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Taiwan’s anti nuclear groups organise for a nuclear free country

Taiwan’s Nuclear-free New Year’s Wish, Global Voices,  by I-fan Lin  6 January 2013  Every year, Taiwanese gather around Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan to see fireworks and celebrate the coming of the new year.

This year, the celebration was very special as popular singers, environmental and youth activists worked together to present a nuclear-free homeland as Taiwanese people’s common wish [zh] for 2013. Singers performed in new year’s eve parties and sang anti-nuclear songs. Environment groups organized a joint signature campaign to build consensus among Taiwanese for a nuclear-free policy.

The most eye-catching action was delivered by a number of youth activists under the Citizens No Nuke [zh, en, jp, de] network, who projected an anti-nuclear sign on Taipei 101 during the annual fireworks. They uploaded their action to Youtube afterwards.   …..     Is Taiwan ready to become a nuclear-free country? On Jan 9, 2013, the Legislative Yuan will start to examine the draft law on the promotion of a nuclear-free homeland [zh], which was proposed in 2005. If this draft law is passed, the three nuclear power plants will cease to operate once their service lives have expired and the construction of the fourth nuclear power plant will be stopped.

Currently, the residents affected by the construction of the fourth nuclear power plant are pressing for a referendum [zh] to stop its construction in 2013.
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2013/01/06/taiwan-nuclear-free-new-years-wish/

January 7, 2013 Posted by | politics, Taiwan | Leave a comment

Japan’s energy conservation success, post Fukushima

energy-efficiency-manHow Japan Discovered Conservation: Fukushima  Forbes, 6 Jan 13, Japan lost a quarter of its electric capacity when it shuttered its nuclear reactors in the wake of the Fukushima disaster. Predicted blackouts have not materialized, though, thanks to a national conservation effort that reduced demand by as much as 15 percent….. “People did everything they could,” said Okamura. “To minimize air conditioning, they raised thermostats in homes, offices and stores to 83 degrees Fahrenheit, as the government asked. They set every appliance and electronic device to the most energy-efficient settings. They kept the lights off as much as possible. Escalators were shut off.” Continue reading →

January 7, 2013 Posted by | ENERGY, Japan | Leave a comment

Despite safety doubts, China resumes building big nuclear power plant

China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection said in a report in
October that the country’s nuclear safety situation was “not
optimistic”, and that the use of differing types of reactors in
Chinese plants made the sector “difficult to manage”.

China resumes construction of ‘biggest’ nuclear plant Australia
Network News, 4 Jan 13 Chinese state media says the country has
resumed construction of a nuclear power plant suspended after the 2011
Fukushima disaster. Continue reading →

January 7, 2013 Posted by | China, politics | Leave a comment

Fukushima govt’s new law to force stores to sell local produce?

exclamation-New law to force stores to sell produce from Fukushima? http://enenews.com/report-japan-govt-force-stores-sell-fukushima-food Fukushima Minpo’s Jan. 3, 2013 report on their recent interview with Masako Mori, the ‘minister in charge of dealing with declining number of children’ (elected to the Upper House from District in Fukushima Prefecture), translated by EXSKF:

[…] 

[Mori said] the government will aim to pass the legislation to promote the sale of Fukushima produce and goods, in order to clearly show [to the public] how the national government stands on the issue of baseless rumor damages. It is considered that Mr. Mori’s agency [Consumer Affairs Agency] and related agencies and ministries will decide on the details [of the legislation]. In summary, the legislation would “designate Fukushima Prefecture as the “special zone”, and enable the national government to order retailers to sell locally-produced goods and to extend preferential treatment to retailers who sell such goods in the storefronts”, Ms. Mori explained.

The Constitution guarantees “freedom of commerce”. It remains to be seen whether the legislation can legally force retailers.

[…]

EXSKF adds, “It’s not very clear […] whether this legislation is intended for retailers only in Fukushima, or any retailers anywhere. (The more I read it, it feels the legislation will be for the retailers everywhere in Japan, but not 100% sure.)”

