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<channel>
	<title>Global Energy Policy Research</title>
	<link>http://www.gepr.org/</link>
	<description>GEPR (Global Energy Policy Research) is a “virtual think tank” on web, a research institute that aims to study energy policies deeply and impartially, and make a proposal to the society. The institute is operated by Agora Incorporated (http://agorajp.com/en/, Tokyo), conducting research and survey on energy issues, provide information on internet, hold symposiums, create proposals, and publication of books.</description>
	<language>en</language>
	<atom:link xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="self" href="http://www.gepr.org/rss/rss_en.php" type="application/rss+xml"/>






  

						 

			
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		<title><![CDATA[The Goal of Nuclear Regulation is Comprehensive Risk Reduction]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Japanese Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) uses the same Japanese name with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Unfortunately, the quality of Japanese NRA is completely low, comparing with that of US-NRC.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130422-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 May 2013 14:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130422-01/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update (May 7, 2013)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[”Nuclear Radiation – friend or enemy? Its safety and its benefits at low levels justify its wider acceptance”(in English and Japanese translation), by a worldwide group of Scientists for the Public Understanding of Radiation (SPUR), provided by Emeritus Professor Wade Allison, University of Oxford. ]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130507-05/</link>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 May 2013 16:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130507-05/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Nuclear Radiation – friend or enemy? 
Its safety and its benefits at low levels justify its wider acceptance for improved public health and economic prosperity]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[The health and economic prosperity of the human race depend on applications of science in engineering and medicine, and these have involved the outer (or electronic) part of atoms. Use of the inner (or nuclear) part has raised public and political apprehension when used for energy production but less so when used for human health e.g. following the legacy of Marie Curie. The cause of this concern is historical and cultural with no basis in science.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130507-02/</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 9 May 2013 12:20:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130507-02/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update (April 22, 2013)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[”Goal of Nuclear Regulation is comprehensive risk reduction”. (English coming soon). Contribution by Prof. Koji Okamoto, the University of Tokyo. Among persons concerned in energy industry, there are increasing doubts to the activity of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA). They have not discussed with nuclear operator nor academic society, but requiring purchases of equipment and so on, while operation of nuclear power plant is being stopped. The situation is such that under the name of “safety”, they are designating active fault, and asking cancellation of nuclear plants. However, since this is damaging to Japanese economy and risks have not been comprehensively considered, it may neither be useful for securing safety. Prof. Okamoto shows concerns that NRA’s policy is deviating from its “aim” of increasing safety and yielding a profit to the nation.

]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130422-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Wed, 1 May 2013 11:11:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130422-04/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update (April 15, 2013)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Last week, we introduced following articles.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130415-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130415-04/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Why I can’t give up nuclear power]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[In addition to the disaster due to the earthquake and tsunami, the Great East Japan Earthquake two years ago also brought another big disaster: the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. This accident caused radioactive contamination in neighboring towns and cities as well as the tragedy that even now, two years later, many residents cannot return to their own homes. Moreover, reactor decommissioning will reportedly take 40 years.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130311-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 8 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130311-01/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update (April 1, 2013)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[”Electric Power Industry: Reorganization is needed more than separation of electrical power production from power distribution and transmission – looking towards the future of nuclear power”(in Japanese). An interview with Kazuo Ishikawa, a policy maker. The government hammered out electricity liberalization by 2020 centering on separation of electrical power production from power distribution and transmission. However, would this have the necessary effect for consumers and the company of ‘reducing electricity price’? Furthermore, nothing has been decided on nuclear power generation. Will consistent policy be carried out? Ishikawa argues rather than that there is cost merit by the expansion of scale, and nuclear power should be separated and its government control in the new company.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130401-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 8 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130401-04/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update (March 25, 2013)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[ “Decontamination of Fukushima, 1 millisievert target should be reconsidered”(in Japanese). After the nuclear accident, the target to make the annual exposed dose of 1mSv was set in Fukushima. As a result, decontamination is progressing very slowly and reconstruction is delayed. Contribution by Takaaki Ishii, journalist and fellow, Agora Institute, outlines present conditions and appeals its revision.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130325-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130325-04/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update (March 11, 2013)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[It is two years from the Great East Japan Earthquake disaster. We would like to extend our deepest condolence and sympathy for the victims of the disaster and of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130311-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130311-04/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update (March 4, 2013)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[“Shale Gas Revolution and its Impact” (in Japanese).
