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After the Apocalypse – hidden truths

The story of the people of Semipalatinsk in Kazakhstan, who were used as guinea pigs in the Soviet Union’s testing of nuclear weapons

Dr. Boris Gusev, Semipalatinsk Institute of Radiation Medicine:

“We knew precisely where the radiation was.”
“We knew precisely how much of the different types of radiation that people were being exposed to.”
“What dose the population was receiving.”
“We knew everything.”

Silent bombs for the Motherland
Residents of a remote part of Kazakhstan still suffer the fallout from Soviet nuclear tests.
Gerald Sperling Last Modified: 25 Jul 2010

http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/witness/2009/07/20097311050441793.html

Witness – Silent Bombs: All for the Motherland – Part 1
“Between 1949 and 1989, the Soviet Union exploded 460 nuclear bombs in eastern Kazakhstan. The damage residents suffered as a result of being exposed to high levels of radiation has been passed on and seems to have intensified in the following generations.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aUVQiKVKJQ&feature=relmfu

Witness – Silent Bombs: All for the Motherland – Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwCbuNJa2XI&feature=relmfu

Witness – Silent Bombs: All for the Motherland – Part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzF7dzQuhpQ&feature=relmfu

Witness – Silent Bombs: All for the Motherland – Part 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3hyqM-8xfM&feature=relmfu

Orphanage for disabled children in Kazakhstan
AfterApocalypseMovie
“This section never made it into the film. It shows the situation at Ayagus orphanage. The girl in the film, Rufina, got her operation in the end, but died as a result of complications. Note all filming was done with the permission of the acting director of the orphanage and the Ayagus akimat.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AQK1AcRTKw

Kazakhstan’s radioactive legacy
“Sixty years ago, the Soviet Union detonated its first nuclear weapon, nicknamed “First Lightning”, at a test facility on the steppe of northeast Kazakhstan (formerly the Kazakh SSR). The test site, named the Semipalatinsk Polygon, would go on to host 456 atomic explosions over its 40-year existence. Residents in the surrounding area became unwitting guinea pigs, exposed to the aftereffects of the bombs both intentionally and unintentionally. The radiation has silently devastated three generations of people in Kazakhstan – the total number affected is thought to be more than one million – creating health problems ranging from thyroid diseases, cancer, birth defects, deformities, premature aging, and cardiovascular diseases. Life expectancy in the area is seven years less than the national average of Kazakhstan….”
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/11/kazakhstans_radioactive_legacy.html

Thermonuclear bomb RDS-27; RDS-37. (USSR)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPIuWhUCwXw&feature=related

Tsar Bomba – King of the Bombs – 57,000,000 Tonnes of TNT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxD44HO8dNQ&feature=related

Kazakhstan’s nuclear ambitions

By Togzhan Kassenova | 28 April 2008

“In April 2007, 150 Japanese government and private sector representatives visited Astana, the Kazakh capital, and signed 24 bilateral trade deals, including the purchase of a stake in a Kazatomprom uranium mine by Marubeni Corporation. In addition, Toshiba pledged to help Kazakhstan build nuclear power plants, and the Japanese delegation agreed to provide Kazakhstan with technological assistance for processing uranium fuel and building reactors.4”

“Kazatomprom’s goal is to collaborate with Russia to export nuclear reactors to third-party countries. It has already established Atomnye Stantsii, a joint venture with Russia that will design, build, and sell small- and medium-sized reactors. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Mohamed ElBaradei has noted that most major vendors have failed to offer such reactors, which are believed to be more appropriate for countries new to nuclear energy. ElBaradei has mentioned Jordan, Thailand, and Ghana as interested in reactors at 100-400 megawatt capacities.8 Kazakhstan also believes that other Central Asian countries will also be interested in buying such new reactor technologies.9”

“First and foremost, Kazakhstan responsibly defends nonproliferation and export controls. It is a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Nuclear Suppliers Group. And in addition to its general IAEA membership, Kazakhstan has signed the IAEA Safeguards Protocol and signed and ratified the IAEA’s Additional Protocol. Adherence to the Additional Protocol subjects all of Kazakhstan’s nuclear facilities to stringent IAEA oversight, including comprehensive declarations, reporting, and site-access obligations.”

http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/features/kazakhstans-nuclear-ambitions

February 4, 2014 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Kazakhstan President and Dutch Foreign Minister discuss nuclear summit

“Nuclear tests were held at the territory of Semipalatinsk nuclear testing site in Kazakhstan and the country has been fighting the consequences for decades. Kazakhstan knows how costly it is. That is why we need to create common international system that would enable use to ensure the safety. Kazakhstan’s course to maintain nuclear safety is supported by all the countries,”

Wednesday, 05.02.2014

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Frans Timmermans have met to discuss cooperation between their countries, Tengrinews reports citing the official presidential website.

