tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post5794966684360194277..comments2024-03-24T15:14:30.227+09:00Comments on Stardust Talk : Economy or environment?stardusthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684501661629146087noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-26576191511684542542012-08-28T23:13:35.754+09:002012-08-28T23:13:35.754+09:00A short,1-page summary of the energy/government si...A short,1-page summary of the energy/government situation in the U.S., in easy English:<br /><a href="http://teapartyeconomist.com/2012/08/28/government-subsidized-energy-drains-us-permanently/" rel="nofollow">Government-subsidized energy drains us permanently</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-42908049542824319332012-08-28T15:56:40.329+09:002012-08-28T15:56:40.329+09:00Marc – That’s a great idea and plan. Deserts have ...Marc – That’s a great idea and plan. Deserts have potential to become mega solar factory.<br /><br />When electric deregulation is advanced in Japan, we’ll have various options for buy electricity. Idemitsu is generating wind power, for example, but households can’t buy it now and cost is high under the circumstances. I will be waiting impatiently for the advent of smart grids.stardusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10684501661629146087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-7819052451145595382012-08-27T11:25:30.675+09:002012-08-27T11:25:30.675+09:00Think your electricity charges are too high? Don&#...Think your electricity charges are too high? Don't like the country's forced reliance on nuclear power? Buy your electricity from Mongolia!<br /><br />This is a real possibility not too far in the future.<br /><br /><a href="http://k.lenz.name/LB/?p=7466" rel="nofollow">Prof. Lenz quotes Jeremy Grantham, an investment fund manager,</a> on the subject of long-term energy developments:<br /><br />"14. On paper, though, the energy problem can be relatively easily addressed through very large investments in renewables and smart grids. Those countries that do this will, in several decades, eventually emerge with large advantages in lower marginal costs and in energy security. Most countries including the U.S. will not muster the political will to overcome inertia, wishful thinking, and the enormous political power of the energy interests to embark on these expensive programs. They risk being left behind in competitiveness."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-28123392433901147062012-08-20T13:31:05.898+09:002012-08-20T13:31:05.898+09:00Yoko, I spoke with my husband (and showed him) abo...Yoko, I spoke with my husband (and showed him) about this post and all the interesting information you tell us here, we had a long conversation. I will not add more words here, because the many comments say it all.<br />I live in a country with underlying (and open nowadays) nuclear threat evident all the time. I wish there would be no need for nuclear power in this world - I wish there would be peace everywhere! I just wish so much...Yaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12693182864758766065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-77710594195658302562012-08-17T18:22:18.368+09:002012-08-17T18:22:18.368+09:00Hello, stardust.
Kamikochi is the attractive sig...Hello, stardust.<br /><br /> Kamikochi is the attractive sightseeing spot.<br /><br /> The deep green will maintain our mental condition healthfully.<br /> The reflection of the surface seems to erase summer heat.<br /><br /> Your physical condition and the harmony.<br /> Take care of yourself.<br /><br />rumarumahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08802179941417961681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-58612583661583227822012-08-16T13:19:39.798+09:002012-08-16T13:19:39.798+09:00Marc – Wow, you put so much in-depth information! ...Marc – Wow, you put so much in-depth information! <br /><br />As long as nuclear plants exist, I’d like to know how much radiation exposure of which radioactive substance is how harmful and its long term effect so that we won’t panic in case. What happened to Fukushima could happen to any nuclear reactors either online or offline. Suppose radiation leak from the nuclear reactors north to Shiga, the water of Lake Biwa will be at risk.<br /><br />Now that one and a half years have passed, radiation leak seems to have been not so serious, but how about the young children close to the nuclear plant site? In Chernobyl, there were many children who suffer from leukemia after having been exposed to radiation from the nuclear meltdown. Even if the children of Fukushima don’t develop the disease in future, parents must live with the fear that their children could have that disease, unnecessary fear if that meltdown didn’t occur. Either online or offline, nuclear reactors are potentially dangerous. And besides, it is said more danger lies in used fuel than reactors. I don’t need such dangerous things when we still have ability to envision and realize the future without nuclear power. <br /><br />I had thought government’s opposition to the raise of electic price was to protect citizen’s life (influenced by the public opnion), especially the patients at home, the elderly who live alone, small and medium-sized companies, and the likes. Their urgency is before choice. I think protection of special industry is unnecessary but temporal protection of the weak from the problems caused by its policy is reasonable. Basically I don’t want politicians to meddle in the business details, as their intervention could cause unfairness and would be obstacle to some creative people but they should decide the direction for the better future : getting back to the old Japan (i.e. high dependence on nuclear power monopolized by the large power companies) or transforming to the new Japan. <br /><br />It’s going to be hot again after a cool spell. Stay cool and take care, everyone.