The shale gas is attracting worldwide attention today. This article is a contribution from Prof. Koichi Iwama, Wako University, who is known as one of the first energy analyst to analyze this. It shows its influence and problem intelligibly.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130304-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130304-04/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update (February 27, 2013)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[“Failure of Abenomix with burden of energy cost? – Report on Agora channel”　(Japanese only). GEPR’s body Agora now broadcasts Agora Channel (in Japanese) every Friday evening from 21:00　on net TV. On February 22, inviting Kazuo Ishikawa, former METI, Nobuo Ikeda, president of Agora Inc. discussed current energy policy. Due to recognition of active fault by the Nuclear Regulation Authority, electric power companies have fallen into financial crisis. The LDP administration does not seem to touch nuclear issue until the next Upper House election is over, so that not to cause friction. However, this could have significant adverse effect to overall economy, and top priority of the administration “Economic reform with Abenomics” could fail.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130225-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Sun, 3 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130225-04/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update (February 18, 2013)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[An economist Tatsuo Hatta contributed a column, “Energy Source Provision – from zero emission subsidies to carbon tax” (in Japanese). As you can see from examples of nuclear power and renewable energies, government’s support for energy in Japan are mostly in form of subsidies. Until now, this has been associated with pork barrel politics. Prof. Hatta questions this, and discusses validity of carbon tax. In addition to the effect of the measure against global warming which is an important issue of energy, the carbon tax attracts attention as a source of revenue of a new form in many countries.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130218-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130218-04/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update (February 12, 2013)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[We present columns on nuclear power and spent nuclear fuel issues.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130212-05/</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130212-05/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update (February 4, 2013)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority is reconstructing systems such as establishing new safe installation criteria of a nuclear power plant. Although activity improving safety of nuclear power plants in Japan after Fukushima disaster is to be admired, strengthening of the regulation which only looks at active faults is being considered. Is effort which only looks at one aspect appropriate?]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130204-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 4 Feb 2013 15:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130204-04/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[A revolution in radiation protection
that would lead to safer and cheaper nuclear power]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Months of dramatic press reports of radioactive leakage from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant in Japan have carried an apparently dire safety message; and industry, governments and the public worldwide have reacted that, at whatever cost, such an accident should never happen again. But, this is a mistake. Another accident like Fukushima, somewhere, sometime, should be avoided but would represent no global disaster.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130107-03/</link>
		<pubDate>Wed, 9 Jan 2013 12:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20130107-03/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[The case for nuclear power]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant disaster has made Japan reconsider the role of nuclear power in its future. But for some reason we hear little about the non-disaster at the nearby Onagawa nuclear plant. What did not happen at Onagawa during the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami events could be much more relevant to Japan's nuclear power future than what happened at Fukushima. ]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20121217-03/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 31 Dec 2012 11:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20121217-03/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident（PDF）]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Many lessons can be learned from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. First, if an isolation condenser (IC) continues to operate, the accident would be terminated soon. A reactor core isolation cooling (RCIC) steam turbine also stopped due to loss of battery power in Unit #2 and #3. suppression pool (S/P) temperature and pressure were so high that the accident management water injection took took too long time. After the loss of ECCS and IC core cooling, Containment Vessel pressure increased. Hydrogen explosion occurred after venting. The analysis results show that the depressurization of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) started before RPV bottom failure. It is hoped that the lessons learned from this accident will help to improve the safety of nuclear power plants worldwide.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20121231-01/KeynoteDrNarabayashi-THMT-12r2.pdf</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 31 Dec 2012 11:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20121231-01/KeynoteDrNarabayashi-THMT-12r2.pdf</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Japan Cannot Abandon her Nuclear Fuel Cycle! — A Critical Review of DPJ’s “Nuclear Zero” Policy]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Confronted with the wide-spread popular resentment towards nuclear energy in the wake of the March 2011 severe accident, the Japanese government under the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has taken steps to drastically reduce the country’s dependence upon nuclear energy: a base-load source of electricity at the level of 30-35% prior to the accident and even anticipated to grow up to 50% by 2030.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20121105-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Nov 2012 11:30:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20121105-04/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Expectations for Negawatt Trading]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Kansai Electric Power (KEPCO) issued a press release on June 21 with the title [trans.] “Negawatt Trading for Large Customers Outside Kansai Electric Power’s Service Area.” The press release is available on the KEPCO website for further reading of the details　(in Japanese only). This announcement relates to the expansion of negawatt trading, which KEPCO calls the “Negawatt Plan” within its service area, to the part of the 60Hz power grid in Japan comprising the service areas of Chubu Electric Power, Hokuriku Electric Power, and Chugoku Electric Power.