They talked about ways to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in different areas, “in particular, in trade and investments,” the press-office told.

“The Netherlands is Kazakhstan’s largest investor and the leading trade partner among the European Union countries. We are interested in developing the bilateral relations. And this visit is very important for our countries,” the President of Kazakhstan said.

The Netherlands Minister thanked Nursultan Nazarbayev for meeting him and passed an invitation from the King of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the Kazakhstan President to visit his country for the 3rd Nuclear Security Summit to be held in Hague on March 24-25, 2014.

“Being a country that has access to the sea and a well-developed port infrastructure we could join our efforts with Kazakhstan that is a country of great potential to achieve significant results,” Timmermans said. He assured that the Netherlands would assist Kazakhstan in implementation of its plan to join the Top 30 most developed countries of the world.

Speaking about the upcoming Nuclear Security Summit in Hague, Timmermans pointed out that Kazakhstan knew better than most countries what tragic consequences nuclear weapons bring.

“Nuclear tests were held at the territory of Semipalatinsk nuclear testing site in Kazakhstan and the country has been fighting the consequences for decades. Kazakhstan knows how costly it is. That is why we need to create common international system that would enable use to ensure the safety. Kazakhstan’s course to maintain nuclear safety is supported by all the countries,” Frans Timmermans said.

For more information see: http://en.tengrinews.kz/politics_sub/Kazakhstan-President-and-Dutch-Foreign-Minister-discuss-nuclear-summit-25788/
Use of the Tengrinews English materials must be accompanied by a hyperlink to en.Tengrinews.kz

2011

“….A senior adviser to the Kazakh President said that Blair had opened an office in the capital. “A large working group is here and,to my knowledge,it has already opened Tony Blair’s permanent office in Astanam,” Presidential adviser Yermukhamet Yertysbayev was quoted as saying.

In leaked US diplomatic cables,Kazakhstan was accused of being undemocratic;

using torture and other abuse;

arbitrary arrest and detention;

restriction on free speech;

corruption in law enforcement and the judicial system;

discrimination and violence against women and

people trafficking…..”  http://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/blair-met-mittal-over-kazakhstan-deal/

 

February 4, 2014 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Kazakhstan as significant player in the Global Uranium Market should develop Nuclear Energy – former Executive Director of International Energy Agency Nobuo Tanaka

http://www.inform.kz/eng/article/2627881

05 February 2014

TOKYO. KAZINFORM – Kazakh President’s address to the nation “Kazakhstan’s way-2050: common goal, common interests, common future” focuses on the prospects for the development of nuclear power. Nobuo Tanaka, former executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), shared his assessments of the global nuclear power, after the accident at Fukushima nuclear power plant, and the potential for Kazakhstan’s nuclear power development.

– What, in your opinion, is the status of the Japanese energy sector?

– The situation in the energy sector today remains uncertain because of the “Arab Spring” and the shale revolution. As you know, all the nuclear reactors in Japan are still closed due to the accident at “Fukushima” nuclear power plant. Despite the establishment of Nuclear Regulation Authority and the introduction of strict requirements for the operation of nuclear reactors the examination to verify the safety of NPP take longer time than it was initially planned. It is expected that in the best scenario to restart nuclear power plants in Japan is possible by the summer of the current year. Moreover, this issue is currently extremely politized in Japan.

After stopping all nuclear reactors, Japan additionally spent USD 40 billion on energy imports. That was heavy load for the Japanese economy. By the end of 2013, Japan’s trade deficit reached a historic high – USD 113 billion. If this trend continues, Japan will lose its competitiveness in the global market. In this situation, Japan has no choice. The government should as soon as possible restart nuclear reactors in order to avoid the economic crisis in the country which can affect the world economy.

