Wednesday, February 15, 2012

How the Media Mislead the Public


Japan Today: Official defends secrecy over worst-case nuclear disaster scenario

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/official-defends-secrecy-over-worst-case-nuclear-disaster-scenario

[excerpted] "The government official who outlined Japan’s worst-case scenario for the unfolding nuclear disaster last March defended how his study, warning that millions of people might have to flee, was kept secret.

But fearing widespread panic, officials kept secret the 15-page document he delivered March 25....

The document said evacuation zones possibly would have to be expanded, including the Tokyo area with a population of 35 million people, if massive radiation began to leak from the plant, 230 kilometers from the capital.
 
Workers ultimately were able to bring the reactors under control." [end excerpt]

Majia here: What is wrong with this account? The story reads like an expose, revealing that government officials withheld critical information.

The problem is that contrary to this story's stated resolution, workers were NEVER able to bring the reactors under control and large radiation releases continue today.

This news story illustrates how the media can subtly subvert citizens' understanding of important events, while appearing to serve as guardians of the public interest.

Reactor 2 has had spiking temperatures; spent fuel pool #4 is likely to collapse or has already collapsed, fires and steam/smoke have been visible at the plant intermittently on the Tepco and JNN webcams for months and months, and radiation distortion has been the norm.

I shudder to consider the levels of contamination that have enveloped northern Japan.

The global media are captured and their interests are often not aligned with citizens'.

 


No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.