The political issues behind the Japanese nuclear crisis

The massive earthquake that hit Japan on March 11 was a product of nature, and the tidal wave that struck the coast was its immediate and unavoidable consequence. But the ensuing nuclear events are the results of social forces, not the collision of tectonic plates. Once again, the capitalist system has brought the world to the brink of disaster, and in the process the corporate ruling elite has demonstrated its complete recklessness and irresponsibility.

Japan and the wider region remains under threat from the nuclear disaster in Fukushima. Radioactive contamination is leaking from at least one of the reactor cores, while the state of the highly toxic spent fuel rods stored in water pools remains unclear. Authorities have now warned the 13 million people of Tokyo not to allow their young children to drink the irradiated water supply.

In Japan, as internationally, the social needs of the population - including the need for a safe and environmentally sustainable energy system - are subordinated to the financial interests of the major corporations. While the ruling classes internationally invoke the danger of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorists to justify their imperialist wars, the events in Japan show that the main danger of nuclear devastation comes from the operations of global capitalism, not terrorism.

ISSE VU is holding a public meeting this Wednesday, March 30, at 1pm in Room A409, Victoria University, Footscray Park Campus to discuss the political issues behind the Japanese nuclear crisis and outline the socialist and internationalist perspective required to prevent further disasters - economic, social, and ecological - under the profit system. All students are warmly invited to attend.