There are risks arising from the supply of fuel from the Middle East. Failures in the supply of oil and gas from the region will have negative impact on our automotive and chemical industries. Japan needs to diversify energy sources. Talking about renewable energy I can say that it is still very expensive. Japan will develop it but it’s a matter of the future.

– What can you say about the role of Central Asia in the energy security in the region? What is your assessment of the Chinese initiative to create “Economic Belt Silk Road”?

Continue reading

February 4, 2014 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Worker Found Dead at Cooper Nuclear Station

Tue 11:58 AM, Feb 04, 2014

  1. http://www.1011now.com/home/headlines/Worker-Found-Dead-at-Cooper-Nuclean-Station-243528381.html

BROWNVILLE, Neb. — Officials with Nebraska Public Power District and the Nemaha County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the death of a contractor radiation protection worker at Cooper Nuclear Station.

Tuesday morning between 7:30 and 8 a.m., plant personnel found a contractor employee deceased in the reactor building at CNS. The plant’s control room declared a medical emergency with response from plant EMTs. Although no official cause of death has been determined, the death is believed to be a result of natural causes.

CNS has reported the incident to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and OSHA, as required, and called in the Nemaha County Sheriff’s office for further investigation. The contractor company has been contacted, but at this time no name has been released pending notification of next of kin.

February 4, 2014 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Just for fun – some examples of pro nuclear tweets that I have received

Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs

Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs

These are just the latest that have been tweeted, about my twitter identity  Christina Macpherson @ChristinaMac1

The  only suggestions that I have made on Twitter, about these twitterers, is that to me, they surely appear to be troll-nucleartrolls, and that they are probably shills. You can bet that they are all well connected with the nuclear industry

From   brendan @totterdell91

  • “recall that shameful @ChristinaMac1 scaremongering”
  •  “@ChristinaMac1 does help to raise awareness of the fantasy stories of anti #nuclear lobbyists. “
  • @ChristinaMac1 would not recognise the truth if she fell over it “
  • “I think everyone accepts by now that thoroughly disreputable anti #thorium #nuclear hacks will say & do anything @ChristinaMac1 “
  • “Another insidiously evil #hipocissy from @ChristinaMac” (note that Brendan has even honoured me with a new hashtag that he’s invented)
  • “The only weasel I see here is you, @ChristinaMac1.  drawing attention to instances of your gross dishonesty isnt abuse”
  • “You can keep your fabrications up f you want @ChristinaMac1 but every time you tweet, someone else wakes up”
  • @ChristinaMac1 It must be terrible to realise she has so fervently deluded herself for so long”

From John Randall  John Randall @thjr19

  • “Interesting. @ChristinaMac1 aka #hypocrissy has no more lies to tell so she’s resorted to tweeting irrelevancies on the #thorium tag”
  • “I’m sure crissy has many more porkies to tell.”
  • “Irrational fear of radiation. thanks crissy”
  • @ChristinaMac1 My goodness, but are you really that ill-informed?”

From @ConradKnauer

February 4, 2014 Posted by | Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Tepco – Regarding “Nuclear Safety Reform Plan Progress Report (FY2013 3rd Quarter)”

 

Press Release (Feb 03,2014)

http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/press/corp-com/release/2014/1234035_5892.html

On March 29, 2013, TEPCO released “Reassessment of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident and Nuclear Safety Reform Plan”, and pledged to make the progress public on a regular basis. We completed the report regarding the progress made on the nuclear safety reform plan during the FY2013 3rd Quarter, and would like to distribute the following materials.

 

Appendices:
“Overview of the Nuclear Safety Reform Plan Progress Report (FY2013 3rd Quarter)” (PDF 178KB) PDF
“Nuclear Safety Reform Plan Progress Report (FY2013 3rd Quarter)” (PDF 3.13MB) PDF

*English translation of the full edition report (the latter link) is now being developed. We will post the translation when it is prepared. We apologize for the inconvenience.

