Murata-san: New International System Needed
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The latest news from Fukushima is very troubling; this summer’s unusually large number of very large typhoons have repeatedly threatened the “final disaster” at Fukushima: run-away meltdowns of several reactors at the same time. “Tritium up tenfold in Fukushima groundwater after Typhoon Phanfone” – http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/10/12/national/tritium-surges-10-fold-in-groundwater-at-fukushima-nuclear-plant-typhoon-effect-suspected/#.VD7Ba_ldX3Q
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This situation makes Ambassador Murata’s latest call for an ethical approach all the more compelling. RF
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—— Original Message ——
Received: 02:43 AM EDT, 10/13/2014
From: “mitsuhei murata”
To: “Ralph Fucetola JD”
Subject: New international system needed
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Dear Fucetola-san,
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I hope all goes well for you.
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I am sending you my overview remarks at the international
symposium”Nuclear disaster and human rights”to be held
on October 14,15 at Waseda University.
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I make a plea for a new international system that could
minimize the consequences of a nuclear disaster.
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I am referring to the reform of the IAEA.
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I am given the chances to speak on it at Sophia University next month
and at the UN meeting in Sendai next March.
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I will stay in contact.

With warmest regards,
Mitsuhei Murata
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Nuclear Disaster and Global Ethics
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(Overview remarks to be made at the international symposium “Nuclear Disaster and Human Rights” organized by Limoge University/France and Waseda University to be held on 14 and15 October )
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Global Ethics and Human Rights
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We need to bear in mind that the lack of ethics and responsibility is inherent in the use of nuclear energy. This is shown by the problem of the disposal of nuclear waste and the risks of nuclear weapons. The deeply-rooted cause of the crisis confronting mankind is the universally prevalent lack of ethics. It is against fundamental ethics to abuse and exhaust natural resources that belong to future generations and to leave behind permanently poisonous waste and enormous financial debts. Nature and the resources of the world are being exploited without regard for the consequences.
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Without establishing a global ethical system, we cannot create a future civilization of mankind that leaves behind this beautiful planet for succeeding generations.
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I call it a maternal civilization based on solidarity and tolerance that should replace the present paternal civilization based on power and domination.
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Global ethics is a prerequisite to this needed transformation.
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There is an interdependent relationship between global ethics, maternal civilization, and true denuclearization, both civilian and military. The UN Ethics Summit is its necessary precursor.
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Human rights belong to all including future generations, as asserted at the InterAction Council Meeting in 2005, which I attended. It goes without saying that future generations will be the innocent victims of radioactive contamination unless we take necessary preventive actions now.
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A new international system needed
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Japan continues to suffer from nuclear injury. After Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Fukushima, it has experienced, it seems to have become Japan’s historic role to contribute to the realization of true denuclearization, both civilian and military. It is the lesson of Fukushima.
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Fukushima has shown that the existence of a nuclear reactor itself constitutes a security problem. Consequently, it is necessary to strengthen international control over the safety of about 440 reactors in the world. Moreover, we should establish international control over the nuclear policies of those countries concerned and their systems of plant operations.
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Fukushima menaces global security. More than 3 and half years after the accident, Japan is at a loss how best to cope with it, demonstrating that a country cannot address a nuclear disaster by itself. The Japanese Nuclear Regulatory Commission neglects the rules to protect its independence. It has agreed to restart Sendai reactors in Kagoshima, not knowing the causes of the accident. The eruption of Mount Ontake has proven that the Commission’s assertion that eruptions of volcanoes can be foreseen is groundless. The public considers the Commission to be disqualified.
Japan knows more than any other country the real and present dangers of nuclear reactors. It is a serious security problem that the mainstream of the world continue to promote nuclear power generation even after Fukushima, totally ignoring its lessons.
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Even after the 3?11 disaster, Japan has not revised the basic nuclear law, intended to promote nuclear power generation as national policy !
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Her governability is now questioned. The fate of the world will be decided by electric companies, if no drastic change takes place.
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It is thus obvious that there exist serious defects in the system of implementation. This must promptly be remedied through international cooperation.
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The world has much to learn from Japan’s experience. We need a new international system that obliges all the governments struck by a nuclear disaster to dedicate maximum efforts to solve the crisis and to mobilize human wisdom on the widest possible scope.
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A new international system is needed to minimize the consequences of nuclear accidents. Fukushima is revealing the limitations of a government facing a national crisis, its longevity being but of several years. Nuclear accidents have shown the necessity of coping with their consequences semi- permanently.
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By dint of procrastination, the government of a country where a severe nuclear accident has occurred could avert their crucial duty to make maximum efforts to cope with the accident by an operation of diversion with the collaboration of the media. I would like to urge the international community to take up this new problem. Since Fukushima is a global security issue, we need a new system to cope with it.
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Maximum efforts needed to cope with Fukushima crisis
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There is no denying that the presence of nuclear reactors is a very serious global security issue. If a mega earthquake takes place at the site, Fukushima could trigger a global catastrophe, obliging the evacuation of Tokyo the next day. The possibility of a mega earthquake happening in Tokyo within 30 years is officially estimated as 70 %. Fukushima, more and more forgotten, is increasingly damaging Japan, the Pacific Ocean and the Earth.
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The international community is voicing its criticism against Japan, not making maximum efforts to bring the consequences of the accident under control. Mobilizing human wisdom on the widest possible scale remains a mere target.
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The eminent physician Dr. Helen Caldicott addressed a letter last January to Chairman Bach of the International Olympic Committee in which Dr. Caldicott asked for sending to Japan an independent assessment team of experts to reassure the safety of Tokyo, faced with the dangers of Fukushima. The lack of response from the IOC is based on publicized reports the credibility of which is more and more in question. The IOC is in conformity with the position of the IAEA.
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The IAEA is given an incompatible mission of preventing nuclear proliferation and promoting nuclear power generation. It represents the interests of electric companies, minimizing the dangers of radioactive contamination and the consequences of nuclear accidents.
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The reform of the IAEA is now strongly advocated by Former Japanese Prime Minister?Morihiro Hosokawa, Former Swiss President Moritz Leuenberger and Professor Ernst von Weizsaecker. They assert that international control over the safety of existing nuclear plants must be strengthened. Their pleas deserve wide international support.
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The territory of Japan occupies only 0.3% of the space of the world, but is the location of more than 10 % of earthquakes that take place. More than 10 % of all our planet’s volcanoes are in Japan. Moreover, Japan is frequently visited by tsunamis. Why are there 54 nuclear reactors in Japan? The recent eruption of Mt. Ontake tells us that the proliferation of nuclear reactors in Japan is nothing but a huge mistake. The Japanese People are being awakened to this fact.
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A new stream that gives hope is being born in Japan.
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It will not allow the irresponsible act of organizing a Tokyo Olympic Games.
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Maximum efforts must be made by Japan to stop the worsening of the actual
crisis, affecting the whole world by contaminating the Pacific Ocean.
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An honorable retreat from the Tokyo Olympic Games to enable this seems imperative.
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The situation at the Fukushima site will continue to worsen unless and until?the full assumption of responsibilities by the state is realized.
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As stated at the outset, the UN Ethics Summit is the beginning of the establishment of a global ethical system. The establishment of global ethics is the best guarantee of human rights. It is also the best remedy for the lack of ethics inherent in the use of nuclear energy.
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MURATA-SAN: AMERICAN WEST COAST THREATENED!

