Other
- +18
James M. Acton, Saskia Brechenmacher, Cecily Brewer, …
{
"authors": [
"James M. Acton"
],
"type": "legacyinthemedia",
"centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
"centers": [
"Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
],
"collections": [],
"englishNewsletterAll": "ctw",
"nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
"primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
"programAffiliation": "NPP",
"programs": [
"Nuclear Policy"
],
"projects": [],
"regions": [
"East Asia",
"Japan"
],
"topics": [
"Nuclear Policy",
"Nuclear Energy"
]
}
Source: Getty
In The Media
Tsunami Still More Devastating Than Nuclear Threat
The earthquake and subsequent tsunami that caused substantial damage to Japan’s nuclear reactors should encourage nuclear regulators to reconsider the magnitude of natural disasters that they design plants to withstand.
Published on Mar 16, 2011
Source: NZHerald
Carnegie’s James Acton explained to the Associated Press that the developments at reactor units 2 and 4 since March 15 are of greater concern. An explosion inside the containment structure at reactor unit 2 is especially worrisome – the explosion may have damaged the containment structure itself, making it even more difficult to prevent leakage of radiation. A fire in the spent fuel pool near reactor unit 4 is also a distressing development.
Acton said that Japanese regulators are very serious about safety. The earthquake that struck Japan, however, was larger than what the reactors were prepared to survive. A similar event occurred in 2007, with far less devastating results. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant automatically shut down in response to a 2007 earthquake, which was also of greater magnitude than the reactor was designed to survive. In both instances, nuclear power plants faced greater natural disasters than anticipated. As a result, Acton said, nuclear regulators must reconsider whether plants are designed to withstand the full range of catastrophes they might face.
About the Author
James M. Acton
Jessica T. Mathews Chair, Co-director, Nuclear Policy Program
Acton holds the Jessica T. Mathews Chair and is co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
- Unpacking Trump’s National Security Strategy
- Trump Has an Out on Nuclear Testing. He Should Take It.Commentary
James M. Acton
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
More Work from Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center
- China’s Evolving Economic and Security Role in the Middle EastCommentary
The advantage that China has over other global powers, especially America, is that its foreign policy is closely aligned with those of many of the Middle Eastern countries.
Jin Liangxiang, Maha Yahya, Hesham Alghannam
- The Geopolitics of Economic Development in the Middle EastArticle
To create an environment more conducive to cooperation and development, U.S. and Chinese efforts should seek the endorsement of neighboring countries and regional organizations. Otherwise, regional and geopolitical rivalries will remain barriers.
Abdullah Baabood
- The Gaza War and the Rest of the WorldCommentary
Scholars from Carnegie’s global network comment on how the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is affecting their areas of interest, and what the implications of this may be.
- +11
Maha Yahya, Rosa Balfour, Judy Dempsey, …
- China’s Middle Eastern MomentCommentary
In an interview, Abdullah Baabood discusses Beijing’s evolving role in the Gulf region, where its priority is stability.
Michael Young
- Why China Is Emerging as a Main Promoter of Stability in the Strait of HormuzArticle
Because of its reliance on the Gulf region for much of its oil and gas, China has a strong interest in preserving security in the region, an early example of which was its mediation of the recent Saudi Arabia-Iran reconciliation.
Abdullah Baabood
