Economy or environment?

Photos were taken at 上高地 Kamikochi highland two weeks ago.

Taisho Pond & Mt. Yake-dake (2455m)

I hadn't known there were as many as 54 nuclear reactors in my country untill quite recently.   There was intense controversy about the introduction of nuclear power many years ago.  As only one country which suffered atomic bombing, people were definitely reluctant.  But electric power companies and the government had kept on insisting that in this resource poor country, nuclear power is the only way to secure stable supply of "environmentally clean energy" (from what criteria?) at a relative low cost. They didn't explain or simply were ignorant of how much more costly it is to deal with nuclear disaster. In the meantime, the voices of opposition gradually got unheard and people used electricity lavishly. It feels like to me that nuclear reactors proliferated like cancer grows unnoticed.   Are we simply gullible or forgettable?

Taisho Pond, Hodaka Mountains including Mt. Oku-hodaka (3190m)

Last year’s nuclear disaster forced tens of thousands of people from their homes in an area around the Fukushima plant, and some of whom may never be allowed to return.  It was a rude awakening.

August 6th and 9th are Atomic Bombing Memorial Day.  67 years ago, Uranium-atomic bomb and plutonium-atomic bomb, which were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively, flattened the cities and killed hundreds of thousands of civilians. Many people (about 140,000 in Hiroshima and 70.000 in Nagasaki) died on the spot or within a month from radiation effects, while many others (about 260,000) have developed various illnesses from radiation exposure,including cancer and liver illnesses. (Details here.)   The living victims are now very few and old.  (A silent prayer.)

However, both Hiroshima and Nagasaki are not ghost towns but miraculously came back quite early as thriving cities.   Right after the fires were ceased down, people went back to the city to start rebuilding.   And besides, Japanese life expectancy has been the longest for the past 25 years.  (Not this year due to tsunami.)  What do these facts tell?  Can we conclude that radiation is not safe at all but not so dangerous as expected?   What we need is accurate report about the health problems of the survivors, genetic effect to the offspring, and effects on ecosystem in a long run. (Health Physics Society)

Some experts say low radiation is less harmful than expected or even beneficial.  For example, we are exposed to 190 micro Sievert radiation by a round-trip flight between NY and Tokyo, 50 micro Sievert by a chest X-ray examination, and we submerge ourselves in hot spring of radon which is beneficial for our health.   Large amount of radiation can cause illness and death, but reasonably small release are not safe completely but not likely to be disastrous, either.  Is it right?

All of Japan’s 50 operating nuclear reactors had been offline for safety checks after the Fukushima disaster.   Despite the opposition of the large majority of the people, government restarted two reactors in July to avoid a potential blackout which Electric Power companies insisted.    

Some economists say closing down all the nuclear plants is detrimental to Japanese economy and to industrial development.  Osaka City mayor, Mr. Hashimoto, strongly opposed to the restart of Ooi nuclear reactor and then admitted for the time being because he was pleaded by the small-and-medium-sized factories, who support Osaka City economy, that they don't have power plants of their own like large companies.  He seems to have been torn between his ideal and the current state of economic difficulty. Almost all the media didn't report the reason of his change of mind.   (田原総一朗公式ブログ7月)

Businesses and households were supposed to go through the third real-life power conservation test all through this summer and I had thought we would pass it.  However, after the full operation of Ooi nuclear plant on July 25th, almost no conservation efforts are seen at the public facilities in Kansai area (as far as I know) like done in the last winter and last year's summer. Though surely feel refreshed at cool places under this scorching weather, this is not a real comfort to those who are aware of the potential danger involved.

(This photo is not from Kamikochi.)

Demonstration against the restarting of nuclear plants started in June as "Hydrangea Revolution" and developed to total abolition of the nuclear plant.  It is getting larger as you read in this Asia Pacific news by New York Times, here.  Participants are not organized groups but individuals like workers, students, parents and children, etc. called by twitters and words of mouth and they demonstrate in an orderly way.  This is important to let the government rethink about energy policy.　
(田原総一朗公式ブログ8月）



I think my country is led by smart, creative business leaders, scientists and engineers, and descent, hardworking workers.  The only unsuccessful people of this country would be politicians. I eagerly wish them wise, constructive leadership about this country's energy policy for the better future. 

Tashiro-ike Pond (from the last year's trip to Kamikochi)

For your interest:  日本で始まった電力自由化の議論 (Japanese translation), Financial Times

Last year’s post about energy policy: At the crossroads

Last year's trip to Kamikochi:　上高地 Kamikochi walk