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Tokyo, September 16, 2014
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Dear Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,

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Please allow me to send you an urgent warning from Japan.

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I have written the attached article for an American paper. [See Below.]

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Japan knows more than any other country the real and present dangers of nuclear reactors. It is a serious security problem that the mainstream of the world continue to promote nuclear power generation even after Fukushima, totally ignoring its lessons. Fukushima is a global security issue.
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Even after the 3/11 disaster, Japan has not revised the basic nuclear law, intended to promote nuclear power generation as a national policy!
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Her governability is now questioned. The fate of the world will be decided by electric companies, if no drastic change takes place.

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Japan faces serious shortage of labor throughout the country.
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The number of daily necessary workers at the site of Fukushima Daiichi is increasing. It was 2950 last year. It will surpass 6000 in September.

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The Tokyo Olympic Games will seriously affect the difficult procurement of workers at the site. It already looms as a fantasy. Increasing members of the JOC despair of it. An honorable retreat from it for the sake of coping with Fukushima crisis wholeheartedly now seems inevitable.

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The problem of protecting the security of the residents of the [American] West Coast will soon awaken the world to the uncontrollable and spreading consequences of the Accident. We cannot deny that Fukushima, if badly managed, could become the beginning of the ultimate global catastrophe.

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Please allow me to count on your understanding and support.

