The Dutch are anxious about the problems at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan. Research by opinion pollster Maurice de Hond for Radio Netherlands Worldwide shows that 71 percent of people think it is a huge disaster. No more than 20 percent think things are “not that bad” and very few people (nine percent) have “no idea”.

A lot of people in the Netherlands think things will get much worse (62 percent). And there is deep mistrust against the Japanese authorities, who are saying the effects will be limited and that the chance of a meltdown is low. Just over half the people asked (51 percent) said they had no confidence whatsoever in the Japanese government.

When asked about the two nuclear power stations in the Netherlands, concerns were almost just as high. Almost two thirds of the population thinks a comparable disaster could take place at the Dutch nuclear plants.

Very safe
Nevertheless, in spite of the level of concern, the percentage of people who think nuclear power stations are very safe is 61 percent. That figure has hardly changed since the last time it was measured in 2008. The percentage of people who think that the government should issue licences for new nuclear plants has also changed little since 2005. Back then this figure was 47 percent, it rose to 51 percent in October 2010 and has now gone back down to 47 percent

Events in Japan have actually changed little in people’s opinions about nuclear power in the Netherlands. Only seven percent of people in the Netherlands who used to be in favour of nuclear energy have changed their minds and are now against it. A large majority of people have not changed their minds or don’t know.

(nc)