Fukishima nuclear disaster - one year later
By Contributor
A group of Canadian and American physicians, concerned about public health are organizing a one day conference to explore the potential health and environmental impacts from the troubled reactors in Fukushima and highlight the need for better monitoring and disclosure.
The conference, The Fukushima Nuclear Disaster – One Year Later will bring together experts to share information on what is known about radiation exposures from Fukushima and the local and global health, environmental and economic impacts seen over the past year. Participants will also use this commemorative opportunity to examine the role of nuclear power for the world’s future energy needs.
“This is the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. Routine reporting of elevated radiation levels was suspended in the early days of the crisis,” says Dr. Tim Takaro, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University.
“Although information about Fukushima is largely absent from our news media, suggesting that the danger is over, we know that efforts to contain the four troubled reactors – at least three of which sustained explosions – continues. Without reliable data regarding the amount of radiation released into seawater and the atmosphere, and the resulting concentrations in our food chain, we are ill-equipped to predict the longterm consequences.”
Billed as the “Day of Inquiry”, the conference will be held at the SFU’s Harbour Centre Campus on March 11th, 2012 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. It is being organized by Physicians for Global Survival (Canada) and co-sponsored by Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, Simon Fraser University, UBC Dept of Pediatrics at BC Children’s Hospital and School of Population Public Health and Next GenUniversity in consultation with the Fukushima Medical University.
