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Japan’s dilemma – a precedent for a nuclear free nation?

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With just one nuclear reactor still functioning, the global nuclear lobby just can’t afford to have it shut down, and leave Japan to get through the summer without nuclear power.  Shock horror, that could be all too possible!

What a precedent!  The nuclear lobby won’t be too pleased its good pal,  the Japanese government, lets that happen!

The Japanese government can override the opposition of prefectures that adjoin the  2 nuclear reactors at Oi, in Fukui Prefecture.  And they probably will –  using a hastily devised stress test program, to claim that the nuclear reactors are safe. And –  it’s  a pity that ionising radiation does not recognise the boundaries of prefectures – an interesting dilemma for democracy.

To be fair, the government is also under pressure from those in the prefecture whose livelihoods depend on the nuclear reactors.     But hey!   There are ways to compensate these communities, and provide different employment.  With extreme weather events predicted to increase in Japan, the risk of nuclear accidents becomes greater, and results of restarting the reactors could eventually be catastrophic.

April 7, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes