Finland is the first country working on a definitive nuclear waste storage. The name is Onkalo wich means cave in Finnish. It’s a tunnel 420-meter-deep, how give access to several corridors.

Since 1980 peoples are working on this project, in order to find the better place. The final place is in the South-West of Finland, where the ground is stable and so the better for this project.

The company Posiva Ltd has stared the construction in 2004.Today the tunnel is done, if everything is fine, they will be able to use Onkalo in 2020. It will be possible to put waste for a least 100 years, before closing the site for the eternity.

Today, any country builds a site like Onkalo. But several other countries are thinking to build the same construction. Sweden will normaly start the contruction before 2020. France, USA, Canada, Japan, China, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, South-Corea are also thinking about a same project. But this project will not start before 2040 or 2050.  

Different techniques are used in order to keep the nuclear waste inside the tunnel. As we can the on the picture, they are a first tunnel (1) how give access to other little bentonite tunnel (2), inside they will put the nuclear waste protected by different protection (3). And then there is the bedrock around the installation (4). To have more information check the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZI3AYI85n8

This construction is built in order to keep the nuclear waste for 100 000 years. The main questions are how to be sure nobody will ever try to come inside?; How to explain what this site is about for the future generation?

A documentary named “Into eternity” deals with this subject.

People are trying to find the smarter solution in order to aware about the danger of this site to the future generation. First, several fences are also built, only someone with high knowledge in technology can be able to open it.

They for example thought about a painting like “The scream” of Edward Munch.

But also about different symbol and difference sentences in several languages who could be the same in the future. But it’s never possible to be sure that someone will be able to understand the message.

The builder also thinks about creating legend history, a myth to informed the future generation.

However, putting information in front of the site will draw attention, but it’s really not the purpose of the builder. We don’t know how can be interpret the information in the future. Maybe the future generation will think it is a treasure, a tomb or a sanctuary.

We will see in the future if Onkalo would be the only project, or if every country will have they own Onkalo site. 

Sources: 

http://finland.fi/fr/vie-amp-societe/les-dechets-nucleaires-reposeront-en-paix/

http://www.industrie-techno.com/le-premier-cimetiere-pour-dechets-nucleaires-en-construction-en-finlande.40941

http://www.nature.com/news/why-finland-now-leads-the-world-in-nuclear-waste-storage-1.18903

http://rue89.nouvelobs.com/planete89/2011/03/22/en-finlande-des-dechets-nucleaires-enfouis-pour-l-eternite-195576

During my semester in Jyvaskyla, I had the chance to be part of the cross cultural lesson. I was with different student come from all the word and also refugees come from Iraq, Afghanistan and Nigeria. The purpose of this lesson was to learn about the different culture and create question cart about the Finland culture and the refuge’s culture in order to create a game. This game will help news refugees to learn faster about the Finland culture and be able to adapt themselves faster to the country. I learn a lot about the life of the refugee and I think it can be interested to understand the vision they have about Finland. It’s another way to discover Finland.

So I interviewed one woman come from Iraq. In order to protect her identity, I changed her name.

Hello, can you introduce yourself?

I am Alia, I come from Baghdad, Iraq. In Iraq, I was working as a lawyer. I came to Finland, because I need my children and myself to have peace and safety. I have completed two university degrees. English language in University of Baghdad and after that I completed my law degree in the University of Baghdad.

As long have you been in Finland?

I have been here for months now, I can stay here for a months and I ask to have another visa to stay longer, I’m waiting for the answer.

Can you explain why you are here?

There is the war in Iraq and the Taliban killed my father, my husband and a lot of people I knew. I have five children so I try to find a good, safe and peaceful place for them to grown up.

Can you describe your life in Finland?

When I arrived it’s was the winter, and it was the first time me and my children saw the snow. It was really difficult and I felt really alone. But we are lucky in Jyvaskyla because, we have a dynamic association how help us a lot.

We have a little flat but it’s great and we leave with the other refugee. There are different nationality together.

We have a simple life, I still can't work but I think it’s really important to find activity to do. I’m lucky because I speak English so I had the opportunity to came to this lesson. Because a lot of refugee don’t speak English so it’s difficult for them to find an activity to do during the day. So they have nothing to do, and it's even worst to stay on a good mood.

Can you explain the main difference between your culture and the Finland culture?

For me the main difference is that in Finland people are really more open-minded that in Iraq. Is not the same religious and the woman has a difference place. For example, is my country a woman can’t do a lot of think. You have a lot of rules in my country. It’s difficult for a woman do be without a husband. When you grow up, people explained to you that it’s great to be married. I’m lucky because I had the opportunity to go to the university.

In my country you have a lot of code and rules, here is more free. In Iraq if you are different people will easily judge you, and talk about you. I never have this in Finland. For example, in Iraq even if it’s possible it is difficult to be divorced. Or in Iraq a woman is not allow to swim in the river with men. People can judge men if he is talking to you, because you are a woman.

You can really fell the difference between men and woman and people think it’s normal. But in Finland is not like this.

 At school the children as the same education as if they are a girl or boy, and you cannot see discrimination.

What did you learn in Finland?

I have learned about many different cultures; I have especially learned a lot about Finland, and the rules Finnish people have.  I also broke a lot of my prejudice. Before I came here, people told me that finish people are shy, and it’s difficult to star the conversation you them. But actually I don’t think it’s true. People are different than my country, here it’s a little city without a lot of noise. But if you need help I think it’s easy to find someone how will help you.

I’m really glad to be here, of course I prefer to be on my own country with my family. I started to learn Finnish and I hope I can stay in Finland for a long time, and start to work.

Thank you Alia, for taking this time with me and shared your history.