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Etické otázky při evakuaci v okolí jaderné elektrárny Fukušima / Ethical issues in evacuation around the Fukushima nuclear plant

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.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:nusl.cz/oai:invenio.nusl.cz:200648
Date January 2015
CreatorsDOČEKALOVÁ, Blanka
Source SetsCzech ETDs
LanguageCzech
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/masterThesis
Rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess

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