1 September 2023

On 11 March 2011, an earthquake near Japan caused a massive tsunami and destroyed the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. While 18000 died in the earthquake and its subsequent tsunami, there was no immediate report of death owing to the Plant damage. There were reports of thyroid cancers among the surviving children, but most of them were cured. WHO also reported low radiation reading among the survivors in the area. Now, it was reported that the 1.3 million tons of contaminated water was to release into the Pacific Ocean in the next 30 years.  The Hong Kong government immediately banned food imports from Tokyo, Fukushima, Chiba, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano, and Saitama prefectures when the 1.3 million tons of of groundwater, rainwater and water used for cooling at the Fukushima site were released to protect the health of Hong Kong people.

 

An invention or discovery is worth celebrating, but how to use it as a tool to promote and safeguard civilization is more important than its own development. While fear and bans will hover for a long period of time, we need to consider what is worth giving up, and what is worth taking risk for future generations.  Currently, there is no nuclear power plant in Hong Kong. However, it was reported Daya Bay Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong supplies 80% of its electricity output to Hong Kong to meet the electricity demand in Hong Kong until 2034. Another 17% of electricity comes from the Yangjiang Nuclear Power Station in Guangdong.

 

Just consider if the supplies ceased.

 

While I do not want to over simply the problems anticipated or urgency of Japan’s own internal needs, the fear of contamination is there. The health damage could be long term, rather than immediate. Nonetheless, should we isolate the country, or let her deal with her own problems, or should the different governments join hands to deal with them together?  Did Japan invent the earthquake? We have too many communications among different countries; sacrificing any is undesirable. Exchanges of economy, cultures, science and technology, ecology, resources, oversea interests, and even everyday entertainments, and the like, help us all grow together as a human race.  While we concern the safety and security of nuclear issues, we also need to see how it improves lives and generations to come, morally, spiritually, and physically.  In the meantime, we will all be on the lookout in sensible and educated manners.

 

At the beginning of the school year, let’s stand together and move forward, without fear.

 

Anson Yang