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120702-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:30:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120702-01/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Current State of Radiation Doses in Fukushima Prefecture: No Health Risk, Calling for Institution of Scientific Measurements and Correction to Foolish Policy]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Since the tsunami and ensuing reactor accidents at Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant in March last year, the author has freely conducted, as a scientist in the discipline of radiological protection science, on-site radiological hygiene surveys in an autonomous format apart from any organization. In the beginning, the most feared short-term nuclear hazard (risk factor) was considered to be thyroid doses from radioactive iodine. Tests were completed in April in last year for 40 evacuees from Namie-machi plus residents from the city of Nihonmatsu and Iitate Village. The results of these 66 individuals confirmed low doses of 8 mSv or less, approximately one thousandth of the Chernobyl accident’s maximum thyroid radiation dose of 50 Sv.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20121001-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:30:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20121001-01/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[The Highly Safe Nuclear Power Plant: Reevaluation and Technology Devolution of The Fast Reactor]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[The author is a retired researcher, born in 1944 and currently 68 years old. After retirement, I established a start-up company NuSAC, venture company No. 55 of Tokyo Institute of Technology. I investigate nuclear energy technologies, and am currently recommending decontamination technologies for Fukushima Prefecture. One could call me an old researcher.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120723-03/</link>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Oct 2012 17:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120723-03/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update (October 9, 2012)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Energy and Environmental Council of Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, determined “Innovative Strategies for Energy and the Environment” on September 18th. It aims for zero-nuclear by 2013s and so on, and decided on long-term energy policy plan. Criticisms are growing for its feasibility and so on.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20121009-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Oct 2012 17:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20121009-01/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Inconsistent “Innovative Energy and Environment Council”]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[“Innovative Strategies for Energy and the Environment” (hereafter “Strategies”) has been determined by the state Energy and Environmental Council. Usually, bills in accordance with this are submitted to the Diet, and a new policy can be made. However, this time, since the Democratic Party of Japan administration is running scarce, it is not known to what degree this will be implemented as a bill. With less than one year of debate for such a long term problem as the energy policy until the 2030s, it is incomprehensible to make a last-minute decision during the waning years of the administration.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120918-02/</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 4 Oct 2012 12:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120918-02/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[The External Effects of Electricity Generation are Little and the Cost of Nuclear Power Plants is Low – From the Measurement Index "Extern E"]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Last year's earthquake has stirred up a vigorous debate about the cost of generating electricity. It has already been introduced (through news stories) that the Commission for the Investigation of the Costs of the Cabinet Office's Energy and Environment Conference reevaluated the cost of generating electricity with nuclear power plants last December. But what is important here is to fairly evaluate "the inci　dental costs of electricity generation" for all sources of electricity and compare them in a table.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120618-02/</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 4 Oct 2012 12:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120618-02/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update － Japanese Nuclear Energy Policy (September 24, 2012)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[In May last year, then Prime Minister Naoto Kan requested shut down of Hamaoka nuclear power satation of Chubu Electric Power, saying that it is very likely to be the Tokai earthquake. As a result, the Company begun safety improvement works mainly tsunami measures on a scale of 140 billion yen. He reports the present condition at Hamaoka. ]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120924-05/</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 4 Oct 2012 12:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120924-05/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Easy Establishment of Japan’s Nuclear Regulatory Agency Won’t Be Permitted: Securing Professionalism Engenders Safety and Trust]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[On June 15, 2012, the House of Representatives in Japan passed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Bill. The Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito reviewed and revised the draft put forth by the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, such that, for instance, the Commission’s organizational structure would instead be an “Article 3 Committee,” or a government agency with strong independence. Considered an improvement over the original draft, the final bill with all revisions intact appears likely to become law. Beginning with the appointments, the challenges now are how to actually staff and build the organization, and how to enhance genuine competency among the staff. This column discusses the appropriate format of a nuclear regulatory agency with a mission to protect citizens’ lives, in order to prevent nuclear disasters like the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident to recur.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120618-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 4 Oct 2012 12:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120618-01/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[“At the Mercy of Politics: Safety Improvement Work at Chubu Electric Power’s Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station”. ]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[In May last year, then Prime Minister Naoto Kan requested shut down of Hamaoka nuclear power satation of Chubu Electric Power, saying that it is very likely to be the Tokai earthquake.  As a result, the Company begun safety improvement works mainly tsunami measures on a scale of 140 billion yen.  He reports the present condition at Hamaoka. ]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120831-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 4 Oct 2012 12:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120831-01/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Innovative Strategies for Energy and the Environment(in Japanese)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[On September 14th, Energy and Environmental Council of the Government of Japan, published. It determined the aim of the country to have zero nuclear power generation by the 2030s.  Regarding this document, the government at first said it will “aim for decision by the cabinet council” with strong binding effect, however, on September 17th, changed it to ambiguous challenge, probably due to domestic repulsion.  [c.f. Cabinet decision document “ About future energy and environmental policy” 

