At the crossroads

Sagi-ike Pond in Nara Park

Do you see something other than the clouds in the blue sky?

Afternoon moon in the blue sky, 

do you spot this out in the first photo?

I’ve believed we’ll find simple truth by looking up at the sky like “Sky-blue Flowers” or looking at the horizon of the immense sea.  Today I’m not talking about a poem but energy, energy from the sun.  It is inexhaustible source of energy.  Why did humans start getting energy by looking down inside the earth instead of looking up? 

The way to Yagyu from Nara City. What would become of these rice paddies if contaminated by the invisible nuclear substance?

Now that I've witnessed the enormity and severity of the risks and tormenting misery of Tohoku people associated with nuclear power generation,  I want nuclear-free future.  It will take a long time, however, once a goal is set up, people will be determined to do challenging tasks uncompromisingly.   People also will cooperate to go through power shortage in the transitional period as we are doing now.  Due to the destruction of the Fukushima nuclear plant and many offline nuclear reactors under the inspection, we are expected to save power by 10 to 15 percent to avoid massive blackout in spite of our notorious hot and humid summer.  People’s energy conservation efforts and companies’ in-house power supplies have been working well so far. (Knocking on wood..., as we still have a very hot month ahead.)  After all, the time is over when we can use power abundantly and now is the good chance to change our lifestyle to more natural way.

Summer green

Once the civilization has developed so far, is it impossible to change the course?   There is an idea to make the whole Japan a mega solar power generating factory eventually by decreasing dependence on nuclear power gradually.  I think it’s fascinating.  When the central government had no constructive idea, it was proposed by the president of Softbank Corp.  Osaka prefecture's governor supported the idea quickly and 35 prefecture's governors join the plan so far.  Prefectures offer land free and Softbank construct mega solar plants on it.  In the open space in each prefecture, there will be huge solar generators.

Some people criticize it as Mr. Son’s business strategy.  If people are critical, why don't they propose another constructive ideas of their own?  Some people propose that work of generation and distribution of power be divided, and some say only solar energy is risky because weather is uncertain.  Japan has a month-long rainy season.

According to yesterday's newspaper, The Sankei, Osaka prefecture announced that when solar panels are put on the roof of every house, building, school, etc. of Osaka prefecture, the amount of generated energy will be equivalent to the one by 5 nuclear reactors.  The governor plans to realize it with government subsidies, though with the introduction of new tax to make the budget.  

Central Kobe in 2011

The reconstruction of Kobe after devastating 1995 earthquake was realized

much faster than expected.

A minister said that decreasing nuclear power would be detrimental to the industrious development and we would not be wealthy any more.  I'd like to ask what is the role of the government: to make people rich, or to make people happy?  I'd like to be safe and sound always without "man-made" catastrophe.  Fortunately the renewable energy technologies have been growing and storage battery technologies are heating up.  By careful shifting from nuclear power to renewable power gradually, maybe we could become self sufficient in terms of energy in future.  I don't want this ends up wishful thinking.

Last but not least,  my thoughts and prayers are for the deceased, the bereaved, the injured, and all the Norwegian people.

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