(October 31, 1997) The Japanese nuclear industry is more in crisis now than it was possible only two or three years ago. A long series of accidents occurred -- some of them being concealed, information withheld, referendums lost. There seems to be no end to the setbacks for the government and nuclear industry. And what about the movement against nuclear power?
(480.4768) WISE Amsterdam -More than 30 years have passed since the commercial use of nuclear power started in Japan, the country that once experienced atomic bombs. When we think about the reason why more than 50 nuclear power plants could be constructed in Japan, we have to point out the fact that most of the anti-nuclear weapon movement in this country is quite indifferent to the problem of nuclear power plants because they have been misguided to believe in the so-called peaceful use of nuclear power. Besides, a lot of environmental NGOs (non-governmental organizations), financed by companies and administrative bodies, are also reluctant to clarify their attitude towards nuclear reactors. The Japanese government has propagandized that it is only the plutonium extracted from spent fuel that can solve the energy shortage problem in Japan. This outdated propaganda has so successfully brainwashed the Japanese people. However, the situation is obviously changing.
As continuous PNCs (Power Reactor & Nuclear Fuel Development Corp.) accidents related to plutonium utilization and manipulation and cover-up of information come to light, that is, the sodium leak and fire accident at the Fast Breeder reactor at Monju (December 1995), the fire and explosion at PNC's Tokai bituminization facility (March 1997), etc., people are beginning to be aware that the "nuclear dream" is nothing but a nightmare. Now a nationwide signature-collecting campaign is being conducted to dissolve PNC and stop the plutonium utilization program. Affected by the above-mentioned accidents, at Rokkasho village, the Aomori prefecture where huge nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities are being constructed, the conclusion of a safety agreement for acceptance of spent fuel is facing a deadlock. As a result, nuclear power plants all over Japan are on the verge of an overflow of spent fuel. Utilities are trying to expand the spent fuel storage facilities on the site of the nuclear power plants, but local residents are strongly opposing to the expansion or construction of on-site spent fuel storage pools. On the other hand, local residents at each site have started to demand that the government improve the earthquake-resistance grade of existing nuclear power plants. It is mainly because they have witnessed the disastrous damages, such as an expressway completely destroyed, caused by the earthquake which hit Hanshin Awaji area, including Kobe, in January 1995. Around Hamaoka nuclear power plant, which is said to be the most dangerous nuclear plant in Japan because of the high possibility of a huge earthquake in the near future, people are legally demanding that the local government stop the operation of the plant.
On August 1996, the very first referendum in Japan was held in Maki town to decide whether or not to accept a nuclear power plant in the town. More than 68% of the residents clearly refused the construction of a nuclear reactor. The mayor has also rejected the special subsidies from the central government for nuclear power development. Nobody can complain about the referendum result: Maki townspeople have chosen a nuclear free future.
It is already impossible to construct new nuclear power plants in Japan, even if Japan was once a kind of nuclear power plant kingdom. Being squeezed from the domestic operation, the Japanese nuclear industry supported by the Japanese government is targeting Asian countries to export nuclear power plant facilities. Together with General Electric, Westinghouse and Canadian AECL, it is aiming at the Asian market: China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand and Turkey. A boycott campaign has been conducted on all products of the Japanese nuclear industry, including Hitachi, Toshiba and Mitsubishi heavy industry. The East Asian region will surely be the biggest nuclearized area, if the current construction program continues as planned. We also really like to call for international solidarity with all of you to pressure not only the Japanese nuclear industry but also all the worldþs nuclear industries which are trying to export nuclear power plants to Asian countries.
The Third Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP3) will be held in Kyoto, Japan, this December. The Japanese government and the nuclear industry are preparing to promote during the conference nuclear power as a solution to decrease the emission of CO2. Various international NGO meetings are being planned. We really hope that you can support our activities this December, too.
Source and Contact: Shigeko Ogiso, Director of No Nukes Asia Forum Japan. 2-1-28-501, Momodani, Ikuno-ku, Osaka city, Japan
Tel & Fax: +81-6-712-9955
E-mail: naf@e-mail.ne.jp