Feedback experiences from Fukushima and Chernobyl situations have clearly shown the importance of involving local stakeholders living in contaminated territories for the rehabilitation of their daily life. In this context, this paper aims to better address the role of radiological protection experts in the recovery phase of post-nuclear accident situation, in mainly relying on the analysis of local initiatives implemented in the Fukushima Prefecture following March 2011. In the first part, this paper highlights the various challenges faced by the population living in contaminated territories, i.e., rehabilitation of the living conditions, ensuring a long-term radiological monitoring, developing public health programs. In a second part, this paper discusses to which extent radiological protection experts can help local population to address these challenges, particularly through the implementation of co-expertise processes and the associated ethical issues and values they should embody. The last part of this paper particularly focuses on two current challenges at stake in the Fukushima Prefecture: the dissemination of the co-expertise process to all affected communities, as well as the sustainability of these approaches over time.
This paper describes the involvement of the residents of the Yamakiya district of the Kawamata town, a former evacuation area after the accident of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP), in the on-going research activities of the authors on the behaviour of radioactive caesium in the environment. By relying on dialogue, measuring radiation, and other collaborative practices, this involvement enabled a series of actions to be taken to resolve the challenges related to the recovery after the lifting of the evacuation order that were appreciated by the residents. The paper also discusses the effects of the interactive program led by the Yamakiya School organized by the authors in cooperation with the residents including among others lectures, voluntary works and radiological surveys on local issues. Based on the above, the authors make recommendations on the desirable form of relationship between residents and experts after an event of large-scale environmental pollution including radiological contamination. Through these activities the authors have also gradually changed their research approach.
In the rural areas of Fukushima, many residents participate in a culture of satoyama usage, and this cultural practice should be respected when conducting radiation protection. We conducted a case study by performing interview survey and text analysis of former evacuees in a rural part of a former evacuation area in Fukushima, to evaluate their attitude towards personal usage of forest or satoyama after radiocaesium contamination and long evacuation following the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident in 2011. The evacuation order in the study area was lifted in 2017, and our interview survey was conducted in 2019. We found that the resumption to the use of satoyama after their return varied among residents in this particular area. Most returnees in the area were highly knowledgeable about radiation in the environment, but we could not conclude that it helped them make decisions regarding whether to resume satoyama usage. Residents resuming personal use of satoyama after their return were those who had a close relationship with satoyama before the accident, such as the use of forest products for commercial purpose. These past experiences may have led them to have positive attitudes towards the resumption of satoyama usage after their return. Finally, we identified the required approaches towards resuming satoyama usage based on the interviewees’ different attitudes.
:"Yamakiya School" is a community empowerment activity which started in 2016 in the Yamakiya district, Kawamata, Fukushima Prefecture, after the districtʼs evacuation order for the Fukushima nuclear disaster had been lifted. It mostly involves farming activities and included learning radiology in the beginning. This study was conducted to clarify the activityʼs impact on the level of the participantsʼ anxiety toward radiation and reasons for their continued participation. After preliminary hearings, a survey was conducted presenting quantitative and qualitative questions. The main findings were the following : (1) The main reason that the outsiders participated was to interact with residents and other participants and take part in the farming activities, (2) Their interest in food produced in Fukushima Prefecture and radiation reports increased, as did their rapport with the residents, (3) Although learning about radiology did not significantly affect the level of the participantsʼ anxiety as early participants already had high levels of knowledge about radiation, it contributed to bolstering the robustness of their knowledge and, (4) The participants wished to continue participating to witness community reestablishment.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.