RE: Japanese nuclear 'slaves' at risk - BBC reply

["Franta, Jaroslav" <frantaj@aecl.ca>]

> Michael C. Baker[SMTP:mcbaker@lanl.gov] wrote on Monday, November 01, 1999
> 12:29 PM
> 
> Here is a link to a recent BBC news article that may be of interest.
> 
> Mike
> 
> >Japanese nuclear 'slaves' at risk
> >Untrained workers are being exposed to high levels of radiation
> >By Juliet Hindell in Tokyo
> >http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_493000/493133.
> stm
> >
<snip>

> Friday, October 29, 1999 Published at 13:29 GMT 14:29 UK 
> BBC World: Asia-Pacific
> Japanese nuclear 'slaves' at risk 
> By Juliet Hindell in Tokyo 
> At least 700 people working in the nuclear industy in Japan may have died
> from exposure to dangerous levels of radioactivity. 
> The incident at the Tokaimura plant one month ago has revealed dangerous
> practices likened by some critics to "modern slavery" within the industry,
> putting the lives of untrained temporary workers at risk. 
<snip>
> The internationally recognized safe level of radiation since 1990 has been
> 20 milli-sieverts per year, but Japan has never adopted this standard. 
<snip>
> The Japan Atomic Power company however is adamant that safety standards
> are adequate. Hideaki Yamakawa, an executive at the company, says they
> follow government regulations and record the amount of radiation exposure
> of everyone who works at the plant. 
<snip>
> Some seem to believe they are expendable and that no one will notice if a
> few of them never come back from work.
<><><><><><><>

Here is BBC's reply to my e-mail (below at bottom):
> ----------
> From: 	NewsOnline[SMTP:newsonline@bbc.co.uk]
> Sent: 	Thursday, November 04, 1999 6:25 AM
> To: 	'Franta, Jaroslav'
> 
> Dear Mr Franta
> 
> Thank you very much for your e-mail.
> 
> I have noted your comments and had another look at Juliet Hindell's
> article
> from Tokyo.
> 
> I believe that overall her report is an accurate reflection of the working
> practices of the Japanese nuclear industry.
> 
> As to the effects of radiation. Juliet spoke to Japanese nuclear experts
> and
> I am satisfied that she used due care in selecting her interview partners.
> 
> With regards to the use of unqualified "cleaning teams" in nuclear
> reactors,
> I recall that similar employment methods were used in Germany in the
> 1970s,
> so I'm not too surprised to see it happen in the nuclear industry of other
> countries as well.
> 
> Yours sincerely,
> 
> Tim Weber
> Acting World Editor
> BBC News Online - http://news.bbc.co.uk/
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:	Franta, Jaroslav [SMTP:frantaj@aecl.ca]
> > Sent:	02 November 1999 13:56
> > To:	'BBC News On Line'
> > > 
> > > Tim Weber
> > > Acting World Editor
> > > BBC News Online - http://news.bbc.co.uk/
> > > 
> > > 
> > Dear Mr Weber,
> > 
> > Thank you for the BBC apology on world-wide misinformation about the
> > Tokaimura accident.
> > 
> >  <<RE: Japanese criticality accident - NO EXPLOSION !!>> 
> > 
> > ....how unfortunate that BBC reports continue their sensationalistic
> > reporting using fabricated stories, such as this one published on
> > > Friday, October 29, 1999 Published at 13:29 GMT 14:29 UK 
> > >
> >
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_493000/493133.s
> > > tm
> > > BBC World: Asia-Pacific
> > >Japanese nuclear 'slaves' at risk 
> > > By Juliet Hindell in Tokyo 
> > > 
> > ....where it is shamelessly stated that,
> > 
> > "At least 700 people working in the nuclear industy in Japan may have
> died
> > from exposure to dangerous levels of radioactivity."
> > 
<snip>
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