Japan Press Weekly

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2011 April 13 - 19 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

Booklet for public schools propagates nuclear energy ‘safety myth’

Japanese Communist Party Lower House member Miyamoto Takeshi on April 13 criticized the Education Ministry for propagating the “safety myth” of nuclear power generation in a booklet for school children.

In response to Miyamoto’s argument at the House of Representatives Education Committee meeting, Education Minister Takaki Yoshiaki stated that his ministry will consider reediting the supplementary reader for elementary and junior high school students.

The side reader for public schools, published by the Education and Industry ministries, explains, “Nuclear power plants are robustly constructed and protected to prevent radiation leaks even in the event of earthquake,” and, “They are well designed to withstand a major earthquake or tsunami.”

An education ministry official acknowledged that the ministry allocates 34 million yen to distribute 25,000 copies of the side reader to elementary schools and 14,000 copies to junior high schools.