On the following day when the Hiroshima High Court gave a green-light ruling to the No.3 reactor at the Ikata Power Plant, Ehime Prefecture in the western Japan (September 26), the Nuclear Regulation Authority authorized the No.2 reactor at the Tokai Plant, located in Ibaraki Prefecture in the eastern region, to re-operate. The reactor is over 40 years old and has been hit by the severe earthquakes in 2011. Japan is vulnerable to geological movements. Does the Japanese government attempt to deprive happiness of people by another nuclear calamity?

ABE GOVERNMENT TRIES TO DESTROY PEOPLE’S FUTURE

Government prefers re-operate nuclear plants

Earthquakes hit Hokkaido recently, the most northern island, which caused power blackout across the prefecture, recording Tremor 7 of the Japanese scale. Its epicenter was in the eastern Iburi district of the central region, but the area has never been designated as a location of active faults. All such faults have not yet been identified officially aside from those exposed to the surface of soil.

As for the earthquake in Kumamoto, which occurred in 2016 April, the soil surface of the region is covered with erupted materials of the Volcano Aso’s explosions. The faults were proven longer than assumed during the investigation of aftershocks.

The Japanese archipelago lies on the tectonic plate boundaries and the grounds have been covered with volcanic ejecta at every historic eruption. Therefore, it is hard for either the Regulation Authority or law courts to judge exactly to be safe. Nevertheless the institutions flatly endorse ‘to re-start’ nuclear plants in compliance with ‘the new regulatory criteria’, or they dare to reject a possibility of a big eruption of the Volcano Aso. They justify re-operation. At the moment nationwide seven reactors at the four stations are in operation and one reactor is put under regular check-up. Another five reactors at the four plants will be added which wait for approvals to clear thenorms. It is the Abe government that has permitted re-operation at all of the stations, which had been suspended following the 2011 Fukushima earthquakes.

Creation of another ‘myth of safety’

‘The new criteria’ mean another myth of safety. The government has lifted the evacuation orders imposed on residents around the Fukushima plants, ending payment of compensations. It also allowed to reuse radioactive soils piled up there. These steps aim to eradicate memories of the nuclear tragedy caused by the 2011 earthquakes.

Why? It is because the government wants to secure profits of electric capitals and relevant groups, including political and bureaucrat circles as well as financial entities. Furthermore, it tries to use the capacity in the diplomatic efforts to be a leading power; it is eager to revise the constitution to deploy the Self Defense Forces to war zones in the rest of the world. The Japanese government is intended to possess nuclear weapons as the greatest means to attain goals, isn’t it?

The Japanese nuclear industry has not yet gained capabilities to control radioactive wastes, nor succeeded in economic efficiency in the power generation. What are the reasons for the government to cling to development of nuclear industry?  Is it to hold nuclear arms? Thus, the government refuses to join the United Nations’ Convention to Prohibit the Nuclear Weapons. No other reason is found.

A phrase, ‘guns-and-butter’, has been used in a figurative sense for long years. Butter means social services, while guns, military build-up. The Abe government reduces budgets for public welfare and encourages military strength – it prefers guns to butter.

The government arranges economic conditions, too, so that big businesses can enjoy the greatest profits, while it imposes pressure of self-responsibilities on medium-and-small-sized enterprises and on workers. It employs policies to enhance disparity between the rich and the poor, using beautiful words for justification.

Despite the facts, even inside the Liberal Democratic Party, which is led by Prime Minister Abe, some members criticize the erratic politics of the administration.

Constant resistance of people

The constitution stipulates democracy; it does not mean to seek for a strong, wonderful leader, but to create a framework in which an improper leader may not emerge.

Article 12 of the constitution provides ‘constant efforts of people’, which is the incentive to guarantee democracy. This is the sole means. Democracy relies on will and power of sovereign people. Drives of the Abe government to amend the constitution represent a totally opposite direction.

We must not let the Abe government have its own way so that we could create a society in which people lead a life safely without wars and nuclear catastrophes. Let’s start struggles here to fulfill responsibilities for the future.

October 9, 2018