Japan Finally Acts to Restrict Fukushima Ocean Pollution

More than a year ago, we argued that the Government of Japan should, without delay, begin construction of a barrier to prevent further leakage of radioactivity into the Pacific Ocean from the Tsunami-stricken Fukushima nuclear reactors. Specifically, we wrote:

When will Japan begin building a barrage around the Fukushima waterfront to contain leakage of radiation from the stricken plant, which threatens to poison the oceans and fisheries of the World?

At last the Government of Japan has decided to act. It will spend 47 billion yen (US$473 million) to create an ice dam around the Fukushima waterfront to prevent radioactive water continuing to leak into the ocean.

Late, is certainly better than never, although it is difficult to understand why it has taken more than two years to think up a simple temporary solution such as this when, to quote Dr Tatsujiro Suzuki, vice chairman of the Japan Atomic Energy Commission,

Source

the situation at the nuclear power plant is an "unprecedented crisis" and that it is "getting worse".

He said the plan to freeze the ground around the site was "challenging", and a permanent solution was needed.

I guess if it had just been just an ordinary crisis, in a more or less stable if critical state, we'd have been waiting another decade or two for any kind orf useful action, with a permanent solution indefinitely delayed.