More and more people claim to ‘covert to renewable energy sources from nuclear power’, demanding an immediate stop of nuclear power stations (NPP). Bills are proposed by the Constitutional Democratic Party and by the anti-nuclear group organized by former-Premier Koizumi Junichiro, called ‘Genjiren’ (=the Federation of Promotion of Zero-Nuclear Power and Renewable Energy). Opposition political parties follow the trend. We see today an adverse current against the Abe government.


CONVERT TO RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES!


Saitama Prefectural Assembly Approved Re-operation


The Saitama Prefectural Assembly approved last December a statement to ‘request re-operation of NPP which are certified to meet the most rigorous regulations in the world’ with the majority votes of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and independent members. The written proposal totally relies on falsehood that ‘nuclear generation is efficient and has potential of stable supply’, though the myth of safety has been completely collapsed.


Residents are ‘stunned’ by the endorsement as ‘the prefecture is a consumer of electric power and the decision means to impose risks on local people of producing prefectures’. Protest movements are growing, claiming the choice cannot be accepted. After the severe accident at Fukushima plants following the earthquakes, inhabitants of Futaba-machi were evacuated to come to Saitama Prefecture where they keep living today. The assembly’s posture implies another blow to those who suffer from the catastrophe.


While the LDP has a leading role in fomenting social atmosphere, electric power companies proclaim ‘no vacancy’ in the transmission lines so as to restart NPP. But in fact vacancy exists. The companies set the higher prices for usage charge of supply lines to shut out renewable energy source businesses. Thus, new companies increasingly retreat, objecting to heavier burdens,.


If Severe Accident Happens


The number of evacuees from the Fukushima-Daiichi areas after the March 11 earthquakes counts 164,865 at the peak time (May, 2012), according to the Fukushima Prefecture. As of the end of last November, it is 53,275, who are still forced to be evacuees.


It is because ‘severe accidents’ happened at the No.1, No.2 and No.3 plants of Fukushima-Daiichi; reactor cores melted down. Japan is vulnerable to earthquakes, but 40 plants are in operation and another eight are being built or planned. A severe accident could occur again at NPP.


The LDP governments and electric power companies have elaborately covered risks to justify the operation, telling a lie that the generation cost is the cheapest. It is, however, extraordinary high, if it includes necessary outlays for the accidents, the debts from the Monju, the failed fast breeder reactor, and construction of intermediate storage facilities of wastes.


It is impossible to control nuclear fission completely and radioactive wastes, ‘deadly ashes’, are produced after the reaction. The mankind does not gain ability to neutralize radioactivity. It needs 100 thousand and one million of years to contain wastes. Thus, incredible, bitter legacy is to be imposed on our descendants.


60% of People Oppose Re-operation


After a truth was disclosed in Fukushima that nuclear power generation is dangerous and costly, over 60% of people in the country oppose the re-operation of NPP. Under the circumstances the group ‘Genjiren’ has appeared and the Constitutional Democratic Party has compiled the bill. The developments respond to the social trend based on the facts over nuclear power.


People learned a plain fact from the March 11 accident: power supply is enough without nuclear energy. What is important for us is to reconsider our daily habits. We are required to save energy and to shift to renewable energy sources, like solar energy, that do not emit carbon dioxide.




February 27, 2018