February 4, 2014 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Latest announcement from USA insurance companies – NO cover for nuclear radiation claims of any kind

text-my-money-2Insurance Companies begin EXCLUDING all Coverage for Radiation Claims http://www.dailypaul.com/311554/insurance-companies-begin-excluding-all-coverage-for-radiation-claims by goldenequity – February 2, 2014 — (TRN) — Insurance Companies in the United States have begun notifying customers they will no longer have ANY coverage whatsoever for anything relating to nuclear energy claims. Fallout, radiation sickness, property damage from radiation – all EXCLUDED. Here 

February 4, 2014 Posted by | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Japan’s coalition partners seek to avoid the nuclear power issue, in Tokyo election Feb 9

ballot-boxSmflag-japanCoalition shuns nuclear issue in Tokyo election; Masuzoe still in front THE ASAHI SHIMBUN  2 Feb 14, The ruling coalition is going all out to defeat former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa in the Feb. 9 Tokyo gubernatorial election and stifle his flamboyant supporter’s calls for Japan to abolish nuclear energy.

The strategy appears to be working, according to an Asahi Shimbun poll.

“The Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito are throwing all their weight behind him,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in Tokyo’s Ginza district Feb. 2 while canvassing support for Yoichi Masuzoe, 65.

New Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi chimed in, standing side by side with Abe and Masuzoe on the campaign vehicle.

“The metropolitan government and the national government will join hands to make Tokyo No. 1 in the world,” he said

……Hosokawa is focusing on a zero-nuclear platform, and is backed by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, another staunch opponent to the Abe administration’s pro-nuclear policy…….

A victory by Hosokawa could deal a serious blow to the administration’s policy to restart idled reactors once they are declared safe by nuclear regulators.

Government and coalition officials have downplayed the nuclear energy debate, emphasizing it is not the only issue in the election. Masuzoe, Abe and Yamaguchi all skirted the nuclear energy issue Feb. 2……http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/AJ201402030074

February 4, 2014 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

USA wants to market nuclear power overseas for the next 95 years

Buy-US-nukesObama Team Seeks to Renew U.N. Nuclear Supply Pact National Journal 3 Feb 14, The Obama administration is pushing for a 40-year extension to its nuclear trade agreement with the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency.

A proposal submitted to Congress last week would renew for another 40 years a decades-old accord that lets Washington supply nonmilitary nuclear assets to the International Atomic Energy Agency and its member states. The existing agreement initially was implemented in 1959 and the new extension would allow it to remain in force a total of 95 years.

The White House said the pact covers transfers of nuclear-material samples in support of IAEA safeguards inspections, which seek to prevent the spread of nuclear-arms capabilities. It also permits the provision of atomic-reactor components in international deals facilitated by the Vienna-based organization.

“The agreement exemplifies the U.S. government’s strong support for IAEA peaceful uses activities, and the United States looks forward to expanding these cooperative efforts in the years to come,” the State Department said…….

In a November statement, Washington’s envoy to the U.N. nuclear watchdog said the United States has supplied atomic materials or technology to 28 countries since the accord took effect in 1959……

The renewal measure would update the cooperation deal to include the latest IAEA recommendations for physically securing nuclear materials and sites.http://www.nationaljournal.com/global-security-newswire/obama-team-seeks-to-renew-u-n-nuclear-supply-pact-20140203

February 4, 2014 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Price Anderson Act does not cover damages suffered in USA from radiation from overseas nuclear sources

text-my-money-2text ionisingFukushima Radiation causing U.S. Insurance Companies to EXCLUDE all Coverage for Radiation Claims, Turner Radio 2 Feb 14 A number of readers have contacted us to point out that under the Anderson-Price Act, there have ALWAYS been exclusions for nuclear coverages and they claim this story is not new.  They are in error. Here’s why:

The Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act (commonly called the Price-Anderson Act) is a United States federal law, first passed in 1957 and since renewed several times, which governs liability-related issues for all non-military nuclear facilities constructed in the United States before 2026. The main purpose of the Act is to partially indemnify the nuclear industry against liability claims arising from nuclear incidents while still ensuring compensation coverage for the general public. The Act establishes a no fault insurance-type system in which the first approximately $12.6 billion (as of 2011) is industry-funded as described in the Act. Any claims above the $12.6 billion would be covered by a Congressional mandate to retroactively increase nuclear utility liability or would be covered by the federal government.

As you’ve probably already realized from our bold-faced, underlined and italicized emphasis above, the Fukushima Nuclear Plant was not“constructed in the United States.” Therefore, the Anderson-Price Act does not apply to any damages suffered IN THE UNITED STATES, from the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster.  All such damage claims in the U.S. for health-related claims, death or property damage from Fukushima  radiation contamination would necessarily fall directly to US Insurance companies.

