WikiLeaks has played a part in getting out information about poor management in Japan’s nuclear industry. The information was recorded in a US diplomatic cable that WikiLeaks released. It told of a serious problem with nuclear reactors in areas of Japan prone to earthquakes pointed out in December 2008 by an official from the International Atomic Energy Agency. “Recent earthquakes have exceeded the design basis for some nuclear plants”. Moreover safety guidelines for seismic activity had been revised only 3 times in 35 years. Another cable two years ago describes a senior International Atomic Energy Association nuclear safety official and former head of the Japanese agency responsible for nuclear plant security following earthquakes as “a weak manager and advocate particularly with respect to confronting Japan’s own safety practices.” All this information including the original cables was released only this week through The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian newspapers in Britain. Without WikiLeaks it would probably never have seen the light of day. One of the justifications governments use for not releasing information is to avoid “unnecessary” fears.
