World Problems Assignment Writing Guide

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1. Briefly describe the case you will analyze. What happened, where, when and why?

On March 11, 2011, a massive earthquake and tsunami struck the east coast of Japan, causing severe
damage to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The disaster led to multiple reactor meltdowns,
releasing radioactive materials into the environment and setting off one of the worst nuclear crises in
history—all because of the reliance of technology AKA technological fetishism.

1a.Is the case a clear example of the unit’s theme (genocide, disaster or dangerous diets)? Why? If not,
choose another case.

Yes, because not only is the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster a clear example of technological fetishism,
but it also shows how much destruction was brought to the environment, and afterward the disaster
resulted in a significant economic/social disruption towards compensation for some individuals and caused
the plant as a whole to decommission.

1b. What are some sources you can use to present this case? Are they all reputable? (If not, select other
sources.)

Summary - lessons learned from the Fukushima Nuclear Accident.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK253923/.

Perkins, Robert. “Fukushima Disaster Was Preventable, New Study Finds.” USC Today, September 19,
2023. https://today.usc.edu/fukushima-disaster-was-preventable-new-study-finds.

“Fukushima Disaster Could Have Been Avoided, Nuclear Plant Operator Admits.” The Guardian,
October 15, 2012. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/oct/15/fukushima-disaster-avoided-
nuclear-plant.

2. List all the concepts from the course that could be relevant for understanding this case (if you can’t think
of any, choose a new case).
 Technological Fetishism, Economy, Technological Risk

(guide p. 1 of 3)

3. What is your paper’s main claim (argument). Remember that strong arguments are specific, supported by
evidence, and debateable. Figuring out your claim will require lots of thinking – free writing or talking can
be helpful.

I argue that the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, which occurred in 2011, stands as a stark

example of the consequences of technological fetishism, which resulted in significant economic

failure afterwards, because of the industry’s technological risk.

4. What is one way that you could use evidence about the case to support that claim?

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant was known to have regulatory failures because of arrogance and
ignorance, and multiple design flaws. The plant was designed on older seismic and tsunami risk
assessments, further proving that the reliability of technology was used so much that the industry didn’t
even feel the need to modernize the power plant itself.

5. What is another way that you could use evidence about the case to support that claim?

After the Tsunami substantially destroyed the power plant there was hardly anything left remaining

once the smoke cleared. The only thing that was left behind was a multitude of radioactive materials

spread all across the environment causing substantial contamination of the atmosphere, ocean, soil,

waters, fisheries, and terrestrial ecosystems.

6. What is a third way that you can use evidence about the case to support that claim?

Proper risk assessments, including updated evaluations of potential natural hazards, are essential in
the operation of critical infrastructure, especially nuclear power plants. However, since the Fukushima
Daiichi nuclear plant depended on its technological advancements so much it led to enormous reactor
 meltdowns, lowering the power plants' safety precautions, and causing the nuclear explosion to be
much more catastrophic in

(guide p. 2 of 3)

7. Which of/how many of the ideas for analysis in 4-6 above would work best in your paper, why?

4 and 6 because they seem to provide the most information with a lot of details.

8. What is the main message that you want readers to take away from your paper?

The main message that I want readers to take away from my essay is that this ENTIRE disaster could
have been completely prevented if the industry didn’t rely so much on technology to be the answer
to their problems at every crying moment.

Once you have figured out these answers, you are ready