High radiation levels in Fukushima fish
Fukushima fish still hard to stomach http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2012-06-25/fukushima-fish-still-hard-to-stomach/967258, 26 June 2012 Japanese fishermen are facing a struggle for their livelihoods.An ABC report shows that many fish caught in the oceans around Fukushima contain dangerous levels of radioactive material. Continue reading
Rain and mud bring radioactivity to areas in Tokyo park
Radiation hotspots found in Tokyo park, June 26, 2012, THE ASAHI SHIMBUN Radiation levels exceeding official standards have been detected at a park in Tokyo, after a metropolitan government inspection carried out under pressure from the Japanese Communist Party.
The Tokyo metropolitan government said June 25 that it had detected a maximum radiation reading of 1.22 microsieverts per hour at Mizumoto Park in Katsushika Ward. Officials took readings at two points in the shrubbery in the parking areas. Both readings exceeded the central government standard for decontamination of 1 microsievert per hour above background radiation. The metropolitan government said it will decontaminate the area.
The cause of the high radiation levels is still being investigated, but officials say both spots are likely places where rainwater and mud build up….. http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201206260057
Japanese utility shareholders meetings – local governments will demand nuclear power shutdown
Local governments to demand change at utility shareholders’ meetings, June 26, 2012 THE ASAHI SHIMBUN Long seen as “silent” shareholders, local governments are expected to demand bold reforms, such as abolishing nuclear power plants, at the general shareholders’ meetings of electric utilities.
But they may not have enough voting power to force big changes in the industry. All 10 of Japan’s regional electric power companies, except for Okinawa Electric Power Co., are scheduled to hold their shareholders’ meetings on June 27.
At Kansai Electric Power Co.’s meeting, Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto is set to propose “the abolition of all of its nuclear power plants as soon as possible” in company’s articles of incorporation. The city of Osaka is the largest shareholder of Kansai Electric, with a 9.37-percent stake in terms of voting rights……
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201206260079
Thousands protest in Japan and beyond, against restart of nuclear reactors
Protests in Japan Over Nuclear Plant Restarts, By Jack Phillips Epoch Times 24 June 12, Tens of thousands of Japanese people took to the streets over the weekend in Tokyo and Osaka to protest the government’s plan to restart two reactors in Fukui Prefecture—the first restarts since all nuclear facilities were shut for inspection after last year’s tsunami-triggered and nuclear disaster.
“The government’s decision (to reactivate the Oi reactors) is folly. We should not leave it to the next generation to solve the energy issue,” a 42-year-old woman from the city of Kofu told the Japan Times, and was joined by 45,000 other people at a rally in Tokyo Friday…..
“They are trying to scare us by saying power supplies may run out even if the reactors are restarted,” one protester was quoted as saying….. There were also protests at Japanese consulates on Pacific Coast and in the U.S. cities of San Francisco, and Portland, Oregon .http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/world/protests-in-japan-over-nuclear-plant-restarts-256329.html
Typhoons, tornadoes, threaten crippled Fukushima nuclear plant
Fukushima plant faces typhoon summer with added tornado threat, Fuel Fix June 22, 2012 Tokyo Electric Power Co. (9501)’s crippled Fukushima nuclear plant faces its second typhoon season since the March 11 disaster last year, raising the risk of further radiation leaks if storms thrash exposed pools of uranium fuel rods or tanks holding contaminated water. Continue reading
Restart of nuclear reactors in Oi, Japan, killing the tourism industry
the distinction of being selected as the first town with reactors designated for restart has put a damper on the town’s ambitions to diversify its economy by becoming more of a tourism resort.
A survey released May 31 by national broadcaster NHK found 81% of people in the towns bordering Oi think the nuclear plant there may suffer a Fukushima-type disaster.
Japan’s Nuclear Restarts Worry Tourism Industry WSJ, By CHESTER, DAWSON, 22 June 12 OI, Japan—The Sodegahama public beach draws thousands of swimmers and sunbathers who flock each summer to the sheltered cove at the tip of a rural peninsula in Fukui prefecture. At one end of the arc of sand is a popular campground with a pair of historic bronze cannons dating from 1854. At the other lies a tree-covered hill shielding the view of four nuclear reactor domes 1,000 feet (several hundred meters) away.
As the Japanese government has moved to restart nuclear reactors for the first time since last year’s disaster in Fukushima, this seaside town, which depends on the plant for jobs and subsidies, is wary about of the impact on another major source of revenue: tourism….. Continue reading
Nuclear reprocessing is not the answer to Japan’s mounting radioactive wastes
The amount of spent fuel stored at power stations has continued to surge, standing at around 14,200 tons across 17 facilities as of last September, including the wrecked Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.
Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd.’s storage facilities are already almost full and contained a total of 2,800 tons as of February, while several power stations are expected to reach maximum capacity over the next three years if their currently idled reactors are restarted, industry
sources said.
Policy of recycling all spent nuclear fuel may be axed, Japan Times, 22 June 12, Kyodo, Jiji The Japan Atomic Energy Commission has proposed both reprocessing and directly disposing of spent nuclear fuel if Japan’s atomic energy reliance is cut to 15 percent, a departure from the current policy of total reprocessing…
.. The changed tack comes as massive amounts of spent fuel are accumulating at nuclear plants nationwide and as decades-long efforts to activate reprocessing facilities remain mired
in technical difficulties, sources said. Continue reading
20,000 anti-nuclear protestors rally outside Japanese PM’s home
Japan protest over nuclear restart (Google News, 23 June 12, AFP) TOKYO — About 20,000 people gathered in front of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s residence in Tokyo late Friday to protest his decision to restart two nuclear reactors.
“No to the restart!” shouted the protestors, who were led by investigative journalist Satoshi Kamata and Nobel Prize-winning author Kenzaburo Oe, who started an anti-nuclear petition that has so far gathered more than 7.5 million signatures… Japan protest over nuclear restart
Japanese government’s snide move towards nuclear weapons
Japan’s nuclear ambition, Tokyo has only to strike out controversial phrase Korea Times, 23 June 12, The world has long regarded Japan as a virtual nuclear power. On Wednesday, Tokyo took its first step toward becoming a “real” one.
The upper house of Japan’s Diet passed an amendment to the country’s Atomic Energy Basic Law to allow the use of nuclear power for “national security,” according to the Tokyo Shimbun. The addition of these controversial words was made so furtively that not only the
Japanese public but even many Lower House lawmakers didn’t know about
it, other reports say.
Despite denials from the Japanese government, there should be little doubt about Tokyo’s intention — nuclear armament. The stealthy way the Japanese parliament handled the matter proves it. Continue reading
Referendums in Japan about nuclear power?
Fukushima Watch: Japan Mulls Referendum on Nuclear Power, WSJ, By Mitsuru Obe, June 22, 2012, Do Japanese want nuclear power? Why not find out in a referendum? That’s what proponents of putting the nuclear question to the people are saying, pointing out that similar polls have been held in the United States, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Sweden. Trade and industry minister Yukio Edano is one prominent proponent. Even before
his ruling Democratic Party of Japan came to power, ……As industry minister, Mr. Edano
oversees Japan’s power industry…
.. Unlike public opinion polls, referendums are supposed to be preceded by a period of intense public discussion. In Japan, a national referendum is required only for constitutional amendments. Such ballots can be called on other issues, but their verdicts have no binding power. Continue reading
Fukushima nuclear power to be replaced by big solar energy plant
Mixed Greens: Big solar to replace Fukushima nuclear, REneweconomy, By Sophie Vorrath 21 June 2012, Toshiba Corp has announced that it will begin building solar plants with a total generating capacity of 100MW on its northeastern coastline – the region that last year was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami, which then triggered a nuclear disaster – making it the biggest solar project in Japan.
Reuters reports that the Japanese electronics conglomerate will spend around ¥30 billion ($379.6 million) to build several large-scale solar plants in Minami Soma – located around 25km from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant. Continue reading
Japan’s new “national security” amendment could pave way for nuclear weapons development
“Is this intended to pave the way for (Japan’s) nuclear armament?”..
‘National security’ amendment to nuclear law raises fears of military use June 21, 2012 THE ASAHI SHIMBUN Supporters of an amendment quietly slipped into Japan’s nuclear power law saying it should contribute to “national security” are denying it could provide cover for military use of nuclear technology.
The provision, which says nuclear safety should be guaranteed not only to defend lives, people’s health and the environment but also to “contribute to Japan’s national security,” became part of the Atomic Energy Basic Law on June 20.
Critics say the change to the 1955 basic law, known as the “constitution” of nuclear energy use in Japan, was made without proper debate on the sidelines of political maneuvering in the Diet.
However, it could have far-reaching consequences for Japan’s nuclear stance and heighten international concern about the nation’s nuclear recycling program of extracting plutonium from spent nuclear fuel. Continue reading
Japan’s new nuclear regulator to be back in bed with the nuclear industry?
the regulator could have a nuclear-industry friendly stance if the pro-business opposition party, the Liberal Democratic Party, comes into power in the next general elections, which could take place as early as autumn, or by September 2013 at the latest.
Fukushima Watch: Back-Pedaling on Reactor Age Limits? By Mitsuru Obe http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2012/06/20/fukushima-watch-back-pedaling-on-reactor-age-limits/ While Japan was transfixed by the drama of restarting nuclear
reactors, another potentially big shift on the atomic-energy front was taking place quietly in the wings.