 

January 5, 2013 Posted by | Fukushima 2013 | Leave a comment

Illegal dumping of radioactive material in Fukushima

wastesContaminated soil might have been illegally dumped in Fukushima
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130104p2g00m0dm068000c.html
TOKYO (Kyodo), 4 Jan 13,  — Some Japanese contractors are suspected of flag-japanhaving
illegally dumped radioactively contaminated soil, vegetation and water
into rivers or other places close to the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi
nuclear power plant, the Environment Ministry said Friday. Continue reading →

January 5, 2013 Posted by | Fukushima 2013, Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties, wastes | 2 Comments

Prime Minister Abe in a hurry to restart nuclear power, fearing that Japan might manage well without it

Abe,-Shinzo A survey conducted by the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper, just before the
elections last month, showed that more than 60 per cent wanted to
phase out nuclear energy completely

If the government allows nuclear plants to remain switched off, it
would be admitting that nuclear power is not critical to economic
recovery

the Abe administration cannot afford to have
the public realise that Japan can get along just fine without nuclear
power

Japan prepares for nuclear U-turn.Ft.com By Michiyo Nakamoto in Tokyo 3 Jan 13, 
Japan’s plan for a nuclear-free society, which gathered momentum after
the nuclear meltdown in Fukushima nearly two years ago, looks set to
be shortlived.
Since its electoral landslide in December, the Liberal Democratic
party has wasted no time in setting the stage for a return to Japan’s
former policy of promoting nuclear power as a major source of energy
generation.

Shinzo Abe, who took over as prime minister last month, has given a
clear indication that the government is looking to build new nuclear
power plants, Continue reading →

January 4, 2013 Posted by | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

Five thousand villagers defy police in march and rally against Jaitapur nuclear power plant

india-antinukeVillagers from Madhban-Mithgavane, Sakhrinate, Adiware, Dhaulwali,
Dhartale and other hamlets were taking part in the march Wednesday
despite prohibitory orders clamped by the local police to deter them.

Anti-nuclear plant protestors launch ‘jail-bharo’ in Maharashtra
http://india.nydailynews.com/business/2c7c1676293d2f93702509aa46ba49fd/anti-nuclear-plant-protestors-launch-jail-bharo-in-maharashtra
Jan 02, 2013 Ratnagiri  — Thousands of villagers Wednesday launched a
‘jail bharo’ agitation demanding scrapping of the proposed 9,900-MW
Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP) coming up here, an activist
said.
Nearly 5,000 residents from neighbouring villages and fishing hamlets
started a peaceful march to the JNPP site, some 400 km from Mumbai,
where they proposed to court arrest. Continue reading →

January 4, 2013 Posted by | India, opposition to nuclear | 1 Comment

Turkey now testing all food from Japan for radiation

Report: Turkey begins testing all food from Japan for radiation — Imports suspected to be contaminated http://enenews.com/report-turkey-begins-testing-all-food-japan-radiation-imports-suspected-be-contaminated
January 2nd, 2013 
 Excerpt From: Turkey to test Japanese products for radiation
Source: World Bulletin
Date: December 30 2012
h/t Anonymous tip

Turkey to test Japanese products for radiation

The arrangement will go into effect on January 1, 2013 and will cover all Japanese products sent to Turkey after March 11, 2011. […]

Fukushima Diary summarizes a Japanese-language report on Turkey’s move:

[…] They state imports from Japan are suspected to be radioactively contaminated.

January 4, 2013 Posted by | environment, Japan, Turkey | Leave a comment

Fukushima government’s efforts to stop study of baby teeth for radiation checks.

exclamation-Fukushima gov’t tried to kill proposal to store baby teeth for future
radiation checks
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20121219p2a00m0na016000c.html
FUKUSHIMA — The Fukushima Prefectural Government has tried to kill a
proposal by a local assemblyperson to store local children’s milk
teeth to examine their internal radiation exposure stemming from the
Fukushima nuclear disaster, it has been learned. Continue reading →

January 4, 2013 Posted by | Fukushima 2013, Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Lucrative jobs for former nuclear officials, and “benefit” money keeps Japan’s “nuclear village” operating

Foundation filled with ‘nuclear village’ officials monopolizes nuclear
benefit program
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201301030065
 THE ASAHI SHIMBUN, 3 Jan 13 A foundation that provides high-paying
jobs for retired industry ministry officials has held a two-decade
monopoly on the program that pays benefits to residents living near
nuclear power plants, The Asahi Shimbun has found. Continue reading →

January 4, 2013 Posted by | Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Radiation spread from Fukushima in Northern hemisphere

Almost entire ground-level of Northern Hemisphere covered in radioactive fission product after 3/11 (GRAPHIC) — Study: “The impact of Fukushima radioxenon releases on the worldwide Xe-133 background must be investigated” http://enenews.com/almost-entire-ground-level-northern-hemisphere-covered-radioactive-fission-product-after-311-study-impact-fukushima-radioxenon-releases-worldwide-xe-133-background-be-investigated-graphic
December 31st, 2012 
Title: Analysis of Radionuclide Releases from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident Part II
Source: Pure and Applied Geophysics
Authors: Pascal Achim, Marguerite Monfort, Gilbert Le Petit, Philippe Gross, Guilhem Douysset, Thomas Taffary, Xavier Blanchard, Christophe Moulin
Date: September 2012

[…] In this study, the emissions of the three fission products Cs-137, I-131 and Xe-133 are investigated.

