Nuclear Catastrophe,Disaster-Related Environmental Injustice,and Fukushima,Japan: Prima-Facie Evidence for a Japanese “Katrina”

Abstract

Abstract

Because Japan has few minorities, one might expect that its environmental-injustice (EI) threats are rare. This article suggests they are not rare. It also shows that prima-facie evidence for EI arises not only because of siting noxious or polluting facilities in poor or minority communities, but also because of racism and classism that cause disaster-related environmental injustice (DREI)—like that occurring after Hurricane Katrina. Using the 2011 Japanese Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear disaster (FD) as a preliminary case study—despite the limits of available, ultima-facie information about FD harms—the article argues for four claims. (1) Before the FD accident, prima-facie evidence shows that poor people, “black” (buraku) blue-collar workers, and children were EI victims whose poverty and powerless caused them to accept the risky FD siting. (2) Before the accident, prima-facie evidence likewise shows that these same EI victims bore higher medical risks because of allowable FD radiation releases. (3) Post-accident, prima-facie evidence reveals that government failed to adequately assist or evacuate children and poor people living near the plant, and also harmed nearby children, poor people, and buraku by weakening radiation standards. (4) Post-accident, prima-facie evidence also suggests that government and industry have covered up many radiation risks and failed to provide EI-victim involvement in FD-related cleanup and decision making. The article closes with suggestions for further research that is able to assess the ultima-facie case for FD EI.