EDITORIAL : THE GLOBAL TIMES, CHINA

Time to join forces to ensure nuclear safety

The ongoing nuclear crisis in Japan teaches the world a lesson: There is no absolute guarantee of safety in developing nuclear energy, no matter how much people rack their brains to ramp up security measures.

Statistics from the International Atomic Energy Agency in January showed that there are presently 442 commercial nuclear reactors around the world generating about 16 percent of the world's electricity. The World Nuclear Association also predicts that there will be one 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plant built every five days by 2015.

The accident in Japan proves that nuclear power plant leaks cannot be contained by frontiers. No single country can hold the reins on nuclear safety. As a result, people have to find better ways to maintain the safety of nuclear power plants.

This recent accident also highlights overconfidence in some people. Many used to believe that the Chernobyl nuclear accident was caused by the Soviet Union's social system. Japan's tragedy shows us that even the country with the most advanced technology in the world can fall victim to a nuclear accident.

To date, we have invented neither convenient and inexpensive radiation protection costumes nor found effective ways to quickly cool down an out-of-control reactor. Images of Japanese workers and helicopters attempting unsuccessfully to drop seawater on the most troubled reactor in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station seemed no more advanced than someone trying to douse a house on fire with a bucket of water.

Many countries around the world are enthusiastic about military drills. But it's rare to hear of a country mobilizing tens of thousands of people to deal with a nuclear power plant accident.

Countries with nuclear power plants should accelerate steps to advance nuclear safety technology, just as they are doing in the aerospace and top end military weapons industries.

It is high time that nuclear powers join hands to tackle the causes behind accidents as well as develop new equipment to deal with nuclear tragedies. Furthermore, they can even set up a rapid response army in this field to better ensure the safety of nuclear power plants.

The iron curtains between countries that develop nuclear energy technology should be removed once and for all. No single country should take nuclear safety for granted. What they need to do is take concrete measures right now.