There is less interest towards Japan due to slump of its economic power, however, switch of energy policy of a country with 3rd largest quantity of generation of nuclear in the world in 2010, drew attention. ]]></description>
		<link>http://www.npu.go.jp/policy/policy09/pdf/20120919/20120919_1.pdf  </link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 4 Oct 2012 12:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.npu.go.jp/policy/policy09/pdf/20120919/20120919_1.pdf  </guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[“Japan’s zero-nuclear dream”]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Editorial column, on September 17th. It views zero-nuclear negatively and as a “dream”. ]]></description>
		<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/japans-zero-nuclear-dream/2012/09/16/f595b820-feaa-11e1-a31e-804fccb658f9_story.html</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 4 Oct 2012 12:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/japans-zero-nuclear-dream/2012/09/16/f595b820-feaa-11e1-a31e-804fccb658f9_story.html</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[“Noda’s nuclear phase-out is decisive – but not final”]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Its editorial column of September 17th . It evaluates this policy as decisive, though its handling may change with future change of government, an economical argument and so on. ]]></description>
		<link>http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/f4472964-0002-11e2-a30e-00144feabdc0.html</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 4 Oct 2012 12:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/f4472964-0002-11e2-a30e-00144feabdc0.html</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[The U.S.- Japan Alliance”]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[We introduce the report published in August by Richard Armitage, the former deputy secretary of state, and Joseph Nye, Proffessor at Harvard University, together with CSIS. “The U.S.- Japan Alliance” 
The report proposes such as use of nuclear power generation, the international joint ownership of the lessons of the Fukushima accident, and the sale of the American shale gas. ]]></description>
		<link>http://csis.org/files/publication/120810_Armitage_USJapanAlliance_Web.pdf</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 4 Oct 2012 12:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://csis.org/files/publication/120810_Armitage_USJapanAlliance_Web.pdf</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[It was not radiation that caused the deaths of over 600 people in the nuclear disaster]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[In the final report by the government's Investigation Committee on the Accident at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Stations of Tokyo Electric Power Company, there are some important yet less than eye-catching findings. The account of the incident involving the deaths of approximately 50 patients at Futaba Hospital (Okuma Town, Fukushima Prefecture) and its associated nursing facilities stretches over eight pages.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120727-99/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 1 Oct 2012 17:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120727-99/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Denuclearization Should Consider Logical Pathway, Consensus of Citizenry: Expectations for Societal Reform Through Natural Energy]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[A review in energy policy looks more and more likely, and hopes for renewable energies are growing. We sought the comments of Takejiro Sueyoshi, special advisor to the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), who is also an opinion leader in environmental and energy issues.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120611-02/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 1 Oct 2012 17:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120611-02/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[At the Mercy of Politics: Safety Improvement Work at Chubu Electric Power’s Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Receiving the request of then-Prime Minister Naoto Kan, Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station of Chubu Electric Power (Omaezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture) shut down its reactor operations in May last year. Today, at a cost of 140 billion yen, large-scale construction work on tsunami countermeasures and other improvements continue at the site in an effort to enhance safety further. GEPR editorial staff visited the site in early August to report on the developments.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120831-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120831-01/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident and Future Energy Policy]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[I would like to express my heartfelt concerns toward everyone who has been affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, particularly the evacuees who have been subjected to the problems associated with the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120514-02/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120514-02/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Nuclear after Fukushima]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[It is common knowledge that the world is set to go from six to nine billion people in the next 20-30 years. In order to cope with the energy challenges encompassed in this daunting thought, there are three questions which many nations must face.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120820-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120820-04/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Three Proposals to Avoid a Solar Bubble.]