[…] worldwide industrial Xe-133 background could be modified by Fukushima radioxenon release affecting the performances of the CTBT radionuclide monitoring network.

[…] during the couple of months after the Fukushima Dai-ichi accident, monitoring capabilities of the network could have been affected by the large amount of radioxenon released by the accident. The impact of Fukushima radioxenon releases on the worldwide Xe-133 background must also be investigated. […]..

Full analysis in here

January 3, 2013 Posted by | 2 WORLD, environment, Fukushima 2013 | Leave a comment

Business before safety, in nuclear South Korea

Buy-S-Korea-nukesThe country also hopes to
capitalize on its growing technological expertise, and it has already
exported four nuclear power plants to the United Arab Emirates.

Pursuing Economic Growth, South Korea Accepts The Risks Of Nuclear
Power Generation, International Business Tomes, 3 Jan 2013 It’s a new
year for nuclear energy in South Korea. The government has just
approved the reopening of a shuttered power plant in Yeonggwang
county, which will begin supplying electricity amid official
assurances that safety concerns have been addressed….. a sobering
caveat: Nuclear energy is inherently risky. …… especially
worrisome when South Korea shut down two of its own nuclear plants in
Yeonggwang — which is less than 200 miles from the capital city of
Seoul — in November, after it was revealed that some of the working
parts had quality certificates that had been forged. Continue reading →

January 3, 2013 Posted by | politics, South Korea | Leave a comment

Japan’s PM reverses policy – now favours nuclear energy

Japan’s new leader endorses nuclear plants
http://www.smh.com.au/world/japans-new-leader-endorses-nuclear-plants-20121231-2c306.html#ixzz2GkVdjSKQ
January 1, 2013 TOKYO — The newly elected prime minister of Japan,
Shinzo Abe, said Sunday that he would seek to build nuclear reactors,
reversing within a week in office a campaign pledge to move Japan away
from nuclear power. Continue reading →

January 3, 2013 Posted by | Japan, politics | 1 Comment

Japan’s Prime Minister Abe welcomes in pro nuclear officials

Abe,-ShinzoPro-nuclear bureaucrats back in the picture under Abe THE ASAHI
SHIMBUN, 30 Dec 12
The Liberal Democratic Party wasted little time restoring the
influence of the pro-nuclear industry ministry to move away from the
nuclear-free society envisioned by the previous government.

Soon after new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe established his Cabinet on
Dec. 26, moves were quickly made that elated ministry officials who
had been kept on the defensive since the March 2011 accident at the
Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

Even before he was named prime minister, Abe indicated the direction
he would take concerning the nation’s energy policy. And LDP members
expressed confidence that the party’s landslide victory in the Dec. 16
Lower House election had given them the go-ahead from the public to
pursue nuclear power generation. Continue reading →

December 31, 2012 Posted by | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

Physical. mental, social effects of Fukushima radiation

 doctors told the women there was no way to determine if
the symptoms were caused by radiation. But the women saw other
patients with similar symptoms at doctors’ offices, Maeshima says.

“They went through a tremendous amount of stress and those symptoms
can be caused by stress,” she says. “There may be a direct impact from
radiation, but no one, no doctor, can tell.

Md. woman sees long-term effects of radiation in Fukushima, WTOP 30 Dec 12,
“……..Maeshima was a school nurse for 25 years in Japan. Relying on
that experience, she has been volunteering for about a year at Mano
Elementary School in Minami Soma City, which was forced to evacuate
after the nuclear plant accident. She sees a range of issues among
children.

“Some struggle to gain weight while others gain too much and become
overweight,” she says. “Insomnia and frequent headaches are causing
some kids to miss school.”

It’s not so much that she sees the physical injuries from radiation.
Instead, she sees children’s lives turned upside down. Continue reading →

December 31, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012, health, Japan, social effects | Leave a comment

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