<br /><br />stardusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10684501661629146087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-1732242075566703992012-08-15T12:45:00.433+09:002012-08-15T12:45:00.433+09:00Some folks ask "Why so many neon signs and co...Some folks ask "Why so many neon signs and convenience stores brightly lit when Japan needs to conserve electricity?" <br /><br />Bright lights are of course a kind of advertising.<br /><br />If electricity is in short supply, it should become more expensive. Then businesses can decide if it is too expensive to keep their bright lights on or not. <br /><br />But government subsidies keep electric (including nuclear) power artificially cheap (the cost of nuclear accident repair and cleanup, for instance, is clearly not included the present price Japanese pay for their electricity).<br /><br />AND, Japanese power companies need government permission to raise their prices. This permission so far has been denied.<br /><br />So, power companies and the government have no alternative but to beg people (basically private homes and small businesses) to try and consume less electricity, for the benefit of the larger businesses, which cannot stop their production lines for a few hours a day during power cuts without wrecking them.<br /><br />Would you prefer that businesses be free to make their own decisions about what is best for them? Or that the government dictate who should have their lights on for how long, at what power, and when? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-41255221633001210582012-08-15T12:25:38.978+09:002012-08-15T12:25:38.978+09:00Stardust added a link to a Japanese translation of...Stardust added a link to <a href="http://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/35826" rel="nofollow">a Japanese translation</a> of a Aug. 3rd Financial Times article. The original FT article can be read online for free (you just need to register): <a href="http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/0bc5c4be-dd7c-11e1-8be2-00144feab49a.html#axzz23a5iI7AL" rel="nofollow">Nuclear winter.</a><br /><br />There is a follow-up article 2 days later (Aug. 5th): <a href="http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/cfb6a4c8-dc74-11e1-bbdc-00144feab49a.html#axzz23a5iI7AL" rel="nofollow">Japanese traders benefit from nuclear shift.</a><br />The entrepeneurs and business folk are moving ahead fast. The question is, can the government get out of the way fast enough? Thanks to government meddling, Japanese people have no alternative to nuclear at the moment, except to purchase from abroad expensive gas and oil. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-54680047362202337012012-08-15T12:11:21.074+09:002012-08-15T12:11:21.074+09:00Stardust and Uwe and other readers, Prof. Lenz (a ...Stardust and Uwe and other readers, Prof. Lenz (a German) lives in Tokyo and blogs about alternative energy source development around the world, but particularly in Japan and Germany, on <a href="http://k.lenz.name/LB/" rel="nofollow">Lenz blog.</a> He has also published papers on the subject in Japanese.<br /><br />Thanks to his blog, I learned about <a href="http://www.desertec.org/en/news/" rel="nofollow">Desertec</a>, a plan to put solar panels in the Gobi and Sahara deserts to provide enough electricity for the whole planet.<br /><br />Lenz himself is not against nuclear power and often writes how it is much safer (in terms of deaths per year) than fossil fuels. However, he does not see nuclear power as an ideal solution in the long-term, it is merely a temporary energy source, until alternatives can be developed. <br /><br />Before Fukushima, I was very anti-nuclear. Since then, I have become pro-nuclear along the lines of Prof. Lenz's opinion.<br /><br />It is worth remembering that, although many people have probably lost their homes permanently due to radiation contamination, no-one has yet died from radiation poisoning, unlike at Chernobyl, where there were several immediate deaths due directly to radiation. Even including Chernobyl, there have been far fewer deaths due to nuclear power accidents since 1950s than due to fossil fuels. Several hundred deaths per year in Chinese coal mines alone, for example.<br /><br />Many said Hiroshima and Nagasaki would be radiation deserts for thousands of years. While I pay no attention to rosy government predictions or promises, I take "gloom and doom" predictions about Fukushima with a grain of salt.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-52543168273983359682012-08-15T00:06:14.325+09:002012-08-15T00:06:14.325+09:00Uwe – Good point! I’ve been wondering why neon si...Uwe – Good point! I’ve been wondering why neon signs are brilliant or convenience stores are open all night when power companies appeal energy conservation. Maybe the balance of supply and demand is balanced at night when less electricity is consumed. I prefer darker night so that we can see more stars at night. As to air conditioning, the temperater is supposed to be set at 28 degrees C. Thanks for understanding that I needed a little of courage to post this. stardusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10684501661629146087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-87411004100109441082012-08-14T23:47:21.371+09:002012-08-14T23:47:21.371+09:00What a great and brave post, Yoko!
