Environmental Justice Public Health Issue Intervention Strategy and Policy Program, Coursework Example

Abstract

This work intends to examine an environmental justice public health issue and to discuss the ways in which an intervention strategy or program policy might be used in addressing this particular issue. Toward this end, this work intends to address the environmental justice public health issue posed by today’s nuclear power plants. Most recently, due to devastation to areas of Japan by weather-related hurricanes and a Tsunami, nuclear power plants have been undergoing nuclear meltdowns in reactors exposing millions of individuals to extremely hazardous and life threatening radiation.

This work intends to examine an environmental justice public health issue and to discuss the ways in which an intervention strategy or program policy might be used in addressing this particular issue. Toward this end, this work intends to address the environmental justice public health issue posed by today’s nuclear power plants. Most recently, due to devastation to areas of Japan by weather-related hurricanes and a Tsunami, nuclear power plants have been undergoing nuclear meltdowns in reactors exposing millions of individuals to extremely hazardous and life threatening radiation. To make matters worse, the emergency procedures and particularly those relating to environmental justice public health concerns, have been lax in view of the exposures to radiation that have occurred. It is extremely critical that an intervention strategy and policy program be developed and implemented on an international basis to effectively and adequately address these environmental justice public health concerns because science is conclusive that the earth is presently undergoing changes that are cyclical in nature and that have been linked to the major cataclysms throughout the history of the earth blamed for such as the sinking of Atlantis and other drastic changes to the earth’s surface during this cyclical shift of the earth’s poles.[1] Denial by the media and mainstream media cannot mitigate the hazards however, proactively addressing these environmental justice public health issues does present the opportunity to negate some of the hazards through avoidance based on properly implemented interventions and strategic policy alignment across the various participants in the world society. The issues are myriad and include: (1) health strategies; (2) nuclear power plant policy and regulatory issues; (3) hazard mitigation and emergency response issues; (4) environmental contamination and exposure issues as well as (4) safe and self-sustaining alternative sources of energy.[2] The coordination and collaboration required in such an initiative is a large order indeed but  one that can and should be addressed because to fail to do so is certain sickness and death for the entire global population.[3] The potential problems of nuclear power plants during the earth’s climatic and cyclically based changes is critical for addressing and just as critical is the time-sensitive nature of this issue in the area of environmental justice public health.

References

Fukushima Beyond Point of No Return as Radioactive Core Melts Through Containment Vessel (2011) The Watchers. 31 March 2011. Nuclear Fallout. Retrieved from: http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com/2011/03/31/fukushima-beyond-point-of-no-return-as-radioactive-core-melts-through-containment-vessel/

Donovan, Travis (2011) Japan Earthquake Shifted Coastline Maximum of 8 Feet, Scientists Say. Huffington Post 31 Mar 2011. Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/12/japan-earthquake-axis-shift-climate-change_n_834985.html

[1] A report dated March 13, 2011 reports that the recent earthquake in Japan shifted the coastline by 8 feet…sank the elevation of the country’s terrain to the point that it was called ‘troublesome by dr. Daniel McNamara, U.S. Geological Survey seismologist…and the planet’s axis was moved by approximately four inches…” according to CNN reporter. (Huffington Post, 2011) The report goes on to state “As for any claims that the earthquake somehow relates to climate change, McNamara didn’t hesitate to dismiss that connection. He explained that while evidence shows melting glaciers can cause small tremors directly underneath as their weight on the Earth’s crust reduces…” (Huffington Post, 2011)

[2] It was reported on March 3,1 2011 as follows: “The battle to save the Fukushima nuclear power plant now appears lost as the radioactive core from Reactor No. 2 has melted through the containment vessel and dropped into the concrete basement of the reactor structure. “ (The Watchers, 2011) What happens next is this: “now that the fuel core from Reactor No. 2 has burned its way through the containment vessel and dropped to the concrete floor? It follows the laws of physics, of course: The super-heated nuclear fuel reacts with the concrete material in the floor, producing highly radioactive gas, which now runs the risk of escaping into the atmosphere if it gets through the outer containment wall. But that’s precisely the problem, you see. The outer containment wall was partially destroyed by the original hydrogen gas explosion that rocked Reactors 2 and 3. So we may be looking at a situation right now where there is nothing in the way of a massive release of radioactive gas from Fukushima. It all has the makings of a ticking (dirty) time bomb.” (The Watchers, 2011)

[3] Reported on March 31, 2011 is as follows: “As the citizens of Japan have recently learned the hard way, virtually no one has any extra stored water, food or medicine in the cities these days. Very few people are prepared for even small disruptions in basic infrastructure and supply lines. The average American living in a city today would die in less than 7 days if cut off from the grid supply of food and water. Their entire preparedness plan is to “trust the government.” (The Watchers, 2011)