This master thesis deals with ethical issues of evacuation around the Fukushima nuclear plant. Taking into account that the evacuation takes place mostly in tense situations as a result of an extreme incident, it is essential that the process of evacuation is effectively managed, organized and executed. It is also necessary to ensure effective communication between all involved departments and residents. Evacuation must be well managed, not only on the technical side, but also on the ethical and moral side. In the practical part of the thesis some questions were raised, which surveyed: a) What ethical principles have been applied in dealing with evacuation and communication with residents? b) What alternatives in the ethical approach can be used? c) Can an applied ethics be used in crisis management? During evacuation in Fukushima and afterwards during communication with residents, affected by the effects of the accident, the government used a paternalistic way of issuing commands and decided what information the residents need to know. According to the testimonies of residents, the information was insufficient, inaccurate and in some areas in the early hours of the accident there wasn´t any information at all. On the question of alternatives in ethical approach, we can use instead of already mentioned paternalistic way, democratic or more autonomous approach. That, however, brings with it demands on all concerned as are operators of nuclear power plants, people from crisis management and radiation protection, state and finally residents themselves. It is about the involvement of all as equal partners, about openness, truthfulness, honesty, about increasing knowledge and awareness of radiation protection. The usage of applied ethics in crisis management is possible, but requires a changeover in the personal approach of all concerned people. First of the objectives of the study was to compare the paternalistic and democratic approach in providing information to the population and issuing orders to evacuation. I compared paternalistic and democratic way, and I came to the conclusion that it is necessary to find an appropriate level of application of these two methods. The second objective was to describe the criteria applied in Fukushima evacuation with regard to the amount of radiation exposure and differentiation of the population. In terms of the amount received by the exposure of the affected population was the largest part of the population evacuated before the release of radionuclides into the air and very positive it is that nobody died on the effects of radiation during the accident. The last goal of thesis was to find out what is the view of current residents in Czech Republic and those who work in emergency management and are responsible for the progress of evacuation or work in a sphere related to radiation activities, which provide various information and deal with the issue of long-term evacuation during a nuclear accident. Data were collected by prepared questionnaire, which contained nine closed questions. Questions were given to the residents presented at the time of the questionnaire survey on the streets in randomly picked villages and also through e-mail. Responses were graphically expressed as a numerical value and verbal evaluation and respondents' answers are commented in the discussion. The thesis can be used to implement ethical principles not only in crisis management, but also in the beginning of designing and building nuclear power plants in the region. The entire process of the formation and operation of nuclear power plants has not only a technical dimension, but also ethical. Thesis can be also used as study material for teaching on the field of emergency preparedness, which can extend the technical knowledge of the ethical dimension, which, as it turned out in Fukushima is also very important.

Cette thèse vise à modéliser l’entrée en résilience des organisations en contexte extrême. L’accident de Fukushima Daiichi, étudié au travers du témoignage de Masao Yoshida, directeur de la centrale lors des faits, et des rapports d’enquête, soutient la recherche en tant qu’étude de cas. Ces sources d’informations croisées avec notre cadre théorique, nous permettent de répondre à la question de recherche suivante : Dans quelles mesures pouvons-nous parler de résilience lors de l’accident de Fukushima Daiichi ? Si oui, quelle forme la résilience a-t-elle prise, quels processus ont été activés et ce plus particulièrement dans lors des premiers temps du processus général de résilience ?Une méthodologie spécifique d’analyse du matériau est produite et démontre l’utilité du témoignage de Masao Yoshida pour participer au retour d’expérience. La thèse tire un ensemble de leçons de l’accident et propose une grille d’analyse originale en regard de l’équilibre précaire entre centralisation et décentralisation que le témoignage et les rapports d’enquête mettent en lumière. Le modèle produit définit en détails la logique processuelle et émergente de l’entrée en résilience. / The aim of this research if to develop a model of entry to resilience for organizations facing extreme events. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident is used as a case study. The accident is analyzed through the testimony of the Site Superintendent Masao Yoshida and the investigation reports. The goal is to answer the following questions: what are the conditions to assess resilience during the Fukushima Daiichi accident? What shape did the resilience take in this context? What processes have been activated particularly during the initiation of the resilience process?A specific methodology is produced to analyze Masao Yoshida’s testimony. This methodology also proves the usefulness of such a material to develop feedbacks in industrial organizations. The thesis draws lessons from the accident and defines an evaluation grid to study the precarious equilibrium between on-site and off-site that is highlighted by the data used. The provided model defines the processual and emerging logic of entry to resilience.

Thesis advisor: Donald Fishman / This paper will study three particular accidents in the nuclear industry: Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and the Fukushima Daiichi plant. These crises will be evaluated through a crisis management framework, using two main accident theories: Normal Accident Theory, and High Reliability Theory. The examination of the crises and the organizations involved will show that no matter how reliable the complex systems are, accidents are inevitable in the nuclear industry. High reliability theory expresses an ideal for complex organizations. While following the theory’s suggestions can limit some problems from occurring, acting as a mindful and reliable organization cannot prevent all disasters. The three cases presented in this paper will show that Normal Accident Theory must be accepted by the nuclear industry. Thus, governments and nuclear power plant operators must be prepared with crisis management plans in order to successfully handle emergency situations and limit damages. The first part of this paper will introduce Normal Accident Theory and High Reliability Theory. Then, after a brief overview of the basics of nuclear power, Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima Daiichi will be examined in the theoretical framework, including a discussion of each event’s crisis management techniques. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2012. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: College Honors Program. / Discipline: Communication.

The aim of this study is to compare the cause of the, to date, three onlycommercial nuclear power plant accidents. These are very complex incidents,which have dire impact on society and the environment and therefore benefitfrom further investigation, if there lays a possibility of identifying factors thatcould prevent further accidents in the future. In order to investigate this theactions and decisions that lead up to each nuclear meltdown was identified andcompared.The investigation was based on a qualitative study on three cases of nuclearmeltdown accidents. They are based on text analysis of official reports anddocumentaries on the subject. The theoretical background for this study wasKajtazi’s (2011) work on Information Inadequacy. The study was limited to theevents leading up to the accidents and do not include activities afterwards.The study shows that each case had different underlying reasons. It alsoshows that we seem to have learned something from our previous mistakes, andacted on them accordingly. From the Fukushima Daiichi accident we canrecommend that organizations in charge should take early warnings seriouslyand act upon them as soon as they are presented.

This diploma thesis focuses on the changes in the media image of nuclear power in Ceska Televize, which is the only public television in Czech Republic. The study uses a quantitative research method, content analysis, to find out the changes of nuclear power representation in media and to compare changes of news construction mechanisms in the period of two years - one year before and one year after the Japanese nuclear power plant Fukushima Daiichi disaster. The accident started on 11th March 2011 and there is a short description of the situation in Japan at the beginning of the thesis. The theoretical part of thesis serves as an overview of basic information on principles of the media studies theory and mechanisms of news construction (work with information sources, the news value concept, agenda setting, the framing concept), which is also shown from the environmental point of view. The study also focuses on the nuclear power image in the socio-political field and there are some more information about the nuclear power development and status in Czech Republic. The analytical part of thesis examines the media attention to nuclear power, which was developed in the analysed period. The usage of mechanisms of news construction and the changes in nuclear power image in the news of Ceska Televize...