As you certai...What a great and brave post, Yoko! <br /><br />As you certainly can understand I sponge up nearly every information from Japan short prior my trip to Tokyo.<br /><br />To discuss the similarities as well as the differences between Japanese and German nuclear policy is for sure one of the topics I will discuss with some of my Japanese colleagues during a dinner in the evening. This topic is bang up-to-date in both countries. Your post helped me a lot to get a better understanding of the/your Japanese point of view.<br /><br />Uwe.<br /><br />P.S.: I'm curious if all the energy consumptive air conditions and neon signs at Tokyo are still running all day (and all night) long while most of your nuclear power plants are shut down...you-wee becausehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13047534075417228528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-45598296801747615432012-08-14T23:46:50.284+09:002012-08-14T23:46:50.284+09:00Marc – Thank you for developing and enlivening my ...Marc – Thank you for developing and enlivening my post with your comment.<br /><br />"There is a price to pay for everything including environment.“ Yes, .... though there is a limit we can pay for. When it comes to nuclear disaster, the damage is too enormous, too severe, and too long-lasting. <br />Personally I don’t expect the government so much but they should decide direction at least. Some people are far ahead of the government and can take real leadership. <br /><br />Your thoughts made me check electric deregulation in Japan, which I found started partially in 90’s and will take off completely including all the households after 2014. (I included the related URL in my post just now.) Will the monopoly of the big power companies end? I’ve learned a little about smart grid or separation of generation and distribution of power, which will enable the steady supply of renewable energy. I wish safety and reliability. stardusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10684501661629146087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-89378309037018741182012-08-14T20:25:23.555+09:002012-08-14T20:25:23.555+09:00I think the world needs to concentrate on finding ...I think the world needs to concentrate on finding alternative energy sources, and much progress has been made in solar and wind energy, but modern life has a huge appetite for electricity, and solar and wind are never enough. Nuclear power generation has become the accepted way and as long as everything goes smoothly, people don't worry about it, but as soon as something goes wrong, e.g: Fukushima, it's a big news story. There are three power generating stations within disaster distance of my home. I should be worried.Shammickitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11969803866899076638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-73046180629539930502012-08-14T01:26:11.099+09:002012-08-14T01:26:11.099+09:00An interesting and informative post. Beautiful pit...An interesting and informative post. Beautiful pitures to contrast the nuclear tragedies and thoughful discussion on the future of nuclear power. Thank you and take care,Gillian Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16283601772483708539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-29949157480782279582012-08-13T23:08:07.749+09:002012-08-13T23:08:07.749+09:00Hi stardust, I have no idea how I missed seeing th...Hi stardust, I have no idea how I missed seeing this thoughtful and detailed post until now. I read your information with interest as well as the comments that followed. We, too, in Canada struggle with those who want to impinge more environmentally harmful and potentially dangerous substances into our landscape. They try to convince the population that such things are safe but that is very debatable because from what I have learned about life …one should always expect the unexpected and how do you plan for that?Penelope Postcardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03094718993222584581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-67530384158557339622012-08-13T16:21:28.907+09:002012-08-13T16:21:28.907+09:00I wasn't challenging your title or your blog c...I wasn't challenging your title or your blog content. I just wanted to continue or extend the conversation, and wanted to say something more meaningful than "what lovely photos!"<br /><br />Enjoy the O-bon holiday, everyone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-7790350328800651242012-08-13T16:16:05.081+09:002012-08-13T16:16:05.081+09:00As a title, it is fine - short and catchy. "T...As a title, it is fine - short and catchy. "There is a price to pay for everything, including 'the environment'" doesn't have quite the same feel to it, does it?!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-86868146841512470162012-08-13T05:30:20.715+09:002012-08-13T05:30:20.715+09:00It is not easy to find a balance between nature an...It is not easy to find a balance between nature and modern life. Thanks for your comment! Have a nice day! :)rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06327343835390881017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-72208387300843251432012-08-12T23:43:08.238+09:002012-08-12T23:43:08.238+09:00Marc – Thank you for the precious opinion. I’d lik...Marc – Thank you for the precious opinion. I’d like to reply before going offline due to family reunion from tomorrow during obon.