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With highest and warmest regards,

Mitsuhei Murata

Former Ambassador to Switzerland

Executive Director, Japan Society for Global System and Ethics

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AMBASSADOR MURATA’S 9.11 ARTICLE

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September 11, 2014

An urgent warning from Japan

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The unstoppable consequences of Fukushima menacing the West Coast of the United States.

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Mitsuhei Murata

Former Japanese Ambassador to Switzerland

Executive Director, Japan Society for Global System and Ethics

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The worsening situation at Fukushima Daiichi has some experts fearing the worst; collapse of the 4 reactor buildings due to the softening of the soil caused by excessive underground water. It could be the beginning of a catastrophe for Japan and the world. Experts say within weeks a radioactive plume could reach the West Coast of the United States.

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The total volume of cesium 137 of the Fukushima Daiichi is equivalent to 5000 Hiroshima Atomic Bombs. The release of their total radiation could bring about the nuclear winter that would fatally affect the United States for hundreds of years. The dangers are real and incomparably terrifying than many are led to realize by Tokyo Electric Company (Tepco) and the Japanese Government.

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No solution in sight

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The problem of contaminated water at the Fukushima Daiichi has no solution in sight. The situation is seriously worsening. Decommissioning the plant will be impossible until Tepco surmounts the contaminated water crisis.

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Reliable experts estimate that the daily inflow of contaminated water into the sea amounts to 1000 tons, of which 600 is groundwater. In addition to this, frequent torrential rain falls wash away into the sea radiogenic materials heavily accumulated at the site. In this connection, the documents of Tepco reveal that, between August of last year and May of this year, the amount of strontium 90 and cesium 137 possibly attained about two trillion becquerels! This is ten times the release management level admitted before the accident. It is equivalent to ten thousand days’ release of radiation into the atmosphere from the site.

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A year ago, when Tepco removed the debris and rubble of the unit 3, the wind scattered radiogenic materials all around. According to Tepco, the amount of radiation amounted to 400 million becquerels. Some experts suspect the real figure is 10 times higher. The rage of those residents who have been radiated naturally remains difficult to calm down.

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To make the matter worse, global warming seems to have brought about  climate change in Japan. Local downpours of rain causing landslides or mudslides are now so frequent. The latest typhoon has given rise to nearly 80 victims in Hiroshima. The heavy rainfall washes away radioactive materials of numerous hot spots at the site into the sea. Their volume is presumed enormous, but so far incalculable. The contamination of the sea thus aggravated is not taken up by the press. It cannot but eventually end up affecting the health of the residents of the West Coast of the United States.

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Protection of the health of the residents of the West Coast

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Some experts now estimate that the wave of radiation from Fukushima will be 10-times bigger than all of the radiation from the entire world’s nuclear tests throughout history combined. There are reports stating that dangerous radiation levels have been detected in snows found in Texas, Colorado and Missouri, warning that the US, indeed, is going to face the severest consequences of the ongoing historic, and seemingly unstoppable, nuclear disaster.
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Some reports also point out that large amounts of fish, seaweeds, and everything in the ocean has already been polluted, and that these products are the main danger for mankind as they can end up being eaten by people on a massive scale.

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What is stated above certainly needs serious verification.

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The protection of the health of the residents of the US West Coast will become a central political issue. It cannot but awaken the whole world to the uncontrollable and spreading consequences of the Fukushima Accident.

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The impending task of the Obama Administration

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Japan is laboring under the consequences of the Accident never experienced by humanity. Three and half years after the 3.11 disaster, it has been shown that a severe nuclear accident cannot be brought under control by a single state. Japan is not in possession of the governability and the capacity needed to cope with the impending crisis.

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The Japanese government is bent on restarting nuclear reactors and exporting nuclear technology without clarifying the causes of the accident.
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The majority of the Japanese severely criticize this move as immoral and irresponsible.

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The lapse of three and half years has shown that Japan alone cannot control the situation. The necessity of mobilizing human wisdom on the widest possible scope is self-evident, but no substantial step has been taken so far.

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The hosting of the Tokyo Olympic Games leads us to think that Japan is averting the crucial duty of making maximum efforts to cope with the Accident. With this criticism spreading widely, Japan’s withdrawal from it is now considered inevitable. It will put an end to the ongoing attempt to conceal the realities of Fukushima. Its impact would be global.

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The Obama Administration has now the impending task to protect the lives of the American people and to cope with the global security issue emanating from Fukushima crisis.