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[At the April 27, 2012 conference by the the feed-in tariff rates appraisal committee of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the committee chairman's plan for a feed-in tariff (hereinafter FIT) to be enacted in July was approved. Under this plan, energy generated by photovoltaic means (hereinafter PV) of less than 10kW, for example, will be purchased at a price of 42 JPY/kWh for 10 years (however, for household use, when the extant subsidy of 35,000 JPY/kW is taken into account, it amounts to approximately 48 JPY), while amounts greater than 10kW will be purchased at 42 JPY/kW for 20 years (Table 1). The expectation is that the FIT will create a large scale demand for renewable energy, and will simultaneously cause a decrease in the unit price of products and lead to the stimulation of related industries and job creation through increased demand.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120514-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120514-01/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[My feelings as a disaster victim who had supported nuclear power — It is necessary to continue to think about the reality of the disaster and its true causes]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[For nearly half of a century, I had made it my job to promote nuclear power, but no sooner had I retired than I myself was forced to evacuate by the nuclear incident. It is quite the ironic story.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120709-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120709-01/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Was the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident “Made in Japan”?]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[The English version of the official report released by the Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission (NAIIC) of the National Diet of Japan contains a preface message by the chairman with the following passage.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120709-02/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jul 2012 12:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120709-02/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update — Considering Successions of Nuclear Technique (23rd July, 2012)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Debate about the nuclear power and the world after Fukushima nuclear accident continues in Japan. We introduce topics for readers to think about the issue of atomic energy.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120723-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Jul 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120723-04/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[The Fukushima Accident and the NAIIC Report]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Low or moderate radiation doses and dose rates are harmless, but the public health effects of a misunderstood accident like the one at Fukushima are dangerous, to individuals and to the society and economy at large. Perceptions of the health threat posed by the released radioactivity have been magnified by overly cautious international "safety" standards. The consequential collapse of confidence and widespread fear are unrelated to the physical effect of the radiation on human life. Contrary to the view expressed by the recent NAIIC Report this is a significant international problem, not a purely national Japanese one.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120723-05/</link>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jul 2012 9:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120723-05/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update — World Energy Affairs (17th July, 2012)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Smart meters, which transmits detailed information of electricity usage, is attracting attention as means for power saving. In addition, there is expectation that new industry may occur by using these information. Korean information appliance venture "Nuri Telecom" installed smart meters to 270,000 houses in Sweden. Mr. Masayuki Suzuki, president of Japanese subsidiary contributed "Will Smart Meter Change Society? - From the experience of installing smart meters to 270,000 houses." ]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120717-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Jul 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120717-04/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Renewable Energy Introduction Potential Map and Basic Zoning Information]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Ministry of the Environment of Japan began a service to display potential location for renewable energy on a Japanese map by using Google Earth.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.env.go.jp/earth/ondanka/rep/EN/index.html</link>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Jul 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.env.go.jp/earth/ondanka/rep/EN/index.html</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[A better mix -　Shale gas will improve global security of energy supplies]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[This article showed reserves of the shale gas. Reserves are abundant in the United States and China, countries with high energy consumptions. Therefore, it points out that it is benefitial for both energy security and global warming policy.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.economist.com/node/21558455?fsrc=scn/tw_ec/a_better_mix</link>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Jul 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.economist.com/node/21558455?fsrc=scn/tw_ec/a_better_mix</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update — How should We Build Consensus on Energy?　(9th, July 2012)

]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Japanese government proposed policy options in June about the future of energy policy and nuclear power, and people begun to debate these issues. GEPR provides necessary information in order to consider them appropriately.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120709-05/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 9 Jul 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120709-05/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[From 2011 Emergency Power Savings to 2012 Sustainable Power Savings]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[It has been some time since I started studying the energy supply problems in Japan from the standpoint of the consumer-side and I have never been so busy than in the last year. In April 2011, after the Great East Japan Earthquake, I set up a website called “Power Savings in an Emergency” with other volunteers in order to organize and provide information on power savings. Subsequently many people have accessed it.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120423-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 9 Jul 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120423-01/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update ― ”Negawatt Market” will open at Kansai in Japan (2nd July, 2012)

