nuclear-news

Junichiro Koizumi, politician in harmony with Japan’s anti nuclear mood

“There is nothing more costly than nuclear power,” Koizumi said, marking a stunning reversal for an LDP stalwart…….

Koizumi siding with the anti-nuclear movement is important for two reasons. One, he’s an extraordinarily perceptive politician with a unique ability to read the public mood and sell sweeping change to the masses. Two, he’s calling for a kind of Manhattan Project in reverse

A Quake Revives Japan’s Nuclear Nightmare Bloomberg, By William Pesek Oct 28, 2013 As Tokyo shook early Saturday morning and loud shrieks from mobile-phone earthquake-warning alarms filled bedrooms around the city, one word immediately sprung to mind:Fukushima.

Those who don’t reside 135 miles away from the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl won’t understand this reaction. But the first thing most of Tokyo’s 13 million residents do once things stop wobbling is check if all’s well at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi plant still leaking radiation into the atmosphere and the Pacific Ocean……

Abe did visit Fukushima on Oct. 19, his fifth visit since taking office in December. But each one is becoming more and more about spin, less about demanding faster action by Tepco executives. Here’s the Japan Times headline the most recent visit generated: “Abe Tries to Dispel Rumors About Fukushima Seafood.” All the while, Abe’s real priority is restarting the nation’s 50 reactors, arguing that his economic recovery is at risk. The Liberal Democratic Party has long been a shill for the nuclear-power industry and far be it from Abe to rock that boat.

The public isn’t convinced that nuclear power is as safe, clean and cheap as the LDP says. Even before new radiation leaks were discovered in August, roughly half of Japanese were against restarting reactors that that have been offline for 2 1/2 years. You can bet public opposition has hardened since then, perhaps significantly. Complicating Abe’s campaign is the recent about-face by his mentor, Junichiro Koizumi. The former prime minister sent shockwaves through Nagatacho, Japan’s Capitol Hill, with an Oct. 1 speech, during which he declared his opposition to nuclear power.

“There is nothing more costly than nuclear power,” Koizumi said, marking a stunning reversal for an LDP stalwart…….

Koizumi siding with the anti-nuclear movement is important for two reasons. One, he’s an extraordinarily perceptive politician with a unique ability to read the public mood and sell sweeping change to the masses. Two, he’s calling for a kind of Manhattan Project in reverse. ….. the residents of Japan are being feted to an almost daily offering of troubling news from the nuclear zone. Earthquakes are scary enough without having to worry the next one can transport the nation right back to the darkest days of March 2011.http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-28/a-quake-revives-japan-s-nuclear-nightmare.html

October 29, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, psychology - mental health, social effects