The Fukushima Nuclear Accident as a Pollution Problem: Toward a Comprehensive Assessment of Accident Damage and a Reassessment of Compensation and Reconstruction Policy

• YOKEMOTO Masafumi

  大阪市立大学=環境政策論・環境経済学

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

• 2 公害事件としての福島原発事故—被害総体の可視化から賠償，復興政策の見直しへ

Abstract

The March 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident gravely contaminated the environment over a vast region, and also caused severe socioeconomic damage. Because of the nuclear accident, nine towns and villages transferred their municipal-office functions to other municipalities, and socioeconomic functions were paralyzed over a broad spectrum. This paper conceives the Fukushima nuclear accident as a case study in environmental justice (EJ), comparing it to Minamata, Yokkaichi, and other major pollution problems of postwar Japan, and reveals how the plant’s siting and accident were causes of injustice. In particular, this paper focuses on injustices such as the unequal distribution of nuclear-accident risk, the nuclear accident’s destruction of people’s livelihoods, and the geographical disparity in compensation and assistance measures. The environmental contamination and extensive evacuations induced by the nuclear accident wrecked the way of life in localities of the disaster-stricken region. Bonds between people and the relationship between people and nature were broken, and people were dispossessed of the conditions that had undergirded their lives and livelihoods (the conditions for production and everyday life) in the evacuated areas. This kind of damage is theorized in sociology and economics as “loss/deprivation of hometown”. However, compensation paid by TEPCO does not include loss/deprivation of hometown among types of damage eligible for solatia. As an objection to the injustices, nuclear accident victims have filed collective lawsuits in a number of venues since December 2012. In addition to pursuing the accountability of the government and TEPCO, the plaintiffs seek the payment of damages and environmental restoration. Lawsuit movements in the four major pollution incidents and other pollution incidents of postwar Japan have induced policy formation by the government and municipalities, with results such as the reinforcement of environmental regulations and the creation of damage compensation systems. Collective lawsuits by nuclear accident victims are learning from this past experience.

Journal

• Peace Studies

  Peace Studies 57 (0), 31-55, 2021-12-25

  Peace Studies Association of Japan

Details

• CRID: 1390290537433134208
• NII Article ID: 130008135887
• DOI: 10.50848/psaj.57003
• ISSN: 24361054
• Text Lang: ja
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Allowed