nuclear-news

New Cabinet at odds over nation’s future nuclear policy – Obama orders Japan!

October 02, 2012

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

[…]

When the Noda government drew up plans on energy and the environment in September, including the 2030s deadline for no nuclear power, Edano and former national policy minister Motohisa Furukawa worked for the zero-nuke policy to be specifically stated.

But Edano and others who advocated shutting down all nuclear plants as early as possible buckled when faced with growing calls within the government and the party to consider opposition from the business community and people in areas hosting plants and to listen to concerns from the United States.

In the end, the Cabinet did not grant its approval for the new plans, leaving wiggle room for the government to retain nuclear plants. Furukawa’s name was not seen in the new Cabinet lineup.

In the new Cabinet, Makiko Tanaka, science and technology minister, is in charge of the Monju prototype fast breeder reactor in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, a key facility in the nuclear fuel cycle program.

[…]

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/AJ201210020070

more info here..

Nikkei: Sec. Clinton personally pressured Japan leader to keep nuclear power as “President Obama wishes it”

Published: October 2nd, 2012 at 1:06 am ET
By ENENews

September 25, 2012 Nikkei report translated by EXSKF:

[…]

According to the multiple government sources, as the Noda administration was moving in August toward explicitly putting down “zero nuke” in the official document, the US stronglyrequested that Japan reconsider the “zero nuke” policy, saying the request was “the result of discussion at the highest level of the government”, indicating it was the Obama administration’s consensus, from the president on down.

On September 8, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda met with the US Secretary of State Clinton during the APEC meeting in Vladivostok in Russia. Here again, representing the US president, Secretary Clinton expressed concern. While avoiding the overt criticism of the Noda administration’s policy, she further pressured Japan by stressing that it was President Obama and the US Congress who were concerned.

[…]

(According to Former Deputy Energy Secretary Martin,) the US government thinks that “The US energy strategy would be more likely to suffer a direct damage” because of the Japan’s policy change toward zero nuclear energy.

[…]

http://enenews.com/nikkei-clinton-personally-pressured-japan-leader-to-keep-nuclear-power-as-president-obama-wishes-it

October 2, 2012 - Posted by arclight2011 | Uncategorized