Given this irrefutable fact, one begins to ask, If the radiation from Fukushima is as “harmless” as the government and experts are all telling us, why are US Insurance Companies specifically excluding coverage?  Maybe they know something about the radiation that we don’t?  Maybe they know it’s a lot worse than the government is telling anybody?……http://www.turnerradionetwork.com/news/251-mjt

 

February 4, 2014 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Japan anti nuclear groups urges Tokyo governor candidates not to split the anti nuclear vote

ballot-boxSmflag-japanDon’t split vote, anti-nuke group says http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/02/03/national/dont-split-vote-anti-nuke-group-says/#.UvEnuD1dV9U  BY MASAAKI KAMEDA The two most popular anti-nuclear candidates running for Tokyo governor should decide between them who ought to drop out of the race for the good of the movement, a group of anti-nuclear activists said Monday.

The 19-member group, led by journalist Satoshi Kamata, said they will ask former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa and lawyer Kenji Utsunomiya, former chairman of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, to cooperate in order not to split the vote and allow a pro-nuclear candidate to win.

According to recent media surveys, former health minister Yoichi Masuzoe, effectively backed by the Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner, New Komeito, is in the lead, followed by Hosokawa and Utsunomiya.

“We have two candidates who call for phasing out nuclear power generation in this election,” Kamata said at a Tokyo press conference. “It would be a tragedy if the total number of votes received by the two candidates surpasses that of the winner.”

Kamata said he was prompted by a sense of crisis stemming from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s determination to restart idled nuclear reactors and export nuclear technology.

February 4, 2014 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A concern for West Coast America, as insurance companies now cut out all radiation claims

text-my-money-2Flag-USAFukushima Radiation causing U.S. Insurance Companies to EXCLUDE all Coverage for Radiation Claims   Insurance Companies in the United States have begun notifying customers they will no longer have ANY coverage whatsoever for anything relating to nuclear energy claims.  Fallout, radiation sickness, property damage from radiation – all EXCLUDED.  This begs the question:  If the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima power plant in Japan is as harmless to Americans as the government and “scientists” are telling us, why are Insurance companies specifically EXCLUDING coverage for nuclear energy related claims?  (Hint: The government is lying about the danger.)

TRN has a PDF of one such notice being sent by Traveler’s Insurance Company.  You can read it for yourself below……..

The letters further make clear:

“Property damage” includes all forms of radioactive contamination of property.”

That last item, about radioactive contamination of property,  THAT’s the “biggie.”  THAT is the issue that will shortly become evident to people who live on the west coast of north America.  One day, when folks in places like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego wake up and hear  evacuation orders on radio and TV telling them to run for their lives because the radiation levels from the Pacific Ocean have made their homes uninhabitable, THEN all those folks will understand the implications of this nasty little change in Insurance coverage.

The Turner Radio Network has been warning people about the coming radiation from Fukushima.  For months, we have been issuing radiation alerts when local background radiation levels start “spiking.”  For months, we have been closely monitoring developments at the Fukushima disaster site and publishing news stories about those developments and the dangers they pose to North America.

Sadly, for months, critics have claimed our coverage was “sensationalism” or “designed to scare people.”  That was never the case, but it didn’t stop the critics from claiming such.

So here we are, February, 2014, and Insurance Companies are now specifically EXCLUDING coverage for radioactive contamination of property. Let’s be clear about what this means; if you have to move away from your home because the area is contaminated with lethal levels of radiation, don’t bother calling your insurance company.  YOU HAVE NO COVERAGE AT ALL for this type of event.  Of course, you still have to pay your mortgage for the house you can no longer live in, but that’s your problem, right?…

why, if the government and so-called “experts” are all publicly telling us that the radiation from Fukushima will be diluted by the Pacific Ocean and will not harm us, are Insurance companies beginning to absolutely and specifically EXCLUDE coverage for radiation-related damage, injuries and claims?…..

