Mistake of an Italian Soccer Team on the Niigata Earthquake

Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake occurred on July 16 at very close to nuclear power plants. Not a few accidents and troubles occurred on this plant. The office of the plant did not inform these troubles appropriately or immediately. I share criticism of risk miscommunication by newspapers in the world. However, I first emphasize that the troubles were not more serious than the earthquake itself. According to the Yomiuri Newspaper of July 29 http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20070729TDY03004.htm, the radioactive leaks at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture was below the environmental standard. The security system against a big earthquake did work this time, despite of the fact that this does not guarantee any future earthquake on the nuclear power plants.

Now what we should first is to save victims who are damaged by the earthquake. Unfortunately, an Italian Serie-A soccer team Catania, which was scheduled to play a friendly game in other prefectures, canceled its trip. The soccer team misrecognized the earthquake victims as nuclear-contaminated people. Niigata Prefecture is known as one of the prefectures where the most soccer supporters exist in Japan. These supporters must be much disappointed. The Italian soccer players gave the earthquake victims discouragement instead of sympathy and encouragement.

Now I believe Catania shall never arrive at USA because more bridge collapses in USA are much more realizable. I shall share such a risk with American people if I have a chance to visit there (now I am visiting USA).