Radioprotection 2024 , 59 ( 4 ), 261 – 269 © R . Ando et al ., Published by EDP Sciences , 2024 https :// doi . org / 10.1051 / radiopro / 2024029 Available online at : https :// www . radioprotection . org / ARTICLE
Young generations facing post-nuclear accident situations : from Chernobyl to Fukushima
R . Ando 1 ,* , J . Lochard 2 , T . Schneider 3 , N . Akimoto 4 , D . Sasaki 5 and K . Iseki 6
1 NPO Fukushima Dialogue , Japan . 2 Atomic Bomb Disease Institute , Nagasaki University , Nagasaki , Japan . 3 Nuclear Protection Evaluation Center ( CEPN ), Fontenay-aux-Roses , France . 4 Tomioka Town , Fukushima , Japan . 5 University of Tsukuba , Tsukuba , Japan . 6 Farmer of Okuma Town , Fukushima , Japan .
Received : 17 May 2024 / Accepted : 16 July 2024
Abstract – The experiences of Chernobyl and Fukushima are rich in lessons regarding the concerns and also the role of the young generations who decided to stay and live in the affected territories after the nuclear accidents . If the major concern at the time of the accident and in the following years is the protection against radioactivity , over time the issue of the future of the affected areas and the quality of life of their inhabitants take precedence . The article presents first a series of observations collected during the ETHOS project and the CORE programme in Belarus between 1996 and 2008 in the territories affected by the Chernobyl accident . Then , it presents testimonies and opinions heard during the 24th Fukushima Dialogue , held in November 2022 , devoted to the role of the younger generation in the recovery process . Despite quite contrasting radiological situations , the concerns of young adults in both countries , more than 10 yr after the accidents , show similarities that are highlighted in this article , particularly their motivation to participate to the elaboration of a common vision for the future of the affected areas and to get involved in the recovery process .
Keywords : Chernobyl accident / Fukushima dialogue / young generation / local project / stakeholder involvement
1 Introduction
Due to their lasting nature , post-nuclear accident situations raise numerous societal issues , some of which have little to do with the presence of radioactivity in the daily life of people . One of these issues is the passage of generations . Over the years , the actors in the recovery process gradually evolve . It is therefore inevitable that over time , young people who were still at school at the time of the disaster find themselves confronted with the post-accident situation and wish to get involved in rehabilitating the living conditions of populations residing in the affected territories . Beyond the young experts and professionals who progressively take over from their elders in managing the consequences of the accident , there are also all the young people who live in the affected areas and who have their own vision of the situation , often very different from that of the previous generation . If the major concern at the time of the accident and in the following years is the protection against radioactivity , over time the issue of the future of the
* Corresponding author : r . ando @ fukushima-dialogue . jp affected areas and the quality of life of their inhabitants take precedence .
What is the role of the young generation in the recovery phase after a nuclear accident ? What are the main challenges it faces ? How can it contribute to the resilience and ensure the sustainable development of affected areas ? What lessons can be drawn from the experiences of Chernobyl and Fukushima ? This article aims to provide some reflections in relation to these questions .
The first part of the article presents the observations collected during the course of the ETHOS Project and the CORE Programme in Belarus between 1996 and 2008 in the territories affected by the Chernobyl accident ( Heriard Dubreuil , 1999 ; Trafimchik , 2005 ). The second part presents the testimonies and views heard at the 24th Fukushima Dialogue as far as the role of the young generation is concerned ( Fig . 1 ). The last part discusses the role of the co-expertise process and the adapted governance framework for its implementation as means of meeting the expectations of the younger generation to actively participate in the recovery process after a nuclear accident . The conclusion highlights the
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( https :// creativecommons . org / licenses / by / 4.0 ), which permits unrestricted use , distribution , and reproduction in any medium , provided the original work is properly cited .