Click HERE to read a PDF of the actual notice being sent to policy holders by Traveler’s Insurance Company …….. http://www.turnerradionetwork.com/news/251-mjt

 

February 4, 2014 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

USA’s EPA to change its nuclear power radiation limit standards

text-radiationEPA seeks to modernize nuclear standards  The Hill, By Tim Devaney 3 Feb 14, The Environmental Protection Agency is looking to modernize Nixon-era radiation standards for nuclear power plants…..

The proposed standards, which haven’t been updated since the 1970s, would establish new limits on how much radiation nuclear plants can emit during the course of normal production of electrical power without endangering public health. …
“Ground water contamination has been identified at a number of nuclear power plants and nuclear fuel cycle facilities,” the EPA noted.  http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/197295-epa-seeks-to-modernize-nuclear-standards#ixzz2sNNwnVXf

February 4, 2014 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Hungary’s anti nuclear protest grows as Greenpeace weighs in, too

protestGreenpeace joins protest against nuclear plant expansion in Hungaryhttp://www.euronews.com/2014/02/03/greenpeace-joins-protest-against-nuclear-plant-expansion-in-hungary/ Greenpeace activists in Budapest have taken over the famous Liberty Statue to protestthe proposed expansion of Hungary’s only nuclear power station.

The pact, made between the Hungarian government and Russia, provides for two new reactors at the existing plant in the southern city of Paks.

Monday’s demonstration follows the left-wing opposition parties’ rally on Sunday.

Greenpeace is worried about the financial impact of the plan, as Energy and Climate Campaigner, Brigitta Bozsó explained: “We won’t be able to take advantage of the opportunities in renewable energy and energy efficiency if we commit ourselves to such a giga-investment now and we spend all our money on that,” she said. “What’s more, we’re burdening the population with a huge loan.”

Campaigners say nuclear energy, with its environmental, security and economic risks, is not the best solution.

Many Hungarians, meanwhile, are angry because they say the nuclear deal was agreed without consulting the people.

Andrea Hajagos, euronews’ correspondent in Budapest, said: “As Greenpeace activists protest against the expansion of the Paks nuclear plant, parliamentary committees have already started to debate the project.”

February 4, 2014 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Nuclear power the central issue in Tokyo election debate

ballot-boxSmflag-japanTokyo election goes nuclear, Japan Times, 2 Feb 14 BY MASAAKI KAMEDAWhether the powers that be liked it or not, nuclear power took center stage in a debate involving four major candidates for the Tokyo gubernatorial election that was streamed live on the Internet Saturday.

Three of the candidates came out firmly against atomic power. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s administration has done its best to keep the issue out of voters’ minds ahead of Sunday’s race, framing it as a national, rather than local, concern.

Packed with Abe allies, public broadcaster NHK appears to be downplaying the matter. A noted economics professor resigned last week as a commentator after being told not to discuss the nuclear issue until after the election on Sunday “to ensure fairness.”

But the debate, hosted by seven online firms including Dwango Co., Ustream Asia Inc. and Yahoo Japan Corp., has shown that nuclear power is very much an issue inside the mainstream.

“We have to break away from the system that depends on nuclear energy in the long run, considering the dismal state (caused by the Fukushima crisis),” former health minister Yoichi Masuzoe, 65, said during the 90-minute debate, which, according to the organizers, was seen by some 170,000 people

Previously noncommittal on the issue, Masuzoe said new energy sources, including shale gas and renewables, could be developed to reduce Japan’s dependence on atomic power.

Former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa, running on an anti-nuclear platform, stressed that the issue is relevant to Tokyo residents.

“The principal duty of the Tokyo governor is to protect the lives of its citizens. . . . The nuclear issue would directly affect the people’s lives,” Hosokawa, 76, said.

If elected, Hosokawa said the metropolitan government would ask Tokyo Electric Power Co. to start using more renewable energy sources to replace nuclear power.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is the fourth-largest shareholder in the utility, with a stake of 1.20 percent.

Another opponent is Kenji Utsunomiya, former chairman of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

“Nuclear power generation is not suitable in Japan, which has been hit by many earthquakes and tsunami,” the 67-year-old said. “We should not restart the idled reactors.”

Utsunomiya warned of the possibility of huge expenditures being needed to compensate nuclear accident victims and the high cost of decommissioning any reactors involved in a nuclear power plant accident …http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/02/02/national/tokyo-election-goes-nuclear/

February 4, 2014 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment