原発危機―「最悪」の回避に全力を

--The Asahi Shimbun, March 16
EDITORIAL: We must stand strong to overcome this catastrophe
原発危機―「最悪」の回避に全力を

We are facing an unprecedented national crisis. In order to overcome it, we have no choice but to create firm bonds of trust between the government and the people, as well as between companies and the people.
　これは未曽有の国家的危機である。乗り切るためには、政府と国民、企業と市民、それぞれの「信頼」という綱を、しっかり結び続けるしかない。

The disaster at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. is becoming increasingly serious.
　東京電力の福島第一原子力発電所の状態が深刻の度を増している。

Following hydrogen explosions at the No. 1 and No. 3 reactors, the No. 2 reactor exploded and a fire occurred at the No. 4 reactor.
　１号機と３号機で水素爆発が起きたのに続き、２号機では爆発が、４号機では火災があった。

The suppression pool linked to the containment vessel that covers the No. 2 reactor has likely broken. There is a danger that highly radioactive substances could leak into the outside air.
　２号機は、原子炉を覆う格納容器につながる圧力抑制室が壊れたようだ。強い放射能を帯びた物質が外に出るおそれがある。

Support their dangerous mission
■危険な作業支えよう

The No. 4 reactor was undergoing a regular inspection when the earthquake hit on March 11. There are also suspicions that the spent fuel rods in the suppression pool part of the reactor have broken because they were not sufficiently cooled.
　４号機は１１日の地震のときには定期検査中だった。プールで保管中の使用済みの核燃料の冷却が不十分となり、燃料棒が壊れた疑いもある。

Four nuclear reactors in a single plant are still unstable and appear to be leaking radioactive substances. This is an extremely serious situation.
　ひとつの発電所内にある四つの原子炉がいずれもまだ安定せず、放射性物質が漏れているらしい。極めて厳しい状況といえる。

The most important thing is to prevent large quantities of radioactive substances from spreading outside.
　放射性物質が大量に、広範囲に外に出ることを何とかして食い止める。これが最も大切だ。

Under demanding and challenging conditions, desperate efforts to cool the reactors continue. We want to do everything we can to support those efforts so that this difficult and extremely dangerous work can progress as smoothly as possible.
　厳しい条件の下、原子炉を冷却するための努力が懸命に続けられている。困難かつ危険を伴う作業ができるだけうまく進むよう、全力を挙げて支えてゆきたい。

At one point, workers had to be evacuated because a high level of radioactivity was detected inside the plant. While work needs to move forward, safety must also be ensured.
　発電所内で高い放射線量が検出され、作業員が退避する事態もあった。安全を守りながら進める必要がある。

Yet lacking a power source with the limited capacity of pumps or other equipment, it is difficult to find an effective way to bring the situation under control. We need to gather knowledge and strength.
　電源が得られず、ポンプなどの能力にも限りがあり、なかなか決め手となる方法が見いだせないのが現状だ。知恵と力を結集してほしい。

In response to the accident of the No. 2 reactor, Prime Minister Naoto Kan once again called on residents who live within a radius of 20 kilometers of the plant to evacuate and those who live between 20 and 30 kilometers of the plant to stay indoors. People are becoming increasingly anxious about how long the situation will continue.
　２号機の事故を受け、菅直人首相は改めて半径２０キロ以内からの住民避難を呼びかけるとともに、２０～３０キロの範囲の人たちに屋内退避を求めた。いつまで続くのか、不安が広がる。

As many as 200,000 people have been asked to evacuate from the vicinity of the plant. They will be forced to put up with the inconvenience of staying at evacuation sites. To support them, the cooperation of local governments and residents will be indispensable.
　原発周辺から集団避難を求められたのは約２０万人にも及ぶ。不便を強いられる避難先での生活を支えるため、受け入れ先の自治体、地元住民の協力が欠かせない。

Trust the public and disclose information
■国民信じ情報開示を

Kan is the only person who can guide the nation to overcome this crisis. We urge him to give first priority to protecting citizens' lives and act in unison with TEPCO to deal with the difficult situation.
　危機にあたって陣頭指揮をとるべきは、菅首相をおいて他にいない。国民の生命を守ることを最優先に、東電と一体となって難局に臨んでほしい。

The prime minister visited TEPCO's head office Tuesday and told officials: "You are the only ones (who can do this job). You have to brace yourselves." From the perspective of citizens, his words also apply to the government and the prime minister himself.
　首相はきのう東電本店に乗り込み、「あなたたちしかいない。覚悟を決めてください」と叱咤（しった）した。国民から見れば、その言葉はそのまま政府、そして首相自身にも当てはまる。

Many citizens and government officials have begun to distrust TEPCO because of the way it has dealt with the situation and the delay in releasing information. What is important at this juncture is for all those concerned to come together to overcome the crisis.
　情報伝達の遅れなど、これまでの東電の対応に不信感を募らせる国民や政府関係者は多い。ここは、あらゆる当事者が心をひとつにして、危機を乗り切ることが肝心だ。

