Discuss the Fukushima incident in the context of globalisation

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Discuss the Fukushima incident in the context of globalisation

Lucy Price 21014711

On March 11, 2011, the north-east coast of Japan was struck by the fourth largest earthquake since records began. The earthquake reached an 8.9 to 9.0 magnitude tremor, prompting a massive tsunami, as well as dreadful aftershocks with one even reaching 6.3 magnitude. However, the devastation wasn't over for Japan, another disaster stuck when the Fukushima Dalichi Power Plant declared a nuclear emergency. It was confirmed by Japanese nuclear specialists that pressure, inside 3 of the 6 boiling water reactors, were much higher than normal. This occurred after their emergency cooling generators failed; the proper amount of coolant could not be circulated to reactors, leading them to overheat.

The company, TEPCO, that were running the power plant tried to cool the reactors. They did this by releasing radioactive steam and pumping in sea water. US officials flew in emergency coolant to attempt to cool the reactors, but the Japanese decided to handle the situation themselves, and refused the coolant. The problem seemed to be related to a lack of power at the plants rather than a lack of coolant.

There was a high level