Summary:
Have you ever thought about the aftermath of a destroyed nuclear power plant? Ever wondered how they store the nuclear wastewater? Or have you ever explored the consequences of releasing nuclear wastewater into the ocean? In this episode, we dive into an issue that stretches back to a decade ago–one of earthquakes, radiation, protests, and water. We’re talking about Fukushima Daiichi, more specifically, the controversial decision to release nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean on April 13th, 2021.
We referenced these sources for the making of our podcast.
Page from the World Nuclear Association on the actual accident that caused the need to release this wastewater. Gives information on the severity of the earthquake and the tsunami that caused the nuclear accident. Also gives information on TEPCO and both of the plants Daiichi and Daini.
https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/fukushima-daiichi-accidentLinks to an external site.
This article is from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs The People’s Republic of China. It has information on the agreement reached between Japan and China on the ocean discharge of Fukushima’s nuclear-contaminated water.
https://www.mfa.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xw/wjbxw/202409/t20240920_11493511.htmlLinks to an external site.
This article is from the UN environment programme. It is focused on the earthquake that hit Japan and has general facts about it.
https://www.unep.org/topics/disasters-and-conflicts/country-presence/japan/great-east-japan-earthquake-and-tsunami#:~:text=On%2011%20March%202011%2C%20a,environmental%20devastation%20and%20infrastructural%20damageLinks to an external site..
This article is from the Nuclear Energy Agency and it talks about Fukushima Daiichi and the damage that was done to the Nuclear power plant due to the earthquake. It also talks about how many lives were lost due to the earthquake and how devastating the earthquake was to the power plants and the areas surrounding it.
https://www.oecd-nea.org/jcms/pl_27411/fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-accidentLinks to an external site.
Page in the National Public Radio about the finding out of Japan's decision to release this contaminated water into the ocean. This source also had information on how Tritium still remains in the water despite other chemicals being treated.
https://www.npr.org/2021/04/13/986695494/japan-to-dump-wastewater-from-wrecked-fukushima-nuclear-plant-into-pacific-oceanLinks to an external site.
Article from BBC on the concerns of releasing this waste water into national waters. It has some great pictures that explains the risk this decision poses on surrounding countries and communities.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66106162Links to an external site.
This is TEPCO’s site which is the company in charge of these nuclear power plants and it's interesting to see the information that they are choosing to include.
https://www.tepco.co.jp/en/decommission/progress/watertreatment/index-e.htmlLinks to an external site.
Source is from the International Atomic Energy Agency and goes into detail on the tests that were done to samples of the contaminated water before it was released into the ocean.
https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea-and-international-experts-sample-treated-water-within-fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-power-station-prior-to-its-releaseLinks to an external site.
This article goes into detail about firstly the release of the wastewater and secondly the counteraction from China of banning all Japanese seafood.
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-set-release-fukushima-water-amid-criticism-seafood-import-bans-2023-08-23/Links to an external site.
This article is from The Organization for World Peace and it addresses the international responses to the Fukushima water release.
https://theowp.org/reports/international-responses-to-the-fukushima-water-release-science-and-politics/Links to an external site.
Audio clips used in podcast
This is part of the music we used in our podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4ZVvWo76igLinks to an external site.
Audio Clip of a conference about the water release:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wl3p-sWVVgLinks to an external site.
Audio Clip on the controversy and protests that surged from the Fukushima water dumping:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZZg6ocRuhkLinks to an external site.
Audio Clip of a South Korean protest due to the water release.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6bUb-Ead00Links to an external site.
Audio Clip of a sushi chef who can no longer shop for a certain fish from Japan and needs to buy it from China now due to the contaminated water.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M42TVA6KkwLinks to an external site.
Documentary on Japan’s nuclear meltdown due to the earthquake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRKScRgsUaELinks to an external site.