]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[All nuclear power plant in Japan had been stopped from May this year under the influence of Fukushima nuclear accident. Kansai Electric Power resumed operation of Oi power plant on July 1st. However, electrical power is likely to be insufficient this summer, because of a tightening of inspections and public objection.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120702-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Sat, 7 Jul 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120702-04/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[42 JP yen for Solar Power Is Too Expensive — Concerns That Renewable Energy Will Not Spread After Increasing Consumer Burden]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[The "Renewable Energy Buyback Program" is to be implemented in July of this year in Japan. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Procurement Cost Appraisal Committee calculates that the renewable energy purchase price will "equal ¥42 per kilowatt hour," and will be taking public commentary until the first of June. This is indistinguishable from the energy companies' "fully distributed cost method" of recent infamy, and it is a system that guarantees solar energy profits for power companies. This would not be a problem if it were a reasonable price, but the current status of the world's solar cell market indicates otherwise.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120521-02/</link>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jun 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120521-02/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update — Points at Issue of the Nuclear Power – Regulations and External Environmental Costs (18th June, 2012)

]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[There are numerous points of issues regarding the nuclear power. Among them, we introduce columns about public regulations and external environmental costs.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120618-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jun 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120618-04/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Conditions for Liberalization of Electric Power, Lessons from Liberalization of Telecommunications]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) has pronounced policy for the complete liberalization of, and separating transmission and generation of electric power. This initiative is not recent. Actually, it was the final target for MITI (predecessor of METI), which started the liberalization of electric power in the 1990s. The third program reform of 2003 established the electric power wholesale exchange, and liberalized electricity retailing to high-voltage customers of 50 kW or more. The next step envisioned was complete liberalization. The fourth program reform in 2008, however, deferred the liberalization of low-voltage (small accounts). In addition, the separation of transmission and generation met with strong resistance from the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan (FEPCO), and came to nothing.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120604-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jun 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120604-01/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Coming Back from a "Radiation Panic" ＝ The experience of a housewife — Realizing my own discriminatory feelings was the moment of awakening]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Though it is possible to bring up the idea of individual responsibility, when one thinks of the negative influence that is spreading, as a member of the Japanese community, isn't it necessary to do something to help the society as a whole? However, to confront this, it is necessary to understand people's emotions.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120507-03/</link>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jun 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120507-03/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[This Week's Update — Note Renewable Energy（11th June, 2012）]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[GEPR introduce various opinions about Energy problems. We interviewed Mr. Takejiro Sueyoshi, a special adviser UNEP・FI and an opinion leader on environmental issues in Japan.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120611-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Jun 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120611-01/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Restarting Nuclear Power Plant and Fixing Errors Due to Lack of Communication = When the Entire Nation Thinks About a Stable Energy Supply – Asking Public Policy Maker Kazuo Ishikawa]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Starting with the Kansai Electric's Oi Nuclear Plant, there is an ongoing state of disarray surrounding the restarting of nuclear power plants across the country. The government has been trying to proceed with restarting the reactors, but with local mayors and residents standing in opposition, it is still unclear whether this will happen. Then on May 5, all of Japan's reactors were shut down.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120507-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jun 2012 22:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120507-01/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[This Week's Update — To discussion towards state of nuclear power plants (4th June, 2012)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[In Japan, restart of nuclear power plant has become a political issue since after the Fukushima accident inspection period of nuclear power plants had been prolonged. This is because in Kansai region, there were governors who opposed.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120604-03/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 4 Jun 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120604-03/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[IEA sets out the “Golden Rules" needed to usher in a Golden Age of Gas]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
		<link>http://www.iea.org/newsroomandevents/pressreleases/2012/may/name,27266,en.html</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 4 Jun 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.iea.org/newsroomandevents/pressreleases/2012/may/name,27266,en.html</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Nuclear Plant Restart: Government Leaders Must Make Decisions and Stop Hiding!]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[The government has decided to institute electrical power-demand countermeasures over an extended three-month period running from July to September. Businesses and homes will be asked to broadly conserve electricity. Kansai Electric Power (KEPCO), in particular, is facing a 15% power conservation requirement referenced to peak demand during the summer of 2010—a consequence of not being permitted to restart Oi Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4. Although a power usage restriction order was avoided, business activities, home life, and consumption could sustain a serious negative impact in the Kansai Region, whose weakened economy will be further harmed.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120521-05/</link>
		<pubDate>Sun, 3 Jun 2012 17:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120521-05/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[42 JPY/kWh purchase price for solar energy raises concerns over massive financial burden — Expansion of subsidies, costs of comprehensive revision of the energy infrastructure... To what purpose is this fiscally ruinous policy?