<br /><br />Actually I pondered on the title before posting. I questioned myself (in Japanese): to borrow your words “Are economy and environment mutually opposed concepts?” I wish economic growth without danger and without damaging environment and think it would be possible if we can fully rely on any type of renewable energy in future, but it will be a long way to go, so I limited the title to the clear cut one to give impact like the slogan of the demonstration, wondering if there must be more suitable title. <br /><br />What title would you suggest regarding what I wrote? I wrote what has happened and how I’ve felt including my wishful thinking.<br /><br />As you wrote, we have no choice now. But some people are having life style change as their choice, living in more natural style with minimum dependence on electricity to both save power and to prepare for shortage of power.stardusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10684501661629146087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-29015859679021068302012-08-12T21:27:00.281+09:002012-08-12T21:27:00.281+09:00Thoughtful post, as usual. But I wonder if the que...Thoughtful post, as usual. But I wonder if the question, "Environment or Economy?" is a fair one. Is this question asked when a new dam is built? When coal-fired powerstations were built? When oil wells were drilled? <br /><br />TANSTAAFL - there ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Nothing is free. There is a price to pay for everything, except the air we breathe. The questions are, what is the price, and are we prepared to pay it? <br /><br />There is a price to pay, too, for shutting off all the nuclear power stations. What is the price, and are we prepared to pay it? Some people are, some are not. Should one group force their opinions on the rest? I look forward to a future of a plurality of energy options.<br /><br />Instead of the government deciding, why not let the customers decide? Those who no longer wish to buy their energy from TEPCO should have other choices. At the moment, there is no choice, because of a government-enforced monopoly by the energy companies.<br /><br />The customers are also not allowed to feel the true price of nuclear energy because TEPCO is not allowed to raise its prices, which it would do in a free market, in order to help cover its enormous costs.<br /><br />But instead of customers being allowed to choose freely, we are facing yet another political decision. And isnt't the present situation - an overdependence on nuclear power - the result of a much earlier political decision?<br /><br />I think if the free market had been allowed to function, we would now see a much greater variety of energy sources, including solar (which is again getting a government boost - another political decision favouring one group at the expense of others; government subsidy makes solar appear cheaper than it is, thus inviting customers to make possibly wrong decisions because of inaccurate market signals. Did not the same thing happen with nuclear?<br /><br />So I question your question! I don't think it is really a clear-cut choice, of either/or. They are not two mutually opposed concepts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-79000489275100353382012-08-12T15:37:31.854+09:002012-08-12T15:37:31.854+09:00The Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings are a cruel re...The Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings are a cruel reminder of the world that we live in. Nuclear Bombs are just so destructive. This is such a thoughtful post and you presented it in as much a sensitive manner. Loved those lake and mountain pics, so serene. I can see there are many questions that are hanging and need to be answered by the politicians of the country and its better that they take care of them before its too late...Artihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14606566484548310912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-73428941752717804002012-08-12T01:34:15.908+09:002012-08-12T01:34:15.908+09:00What a well researched post. We have problems here...What a well researched post. We have problems here in Canada too, where mining our natural resources (including the Alberta tar sands) seems to take precedence over environmental issues - the polluting of the land and water. Short term economic gain comes before long term preservation. I wish you success with the protests.susanvghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16350184275433959922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-31943558369847586332012-08-11T23:24:59.669+09:002012-08-11T23:24:59.669+09:00I don't know the best way to change politics. ...I don't know the best way to change politics. But the ordinary people are demonstration in front of Diet building every Friday. This is rare in Japan. I hope this power change politician's thinking.sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03914623584143922445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-83104735498266910982012-08-11T13:50:02.070+09:002012-08-11T13:50:02.070+09:00I think only the people of Japan truly understand ...I think only the people of Japan truly understand the dangers of nuclear power, because they have suffered from it. <br /><br />I hope your country leads the world to a better, wiser way.Hoover Boohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03083294821646284424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324653069160902634.post-82149151372472385122012-08-11T06:56:21.973+09:002012-08-11T06:56:21.973+09:00Shortly after Fukushima happened - and probably be...Shortly after Fukushima happened - and probably because of it - Germany changed its energy policy. There is now a debate raging about what form of energy is the most effective and safe. I don't think they are going to come up with an alternative to nuclear power, but at least they are trying.Frikohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04277167831642088694noreply@blogger.com