Japan Earthquake Information

Frequently Asked Questions
Canadian Nuclear Association
Canada's Response to the Japan Earthquake / Fukushima - May 18, 2011

OPG Submits Preliminary Lessons From Japanese Earthquake; Robust design of nuclear plants would withstand emergencies

April 29, 2011 – In a preliminary report on lessons learned from the event at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has determined that its nuclear facilities are safe, robustly designed and will withstand emergencies.

OPG Statement - click here
Status report letter to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

Speech to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources
March 24, 2011 — By Denise Carpenter, President and CEO, Canadian Nuclear Association
Standing Committee on Natural Resources

Statement by CNA President and CEO Denise Carpenter regarding the earthquake in Japan
March 14, 2011 — Our thoughts are with the people of Japan and their relatives in Canada during this terrible time, as well as with the workers at the Fukushima station for their tireless efforts to protect the people offsite.

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

Information update regarding the earthquake in Japan

Newspaper Articles

Globe and Mail — Cameco CEO spends last days fighting nuclear panic
Jerry Grandey was ready for a quiet passage into retirement after three decades in the tumultuous nuclear industry, including the past eight years as CEO of uranium giant Cameco of Saskatoon. April 28, 2011

The Star — Darlington nuclear power plant looks ahead amid Japan crisis
As Ontario Power Generation makes its case for building new nuclear reactors at its Darlington site, the company is showing off its old ones. April 6, 2011

Mark Lynas — The dangers of nuclear power in light of Fukushima
This is a joint post, by Chris Goodall of carboncommentary.com and Mark Lynas. We make no apologies for length, as these issues can really only be properly addressed in detail.

How risky is nuclear power? As the Fukushima nuclear crisis continues in Japan, many people and governments are turning away from nuclear power in the belief that it is uniquely dangerous to human health and the environment. March 30, 2011

National Post — Patrick Moore: We need a Nuclear renaissance
Nuclear energy supplies about 16% of the world's electricity, a percentage similar to hydroelectric power. Among the 30 countries with nuclear power plants, 21 countries obtain 15% or more of their electricity from nuclear energy, ranging from Canada at 15% to France at nearly 80%. March 28, 2011

Financial Post — Lawrence Solomon: Avert Chernobyl-style hysteria in Japan
Next to Chernobyl, the Fukushima accident is the worst nuclear power calamity in history. To minimize damage in Fukushima’s aftermath, the Japanese — and all of us — need first learn the lessons of Chernobyl, whose casualties numbered in the hundreds of thousands. Chernobyl’s great calamity in 1986 — a total meltdown in a reactor designed with no containment that ejected astounding amounts of radiation over a 10-day period — came not from the radiation it spewed but from fear of radiation. March 25, 2011

Kingston Whig Standard — Re: "Our reactors aren't 'safe' either."
By Denise Carpenter, President and CEO, Canadian Nuclear Association
Submitted to the Kingston Whig Standard. March 23, 2011

The Guardian — George Monbiot - Going Critical: How the Fukushima disaster taught me to stop worrying and embrace nuclear power
You will not be surprised to hear that the events in Japan have changed my view of nuclear power. You will be surprised to hear how they have changed it. As a result of the disaster at Fukushima, I am no longer nuclear-neutral. I now support the technology. March 22, 2011

Financial Post — Lawrence Solomon: Japan’s radioactive fallout could have silver lining
The immense suffering that the Japanese are enduring in the aftermath of their earthquake and tsunami is now compounded by torment over radiation releases from the Fukushima nuclear plant. March 21, 2011

National Post — Nucler wakes
On March 11, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake seriously damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant causing overheating problems in its reactors. March 19, 2011

Globe and Mail — Nukes: Improve them, but don’t even think of abandoning them
The earthquake, just off the coast, was swift and terrible, registering almost 9.0. Even more deadly were the 15-metre tsunami and the raging fires that soon followed. Thousands of people died or were swept out to sea, their homes reduced to mountains of rubble. March 18, 2011

Government of Canada

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
http://www.international.gc.ca/humanitarian-humanitaire/japan_earthquake_japon_seisme.aspx?lang=eng

International

World Health Organization
http://www.who.int/hac/crises/jpn/faqs/en/index.html

Nuclear Industry – United States

Nuclear Energy Institute
http://nei.cachefly.net/newsandevents/information-on-the-japanese-earthquake-and-reactors-in-that-region/

Nuclear Industry – International

World Nuclear News
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/