First, the government and TEPCO need to closely share information and unify their chain of command. Why not seek the opinions of foreign specialists such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United States, both of which have pledged their cooperation?
　まずは政府と東電が密接に情報を共有し、指揮命令系統を一本化する必要がある。すでに協力を表明している国際原子力機関（ＩＡＥＡ）や米国など、海外の専門家の知見も広く求めたらどうだろう。

The important thing at this juncture is to promptly and adequately disclose information.
　いま重要なことは、迅速で十分な情報の開示だ。

Until now, at every turn, the government and TEPCO have stressed that everything is under control. We can well understand the need to prevent the public panicking.
　政府や東電はこれまで、ことあるごとに大丈夫だ、と強調してきた。国民がパニックに陥らないよう細心の注意を払う必要はよくわかる。

However, if the government causes the public to suspect that it is hiding something, it could breed public anxiety. Crisis management depends on the public's trust in the government.
　しかし、「政府は何かを隠しているのでは」との疑念を招けば、かえって国民の不安をあおりかねない。危機管理がうまくいくかどうかは、政府に対する国民の信頼にかかっている。

The government needs to have faith in the public and properly release information.
　国民を信じてきちんと情報を提供しなければならない。

What is actually happening? What developments are expected? What about preparations and what action should be taken?
　何が起きているのか、これからどんなことが想定されるのか、備えはどうなっているか、どう行動すべきか。

While doing its best to bring the situation under control, the government should simultaneously prepare for a worsening of the situation. If additional measures such as further evacuation become necessary, it must give prompt and appropriate instructions.
　政府は事態の収拾に最善を尽くしつつ、さらに悪化した時をも想定して、対応策の準備を同時に進める責任がある。状況の変化に応じ、さらなる避難などが必要であれば、的確な指示を出すことだ。

Resilience of Japanese society
■日本社会の復元力を

The Japanese economy is also about to enter unknown terrain, having been dealt a double blow of an unprecedented nuclear accident, a mega-earthquake and calamitous tsunami.
　日本経済もまた、大震災に加え、原発ショックに襲われ、未知の次元に陥りつつある。

At the Tokyo Stock Exchange, major stocks of electric power and electronic companies were sold one after another. The Nikkei average recorded the third-highest drop rate in history.
　東京証券取引所では電力、電機など主力株が軒並み売り込まれた。日経平均株価は、史上３番目の下落率を記録した。

In the face of these unpredictable and turbulent developments that occurred one after the other, both businesses and the people are shrinking back in fear. We must not allow ourselves to fall into a vicious cycle.
　次々と見舞う想定外の事態に、企業や人々は心理的に萎縮している。悪循環を抑えなければならない。

In order to stop the financial market contracting, the Bank of Japan has provided a total of 41.8 trillion yen ($518 billion) in funds, the largest amount ever. Every possible measure should be taken so that the economy does not fall into further confusion.
　日本銀行は金融市場の収縮を阻止するために計４１．８兆円という史上最大の資金を供給する。経済がこれ以上混乱しないよう、あらゆる手をうつべきである。

Our patience, resilience and ability to solve problems are being tested. Let us act calmly. The world is watching us.
　私たちの忍耐力、問題解決能力、復元力が試されている。冷静に行動しよう。世界もそれを見守っている。

We were prepared both mentally and materially against earthquakes to an extent. If we regard blackouts as an energy crisis, then we can say that we have already weathered one of those too, with the oil shocks. But this is the first time for Japan to face the ordeal of preventing radioactive leakage from a damaged nuclear power plant.
　地震には物心両面でそれなりの備えがあった。停電をエネルギー危機ととらえれば、石油ショックを乗り切った経験もある。だが、壊れた原発からの放射能放出という事態は、日本にとって初めての試練だ。

Japanese industries were based on an interdependent supply system of advanced information, distribution, personnel and financial networks. When struck from the outside, they complemented each other and prepared to help each other to rebuild themselves.
　日本の産業は情報、物流、人流、金融が高度に組織され、相互依存の供給体制を構築してきた。外から打撃を受けたときは、全体で補い合い、助け合って復旧に努める覚悟だった。

Now is the time for citizens to put up with inconvenience to give first priority to the provision of supplies to the stricken areas. The lives of people who survived a massive tsunami are still hanging in the balance.
　今は国民が我慢を引き受け、被災地への物資供給を優先させるときだ。押し寄せる水から逃げのびた人が、なお生命の危険にさらされている。

With the government at the helm, desperate attempts to stop further damage continue. We must do everything we can to avoid the worst case scenario from occurring.
　政府を先頭にして、打撃をくいとめようと懸命の努力が続く。最悪の事態を、なんとか回避したい。