]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[The procurement cost appraisal committee (chaired by Professor Kazuhiro Ueta of Kyoto University) of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry that has studied the details of the renewable energy feed-in tariff (FIT) beginning in July of this year has submitted a proposal to set the purchase price for solar energy at 42 JPY/kWh.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120430-02/</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 31 May 2012 11:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120430-02/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update － Resuming Nuclear Power Plant Operations — Decision must be made (28th May, 2012)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Concern of power shortages during summer is feared in Japan, because of the delay in resuming nuclear power plants operation. GEPR welcomes various opinions.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120528-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 May 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120528-04/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Crisis]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
		<link>http://www.nature.com/news/specials/japanquake/index.html</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 May 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.nature.com/news/specials/japanquake/index.html</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Fukushima’s doses tallied-Studies indicate minimal health risks from radiation in the aftermath of Japan’s nuclear disaster]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
		<link>http://www.nature.com/news/fukushima-s-doses-tallied-1.10686</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 May 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.nature.com/news/fukushima-s-doses-tallied-1.10686</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Preliminary dose estimation from the nuclear accident after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami ]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
		<link>http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2012/9789241503662_eng.pdf</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 May 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2012/9789241503662_eng.pdf</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Opinion Paper on Basic Specifications for Smart Meter Communications Issued by TEPCO]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[This Research Group considers the specifications for smart meters that TEPCO is presently studying procurement under have the following four drawbacks.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120423-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120423-04/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[”Co-expertise” of radiation protection and solidarity for the rehabilitation of living conditions in Fukushima – Report on recommendations of the second ICRP dialogue seminar 2012 in Date City]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[The radiation problems that followed the Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent nuclear power plant disaster is truly an international problem. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), a non-governmental organization that advises governments and international institutions on regulatory matters on radiation protection, is keeping watch over the course of the nuclear disaster with great concern, and taken occasions to make necessary recommendations.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120326-02/</link>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120326-02/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Why Can’t Science Allay the Radioactivity Panic? Calling for Social Survey to Save Fellow Victims and Perpetrators]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[I live in the Inagi City, located on the west side of the 23-ward block shaping central Tokyo. Compared to before the Great East Japan Earthquake, my community has experienced virtually no change in its ambient air radiation dosage to date. Matching this fact with current scientific wisdom, I consider any risk originating from the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident to be quite small among the various circumstantial risks in raising children here.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120409-03/</link>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120409-03/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[This Week's Update — Reconsidering Promotion Measures of Renewable Energy in Japan (14th May, 2012)

]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[A number of observers criticized FIT that is a payback policy program to promote renewable energy which starts this July in Japan. It forces power companies to purchase renewable energy generated such as by solar power. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is planning that the purchase prices of solar power to be 42 yen (about 50 US cents) per 1kWh. The price is high and would be a burden to the Japanese economy.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120514-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Sun, 20 May 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120514-04/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Special issue: Low-level radiation risks, May/June 2012]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Famous American website ”Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists” reports Low-level radiation risks. ]]></description>
		<link>http://bos.sagepub.com/content/current</link>
		<pubDate>Sun, 20 May 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://bos.sagepub.com/content/current</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[This Week's Update — Stopping All Nuclear Power Plants in Japan (7th May, 2012)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Japan's last operating commercial nuclear reactor, Tomari No.3 in Hokkaido, went offline on 5th May for mandatory routine maintenance. The nation undergoes situation without atomic-generated electricity for the first time in 42 years. This is because restarts of nuclear power plants are difficult.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120507-05/</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 1 Jan 1970 9:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120507-05/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Concern over Premature Smart Meter Introduction to Homes: Current Smart Grid Situation in Japan]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[A growing interest in the smart grid and smart metering, which can enable the smart grid, has emerged in Japan since the Great East Japan Earthquake and ensuing nuclear power plant accident in Fukushima. The current situation is analyzed, and the author offers his insights.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120402-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 7 May 2012 18:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120402-01/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Course on Radiation in Everyday Life - Know the Facts Right Next to You]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[On March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake struck, causing an accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. This accident resulted in radioactive material resulting as product of fission in the nuclear reactor to be released into the atmosphere, contaminating a large area.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120319-02/</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 3 May 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120319-02/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[This Week’s Update – Reconstructions of Electricity Power System in Japan after the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster (23th April, 2012)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Japan's energy situation has changed fundamentally after the accident in Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power. One of the changes is in a stable supply of electricity. The electricity could be used freely with just turning a switch. However, from now on, there is a possibility that electric power shortage could be constant by stopping nuclear power plants.
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120423-06/</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 1 Jan 1970 9:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120423-06/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Calling for "Contemporization" of Japanese Society: Radioactivity Issue Arises from Uncleanliness Beliefs and Fabricated Maternal Image]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[In the midst of the early March season of the plum blossoms traditionally held for prayers of good health of young girls, a rather shocking news story came out. According to the Kofu Regional Justice Bureau, a woman who evacuated from Fukushima Prefecture to Yamanashi Prefecture in June last year has filed for relief. Her child was refused entrance to a nursery in Yamanashi, a consequent victim of rumors associated with the nuclear power plant accident. As its reason, the nursery explained that the facility could not provide a response in the event that another parent expressed any anxiety over the nuclear incident. The woman was further requested to voluntarily abstain from letting her child play at a park near her evacuation site. The woman is now living outside of Yamanashi Prefecture as a result.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120326-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Apr 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120326-01/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[This Week's Update — Observing Risks of Radioactivity and Reconsidering Reconstruction from the Earthquake (16th April , 2012)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Radioactive materials have been diffused over East Japan after the Fukushima nuclear plant accident. Many Japanese are concerned about them. They have risk of causing cancer, and we need to be cautious.
