Do you worry about radioactivity?

Have you ever heard the name of small village in Japan "Rokkasho-mura" ? It is located in Aomori prefecture, northern end of Japan's main island. There is the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant which is a Nuclear reprocessing plant. It is currently undergoing test operations, separating plutonium from used nuclear fuel and emitting radioactivity in the air and the ocean. The Sanriku region is famous for its prominent fishing zone and crops such as apple, Chinese yam and garlic. Aomori prefecture declared that these foods will be polluted with radioactivity.

According to CNIC (Citizen's Nuclear Information Center), "the owner of the Rokkasho reprocessing plant, Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd, plans to reprocess 430 tons of spent fuel during the active test phase, which is scheduled to continue for 17 months. During this period, it will separate between 3 and 4 tons of plutonium, enough for about 500 Nagasaki-type nuclear weapons. If the plant ever operates at full capacity it will separate up to 8 tons of plutonium from spent nuclear fuel each year."

Now, let us stop and think for a moment. First of all, isn't radioactivity contamination a problem? No one can calculate the real impact of the high-level radioactive waste that is emitted during reprocessing at the reprocessing plant to the environment in the long span. Although no significant association between the risk of childhood leukemia and exposure of radiation from the environment was found, a new study suggests that there is some convincing evidence in childhood leukemia of a causal role for environmental radiation exposure in the area around La Hague in France. Is there no deadly legacy for our children?

Secondly, what are they going to do with plutonium? "Commencing reprocessing at Rokkasho will only add to Japan's plutonium surplus. Japan already has a plutonium stockpile of 43 tons. We estimate that this will increase to about 70 tons by the end of 2010 if the Rokkasho reprocessing plant operates according to plan." said Hideyuki Ban, Co-Director of the Tokyo based Citizens' Nuclear Information Center. If it is true, why does Japan needs more Plutonium?

And last but not least, what's up with all the rushing? Local fishermen, environmentalists, and other concerned citizens pointed out no installation of the removable systems for radioactive waste and unregulated radioactivity emitted into the environment unlike nuclear energy plant. Why can't they just wait until all the matter become clear?

I'm not paranoid about all of this, I just don't think it's worth the risks. These spent fuel came from nuclear power plant; accordingly nuclear energy and the reprocessing plant comes together. In order to avoid the most catastrophic effects of global warming, there is a possibility of nuclear energy revival due to low running cost, emission-free features. However, there is still no best answer for what should have done for high-level radioactive waste and used nuclear fuel from nuclear power plant.

Absolutely, there is no border in the air and the ocean. The radioactivity from the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant will spread around more or less. I feel it is not the story of small part in the world and would like to let many people know about Rokkasho and the word 'reprocessing'. I'd like you to think about this.