The whole country to blame for Japan's nuclear disaster

Much will be written and analysed about the nuclear disaster which befell Japan last year following the earthquake, but a significant side-bar to the findings of a Report on the accident at the nuclear facility, warrants close attention. It is highlighted in a interview and report on ABC Australia's Radio National PM program:

Well Mark this is a very interesting point because the report does blame a lot of people but it also blames Japanese culture for this disaster. It states on page one of the report that this disaster quote "was made in Japan".

It says its fundamental causes are to be found in the engrained conventions of Japanese culture and I'll quote again "our reflexive obedience, our reluctance to question authority, our devotion to sticking with the program, our groupism, and our insularity", unquote.

So there you go, it basically blames Mr Naoto Kan, the then prime minister, the secrecy of TEPCO, the utter failure of nuclear regulators but it also blames Japanese culture.

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Mahler's Prodigal Son

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