Vast majority find government slow, untrustworthy on Fukushima
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With almost every day bringing a new revelation about how TEPCO failed to release data in a timely manner, and how the government is trying to protect TEPCO or itself rather than kicking ass and taking names, this survey from iShare into nuclear-related information from the government found that not surprisingly, many, many people are dissatisfied.
Demographics
On the 15th of April 2011 1,193 members of the CLUB BBQ free email forwarding service completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 52.3% of the sample were male, 8.9% in their twenties, 45.7% in their thirties, and 45.4% in their forties. People from the disaster-affected areas were not surveyed.
Note that this survey was conducted over a month ago, and I suspect if it were repeated today the figures would be even further down the scales of trust and speed, as this week we have finally had official notification that there was a meltdown, despite all evidence pointing towards some degree of fuel rod melting and two months of most commentators agreeing that there had been.
Research results
Q1: Since the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster, how have you found the timing of the release of Fukushima nuclear power station-related information by the government? (Sample size=1,193)
All Male
N=624Female
N=569Fast 1.8% 1.4% 2.1% About right 16.3% 17.3% 15.1% Slow 82.0% 81.3% 82.8% Q2A: How trustworthy do you find the Fukushima nuclear power station-related information from the government? (Sample size=1,193)
All Male
N=624Female
N=569Totally trustworthy 1.0% 1.4% 0.5% Mostly trustworthy 25.1% 23.1% 27.2% Mostly untrustworthy 61.5% 60.9% 62.2% Totally untrustworthy 12.4% 14.6% 10.0% Q2B: How trustworthy do you find the Fukushima nuclear power station-related information from the government? (Sample size=1,193, by response speed from Q1)
All Fast
N=21About right
N=194Slow
N=978Totally trustworthy 1.0% 4.8% 4.6% 0.2% Mostly trustworthy 25.1% 76.2% 58.8% 17.3% Mostly untrustworthy 61.5% 9.5% 32.0% 68.5% Totally untrustworthy 12.4% 9.5% 4.6% 14.0%
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The surveys did not ask what they thought of the government’s word on “Fukushima”. The wording was “Fukushima accident”. It would be somewhat insulting if, Kansas, for instance, was referred to as a moniker for accident that the international media is talking about.
Maybe the government can’t be trusted on Fukushima either. Those travel brochures can be devious. But it’s not what was asked.