Japan’s ruling Democratic Party of Japan last week acceded to opposition party requests to retract a plan that would set an age limit of 40 years on nuclear reactors. The DPJ now says that the age limit, which had previously been included in the new nuclear safety bill under deliberation in parliament, will be decided instead by the country’s new regulator, which is to be established as early as this autumn.
The rule, which would limit the length of time a reactor could stay in operation to 40 years, was proposed in December, following concern that aged equipment contributed to the March 2011 meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. The three reactors that spun out of control
were all built during the 1970s. Nuclear crisis minister Goshi Hosono said at the time the rule was proposed that “reactors will basically have to be decommissioned after 40 years of operation.” Extending the life beyond 40 years would be allowed in exceptional circumstances
only, he said.
The bill, with the 40-year age limit excised, swiftly cleared Japan’s lower house last Friday, and is expected to pass the opposition-dominated upper house on Wednesday. Industry minister Yukio Edano Friday bemoaned the change, saying “We wanted to have the bill
passed as was originally proposed by the government.” Continue reading
Japan’s new nuclear regulatory body – an uncertain quantity
Japan Adopts New Law For Nuclear Regulatory Body 6/20/2012 (RTTNews) – Japan’s Diet (Parliament) on Wednesday enacted a law to set up an independent nuclear regulatory body by September.
The new law was adopted following widespread criticism after last year’s accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Lawmakers have complained that the existing Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency is controlled by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and
Industry, which promotes nuclear power.
The proposed nuclear regulatory commission is to be largely independent of the government and will have control over a nuclear regulatory agency. Appointees to the five-member commission will not to be allowed to return to work at their former Ministries or agencies. The legislation also provides for the setting up of a new Cabinet Office council to study nuclear disaster preparedness, Japanese media reported.
The new law limits the Prime Minister’s powers to give orders during emergencies, and tasks the commission with making decisions involving knowledge of reactor technology. It allows the Prime Minister to give instructions only when the commission is too slow in deciding. The commission is to review the current 40-year limit for operating nuclear plants….. http://www.rttnews.com/1909544/japan-adopts-new-law-for-nuclear-regulatory-body.aspx?type=gn&Node=B1
Boost for solar power in Japan
Odawara, a city of 200,000 south of Tokyo, is setting up its own power company that will install solar panels at public facilities and sell electricity to Tokyo Electric Power Co
Residents who want to install panels on their homes will also get subsidies..
Japan approves renewable subsidies in shift from nuclear power, Malaysian Insider, TOKYO, June 18 — Japan approved today incentives for renewable energy that 
could unleash billions of dollars in clean-energy investment and help the world’s third-biggest economy shift away from a reliance on nuclear power after the Fukushima disaster.
Industry Minister Yukio Edano approved the introduction of feed-in tariffs (FIT), which means higher rates will be paid for renewable energy. The move could expand revenue from renewable generation and related equipment to more than $30 billion (RM90 billion) by 2016, brokerage CLSA estimates. Continue reading
1 This Month
PLEASE OPPOSE HR 8255 AND S.3639 – bills would accelerate satellite deployment, with no environmental review or safeguards – https://ncstd5li.quorum.us/campaign/169331/
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity – go to https://nuclearinformation.wordpress.com
-
Archives
- October 2026 (81)
- September 2026 (339)
- August 2026 (330)
- July 2026 (355)
- June 2026 (287)
- May 2026 (306)
- April 2026 (356)
- March 2026 (251)
- February 2026 (267)
- January 2026 (308)
- December 2025 (358)
- November 2025 (359)
-
Categories
- 1
- 1 NUCLEAR ISSUES
- business and costs
- climate change
- culture and arts
- ENERGY
- environment
- health
- history
- indigenous issues
- Legal
- marketing of nuclear
- media
- opposition to nuclear
- PERSONAL STORIES
- politics
- politics international
- Religion and ethics
- safety
- secrets,lies and civil liberties
- spinbuster
- technology
- Uranium
- wastes
- weapons and war
- Women
- 2 WORLD
- ACTION
- AFRICA
- Atrocities
- AUSTRALIA
- Christina's notes
- Christina's themes
- culture and arts
- Events
- Fuk 2022
- Fuk 2023
- Fukushima 2017
- Fukushima 2018
- fukushima 2019
- Fukushima 2020
- Fukushima 2021
- general
- global warming
- Humour (God we need it)
- Nuclear
- RARE EARTHS
- Reference
- resources – print
- Resources -audiovicual
- Weekly Newsletter
- World
- World Nuclear
- YouTube
-
RSS
Entries RSS
Comments RSS
