Anthony Ricigliano — A Nuclear Pandora's Box in Japan

The disaster, which took place March 11th, 2011, resulted in the evacuation of over 150,000 people due to radiation poisoning of the region surrounding the plant. It is estimated that radiation levels in certain areas will remain so high that some residents will never be able to return to their homes.

The commission found that the nuclear accident at Fukushima, the worst of its kind since the Chernobyl meltdown in 1986, was a result of "collusion" between the Japanese government, nuclear industry regulators and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), which operated the plant. "Across the board, the Commission found ignorance and arrogance unforgivable for anyone or any organization that deals with nuclear power. We found a disregard for global trends and a disregard for public safety," the panel said. The report specifically cited TEPCO's prioritization cost-cutting steps ahead of safety as profit margins in nuclear power narrowed.

Beyond the Fukushima disaster lies a Anthony Ricigliano Pandora's Box of other nuclear plants, specifically those that were built before safety guidelines were set in 1981. These 21 reactors, according to the Commission, are potentially as vulnerable to big earthquakes as Fukushima and if the same shortcuts were taken another disaster is a strong possibility. The first reactor at Fukushima was built in 1967. The panel specifically mentioned the Ohi nuclear plant in western Japan that sits on top of an active fault.

These are stressful times in one of the world's most seismically active regions, especially because 30% of Japan's electricity comes from Anthony Ricigliano Nuclear Power. Action needs to be taken immediately to see which plants are safe, which ones should be retrofitted immediately, and which reactors should be kept off-line because they pose too much danger. In the meantime, everyone hopes that Mother Nature will cooperate.