IAEA, the UN Nuclear Agency is sending team to Japan for fact-finding mission to evaluate consequences of radiation/nuclear catastrophe based in wake of the March earthquake and tsunami. The mission – which will visit Japan from 24 May to 2 June – will comprise nearly 20 experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency and the wider international community, the IAEA said in a statement issued from its headquarters in Vienna. “Lessons Learned”? The experts are tasked with making a preliminary assessment of safety issues linked to the accident at Fukushima Daiichi, and identifying areas that need further exploration or assessment based on the IAEA’s safety standards. The IAEA said the experts will also share their expertise with their Japanese counterparts and hear of the lessons learned as a result of the accident. Earlier this month a senior IAEA official said the situation at Fukushima Daiichi, which has been spewing radioactive contamination into the environment, “remains very serious.” IAEA Statement: Below is the IAEA News Release regarding the Mission to Japan: “The International Atomic Energy Agency will dispatch an international expert fact-finding mission to Japan. Based upon the agreement between the IAEA and the Government of Japan, the mission, comprising nearly 20 international and IAEA experts from a dozen countries, will visit Japan between 24 May and 2 June 2011. Under the leadership of Mr. Mike Weightman, HM Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations of the United Kingdom, the mission will conduct fact-finding activities at Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS) site and in other locations. The expert mission will make a preliminary assessment of the safety issues linked with TEPCO's Fukushima Dai-ichi NPS accident following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. During the mission, areas that need further exploration or assessment based on the IAEA safety standards will also be identified. In the course of the IAEA mission, the international experts will become acquainted with the Japanese lessons learned from the accident and will share their experience and expertise in their fields of competence with the Japanese authorities. Mr. Weightman will present the mission's report at the Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety organised by the IAEA in Vienna from 20 to 24 June 2011, as an important input in the process of reviewing and strengthening the global nuclear safety framework that will be launched by the Conference.” Fundamental Question: Is there such thing as "safe nuclear power"? One Fundamental question though, in my opinion still remains to be answered: Is there such a thing as "safe nuclear power"? Think it is difficult to answer in the affirmative under current technology, and we have the facts regarding what are the more immediate but also prolonged consequences of this nuclear disaster. We cannot afford a series of Chernobyls and Fukushimas every few years, because the consequences are not only wide ranging but lasting far longer than a few months or even years. Related Reports: ---“Japan Nuclear a “#7”, Like Chernobyl” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/japan-nuclear-7-like-chernobyl/26191 ---“Nuclear Power, Now in Japan & Future” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/nuclear-power-futurejapan-now/26008 ---“Japan Nuclear Review by IAEA?” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/japan-nuclear-review-by-iaea/25901 by Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Face Book at “Diplomatically Incorrect” Twitter - DiplomaticallyX