This Week's Update － A year from the Great East Japan Earthquake - Reconsidering Nuclear Power (12th March, 2012)
One year has passed from March 11th, since the Great East Japan Earthquake. Reconstructions are progressing gradually. However, the nuclear accident have continued to affect Japanese society.
GEPR introduce opinions on energy issues from various viewpoints, whatever the standpoints maybe, if we consider it is appropriate and meaningful to society. We also welcome opinions on nuclear power, both in favor and of opposition.
This Week’s Column
1）Mr. Paul Blustein, an author and former Tokyo correspondent of the Washington Post, contributed a column ”Rise Up, JAPAN, and Demand Your Area’s Share of Tohoku Debris” (Japanese translation coming soon). He appeals that Japanese citizens should act in order to urgently resolve the problems of Tohoku debris.
2）Professor Kiminori Itoh, Yokohama National University, contributed a column ”Reconsidering Nuclear Power – From the viewpoint of risks, costs, and global warming.“ He questions the estimate which underestimates the risks and suggests that nuclear power plants are inexpensive. Also, he introduces a study that possibility of the connections between the global warming and solar activity is more closer than it have been thought, which Prof. Itoh is examining interdisciplinary with meteorologist.
Nuclear power plants have been considered a key to stop the global warming, because it does not emit carbon dioxide. This column is an objection from a scholar (English Translation coming soon).
3）GEPR editorial staffs contributed a column “How not to be fooled by incorrect information which seem to be scientifically correct at a first glance – Facing confusion over radioactivity after Fukushima”(English translation coming soon). It was written by a scientist who cooperates with GEPR.
It presents a view to people how not to be fooled by: asserting the source and authority of scientific findings; verify data on your own; and by examining how conclusions and opinions are reached from the data.
This Week’s Report
1）We introduce ”America’s Energy Future” by American Energy Council. It is a long report with 5 chapters.
It expects for innovation and technology development in the field of clean energy with the federal government’s support.
2）Prof. Wade Allison , Emeritus Professor of the University of Oxford, published a report “Public Trust in Nuclear Energy：PDF” . He has contributed a column for GEPR “Facing the Facts About Nuclear Radiation ― Is it really so harmful? “
He points out that excessive fear for nuclear power had spread under the Cold War structure and emphasizes the necessity to face radiation rationally.
3）Rebuilt Japan Initiative Foundation, a civil research institute published a “Investigation and Verification report - Independent Investigation Commission on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident, ”. It’s abstract “Fukushima in Review: A complex disaster, a disastrous response” is open to public on the web of the Bulletin of the Atomic scientists.
