U.S. think tank calls for Fukushima radiation exposure survey

U.S. think tank calls for radiation exposure survey on Fukushima

This Sept. 29, 2011 photo released by Tokyo Electric Power Co. shows the No. 2 reactor building of the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Okuma town, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan. (AP Photo/Tokyo Electric Power Co.)

WASHINGTON (Kyodo) -- U.S. think tank the Center for Strategic and International Studies on Thursday unveiled a set of proposals for rebuilding Japan from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster, including a call for a health survey on long-term radiation exposure in the wake of the nuclear accident triggered by the disaster.

In a report titled "Partnership for Recovery and a Stronger Future," the think tank called for establishing an "independent panel of U.S., Japanese, and other experts to address the health implications of low-dose, long-term radiation in Japan in order to bring benefits to both Japanese citizens and the larger world community."

The think tank also recommended creating a "U.S.-Japan Joint Commission on Fukushima" to investigate the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant.

"A bilateral, public-private commission to streamline synergetic efforts by the U.S. and Japanese private sector would greatly benefit Japanese efforts, but also allow both countries a more structured way of digesting lessons learned from Fukushima and implementing actions needed to improve the safe operation of nuclear power plants in the United States, Japan, and around the world," the report said.

Japan's largest business lobby, the Japan Business Federation, known as Keidanren, also took part in drafting the proposals.

The report called for establishing Special Economic Zones in the disaster-hit Tohoku region to promote economic recovery.

A strategy for such zones that "prioritizes private-sector-led job creation in the region and which overrides strong sectionalism among and between central and local governments can attract investment that the citizens and governments in Tohoku clearly want," it said.

This satellite file image taken on March 14, 2011, and provided by DigitalGlobe shows the damaged Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear facility in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan. (AP Photo/DigitalGlobe)

The report also called for strengthening the legislative authority of the soon-to-be-established Reconstruction Agency.

In light of the fallout from the nuclear accident, the report also highlighted the importance of promptly drafting a long-term energy strategy.

(Mainichi Japan) November 4, 2011