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ChatChat - Claudia Cragg


Mar 13, 2011

It was three years ago that Claudia Cragg spoke with Dr Helen Caldicott about the inherent risks (or so it would now appear) in the Japanese nuclear industry. Now following a massive earthquake and the explosions that took place at the Fukushima plant Japan's nuclear crisis has become more complex than ever. The earthquake(s) is (are) tragic enough, but the proven record of incompetence with nuclear incidentis unforgiveable? This piece was part of Cragg's coverage of an 'incident' after a large earthquake at the world's largest nuclear power plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa in Japan, and was first broadcast in July 2007. In this week's earthquake, no reports have (yet?) surfaced about damage at the K-K plant.

Dr. Helen Caldicott, physician and vocal anti-nuclear campaigner, comments in a phone interview from Australia with journalist Claudia Cragg on the recent 6.8 earthquake in Japan which hit the world's largest nuclear power plant at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa. Caldicott believes the problems experienced in Japan recently also hold resonance for those in California living near the Diablo nuclear power plant. According to Japanese activisit Aileen Mioko Smith of Green Action Japan, there is now concern in Kashiwazaki City and Kariwa Village that Tokyo Electric may be covering up evidence of extent of damage from the earthquake before a thorough investigation is undertaken. According to Mioko Smith, a Kashiwazaki legislator who has been inside the plant has said he is shocked at the extent of visible damage PLUS the rush Tokyo Electric is in to cover over/repair the damage before a fullinvestigation is undertaken.