, I posted this artricle on the weekend

Dr. Moret tried to warn Japan in 2004 that they were playing nuclear Russian Roulette:

Sunday, May 23, 2004

Japan's deadly game of nuclear roulette

By LEUREN MORET
Special to The Japan Times

"...In 1998, Kei Sugaoka, 51, a Japanese-American senior field engineer who worked for General Electric in the United States from 1980 until being dismissed in 1998 for whistle-blowing there, alerted Japanese nuclear regulators to a 1989 reactor inspection problem he claimed had been withheld by GE from their customer, Tokyo Electric Power Company. This led to nuclear-plant shutdowns and reforms of Japan's power industry.

Later it was revealed from GE documents that they had in fact informed TEPCO -- but that company did not notify government regulators of the hazards.

Yoichi Kikuchi, a Japanese nuclear engineer who also became a whistle-blower, has told me personally of many safety problems at Japan's nuclear power plants, such as cracks in pipes in the cooling system from vibrations in the reactor. He said the electric companies are "gambling in a dangerous game to increase profits and decrease government oversight."

Sugaoka agreed, saying, "The scariest thing, on top of all the other problems, is that all nuclear power plants are aging, causing a deterioration of piping and joints which are always exposed to strong radiation and heat."

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20040523x2.html