nuclear-news

Japan’s new government deliberately vague on ending nuclear power

LDP governments since the 1960s have promoted nuclear power generation
under the myth that it is safe. 

 if nuclear power generation resumes, radioactive waste storage facilities at nuclear power plants will be full in several years. In addition, the technology to safely store high-level radioactive waste on a permanent basis does not exist…… The LDP should not assume that its victory in the Dec. 16 election means that people have given carte blanche to its nuclear power policy.

LDP’s vague nuclear energy policy,http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/ed20121226a1.html Japan Times editorial, 27 Dec 12
In their policy agreement, the Liberal Democratic Party and its
coalition partner Komeito have failed to declare that they will aim to
eventually end nuclear power generation in Japan. They have agreed
only to gradually decrease Japan’s reliance on it, without indicating
the year in which all of Japan’s nuclear power plants should stop
operating.
Komeito’s campaign pledge for the Dec. 16 Lower House election had
said that the party will endeavor to achieve “zero nuclear power” as
soon as possible.

The agreement shows that because public opinion on ending nuclear
power generation is so strong that the LDP-Komeito coalition cannot
ignore the call. But it is so vague that the coalition could be said
to be trying to postpone ending nuclear power generation indefinitely.
The coalition should present a clear timeline to end Japan’s reliance
on nuclear power and make concrete efforts to realize it.
In its election campaign pledge, the LDP adopted a vague attitude
toward nuclear power generation. It said that within 10 years, it will
establish the best sustainable mix in the composition of power
generation; it avoided giving detailed explanation on its position on
nuclear power generation.

The LDP should squarely look at the plight caused by the catastrophe
at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. It
contaminated vast areas with radioactive substances, making them
uninhabitable. Some 160,000 local residents still cannot return to
their homes.

LDP governments since the 1960s have promoted nuclear power generation
under the myth that it is safe. The LDP should realize that this
policy culminated in the Fukushima nuclear tragedy. It also should
sincerely listen to the voices of Fukushima residents who are still
forced to live as evacuees due to the nuclear disaster…… During
the election campaign, LDP chief Mr. Shinzo Abe criticized the
Democratic Party of Japan’s call for ending nuclear power generation
by the 2030s, saying that the DPJ policy is irresponsible. Yet, if
nuclear power generation resumes, radioactive waste storage facilities
at nuclear power plants will be full in several years. In addition,
the technology to safely store high-level radioactive waste on a
permanent basis does not exist…… The LDP should not assume that
its victory in the Dec. 16 election means that people have given carte
blanche to its nuclear power policy.

December 27, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general