IAEA says nuclear safety must be improved; criticizes Japan for being lax

did i actually read that japan accepted peer review? they certainly took no heed of recommendations, the cocky twits.

It faulted Japan for failing to implement a number of IAEA safety measures and recommendations in the years leading up to the Fukushima nuclear disaster

No news here. Everyone knows that the Japanese nuclear regulators were way too cozy with the power companies and turned a blind-eye towards safety issues/improvements, since they would have cost money. Once again the all-mighty pursuit of Japan Inc. has caught up with Japan. And the real cost will be much higher than the safety improvements would have cost, and will be paid for at least another decade.

This is not news to people in Japan-nuclear reactions in buckets,wearing pipes releasing radioactive steam. This and more has all been on show over the years

The article mentions that the report criticises Japan for failing to implement safety standards, but doesn't mention what safety standards weren't implemented. Does anyone have a link to the report?

Lax? Lax. Ha. No. Totally unequivocally irresponsible. Building using specs shown then proven to inadequate, loading years of spent fuels rods into pools built for much less a load, not anything at hand to protect the workers, no emergency equipment on hand... JHC, lax? No. Criminal.

Speaking for Japan, Economics Minister Banri Kaieda pledged that his country “will take drastic measures to ensure the highest level of safety” for its reactor network.

Starting with Fukushima Daiichi, cause it's way overdue.

Speaking for Japan, Economics Minister Banri Kaieda pledged that his country “will take drastic measures to ensure the highest level of safety” for its reactor network.

Didn't he just say two days ago that all the nuclear plants in Japan are now safe enough to turn back on? They sure did quickly get up to the 'highest level of safety'

Clowns, International Clowns....now.

Boom. Exactly like I said. I wonder if Kaeida was still super keen on explaining what Japan 'learned' after being reprimanded.

"“Even the best safety standards are useless unless they are actually implemented,”

This is true of almost ALL policies and law in Japan -- it's all lip-service unless it involves taking money from the masses.

Without having any power, all they can do is recommend.

Japan: "Yes, you are right, we need to improve safety! " ...mass bowing of heads, then go back to business as usual.

And Ecology Minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet of France—a strong opponent of outside regulation—told the meeting that “the implementation of commitment on nuclear safety depends of the willingness of each state obviously, since nuclear safety is primarily a national responsibility.”

Ah yes! Especially in Europe where all those countries are so far apart, this will really help pacify those Germans...................bottom line is we will have nuke problems with us from here on in unless we find enough alternates to shut'em down

The IAEA is a joke. They make recommendations, which countries and utility companies ignore because it would mean spending huge amounts of money.

The nuclear industry has always known that huge reactors are inherently unsafe, but have worked under the pretext that the possibility of an accident occurring were extremely slim. doh ....

There's a 1992 BBC documentary by Adam Curtis that gives some great background info on how we got into this situation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adamcurtis/2011/03/a_is_for_atom.html

The IAEA is an agency that was created to promote the use of nuclear energy and therefor it is essential for the IAEA to make it look like the current disaster occured due to not complying with its safety standards. Anything that could make it look like such a disaster is not preventable would make the IAEA and its safety standards obsolete.

Nuclear energy only works on the base of belief and self-persuation. The mantra of the nuclear apologists is (surprisingly similar to that of certain religious sects), 'we can not live without it' and 'everything will be fine'.

The IAEA is a joke. They make recommendations, which countries and utility companies ignore because it would mean spending huge amounts of money.

No, IAEA is definitely not a joke. Some politicians are just irresponsible. Setting international standards is the best way to allow for higher safety. Agree with our French minister. As an international authority to punish violating countries is not to be expected, there should be the democratic judgement of the People in those countries. We could imagine some kind of referendum initiated by the People in case the security or safety of the people has been endangered.

MikeChar asked for a copy of the report. I believe this is the correct link, Mike: http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Meetings/PDFplus/2011/cn200/documentation/cn200_Final-Fukushima-Mission_Report.pdf

“Even the best safety standards are useless unless they are actually implemented,” Amano said. Which in Japan means that even the best safety standards are useless.

warnerbro.

Reread the article, other countries worldwide don't mind new standards but refuse that the IAEA enforces them. In short each country wants to be in charge of how and when to implement them.

Till the IAEA can enforce anything it is a crap-shoot globally.

Correction: Which in anywhere means that even the best safety standards are useless.

TEPCO placed higher value on its money than on the lives of people, and it is still trying to get away with it. Any honest human, facing such horrible disaster, should have sacrificed everything to save lives, and to do something for the welfare of the survivors. TEPCO is dishonest. They should give up ALL their big fat profits accumulated over the years, partly due to saving money on lousy and cheap safety, and give back a decent life to the survivors. My heart is with all those still suffering because of TEPCO and associates.

Doesn't the spent fuel pool look pristine? <>http://cryptome.org/eyeball/daiichi-npp/pict7a.jpg

That's where TEPCO got us, and is leaving us.

Wow...really? Japan's nuclear safety must be improved? Thanks for telling me.

I just realised IAEA is only one letter away from IKEA. Self-assembly reactors anyone?

JonathanJo - what an excellent idea, a new home industry:

"Build your own reactor in your window box. Provide electricity to run the electricity in your home!"