However, negative effects to human health by these materials are limited, from what has been observed to date. GEPR editorial staffs provides a column "Comparing Risks of Everyday Lives to Radiation Risks"]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120416-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Apr 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120416-04/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Reconsidering the Nuclear Power Plant: Risks, Costs, Global Warming]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[All of the reasons for promoting nuclear power plants, including the incidence of accidents, costs, and climate change response through reduced CO2 emissions, are entirely forced logic at this point in time. Reasoned logic falls away in the presence of forced logic. Consider the following specific pieces of evidence.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120312-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Apr 2012 9:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120312-01/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[This Week's Update — How should we confront with damages caused by harmful rumors?（9th April, 2012）

]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Radioactivity panic in Japan is calming down on the surface. However, it still affects the society, being a reason for rejecting Tohoku debris for disposal, for example. Why is this thought born? Kosei Kato, a sociologist, contributes a column “Why science can not persuade against radioactivity panic." (English translation coming soon)]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120409-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 9 Apr 2012 9:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120409-04/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[What to Do about Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) — Concerns for On-Site Capability under Unavoidable Organization Change]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[The most important agenda items associated with the pending TEPCO “problem” are as follows:]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120305-02/</link>
		<pubDate>Sun, 8 Apr 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120305-02/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[This Week's Update — How Should smart grid be spread in Japan? (2nd April, 2012)

]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Smart grit is attracting attention, which is a new grid concept combined with information and communication technology. Japan confronts shortage of energy supply after the Great East Japan Earthquake. And government and electric power companies intend to transmit electricity to meet the demand by using this new grid system.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120402-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 2 Apr 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120402-04/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Assessment of Demand Response and Advanced Metering]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[It showed  Direct Load Control ,which electric power company control directly and remotely each demands, was effective in efforts to reduce demand peak.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.ferc.gov/legal/staff-reports/2010-dr-report.pdf</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 2 Apr 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.ferc.gov/legal/staff-reports/2010-dr-report.pdf</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[On the Solar Panels Over My Head: How should we face their innocence and fickleness?]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[I have always loved nature, and perhaps because I have long been active in Oze conservation efforts at Tokyo Electric Power Company where I worked until the end of last year, I have longed to see energy being provided by the sun's blessings. It is a faith in a sun, or “sun worship” so to speak.

]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120305-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Sun, 1 Apr 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120305-01/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[This Week's Update — Actions towards measures for Fukushima Nuclear Accident and to calm the radioactivity panic are spreading (26th March, 2012)

]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[More Japanese are beginning to feel the importance of dealing calmly with problems regarding Fukushima nuclear plant accident. GEPR introduce such movements this week.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120326-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Mar 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120326-04/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[ETHOS IN FUKUSHIMA]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Japanese private volunteers learning from the experiences of ETHOS PROJECT , aims for reconstruction and protection from radioactivity with residents independence. This site introduce their activities.（Mainly in Japanese）]]></description>
		<link>http://ethos-fukushima.blogspot.jp/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Mar 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://ethos-fukushima.blogspot.jp/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Stakeholder Involvement in the Rehabilitations of Living Conditions in Contaminated Territories Affected by the Chernobyl Accident: the ETHOS Project in Belarus]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[It is a report of reconstruction activities in Belarus from the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl]]></description>
		<link>https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ba5955uQNWz5V8u9lYlV6aq6tLx76T5HWAZekPQNwuM/edit</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Mar 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ba5955uQNWz5V8u9lYlV6aq6tLx76T5HWAZekPQNwuM/edit</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Conclusions and Recommendations of the second dialogue of ICRP]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Rehabilitations of Living Conditions after the Fukushima Accident]]></description>
		<link>https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxqSmDmQ78xCQVBpNWhXTFBTSEtBUjJGc1NCTTdmZw/edit</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Mar 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxqSmDmQ78xCQVBpNWhXTFBTSEtBUjJGc1NCTTdmZw/edit</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[This Week's Update ー What do we need in order to take away the anxiety of citizens concerning radioactivity? (19th March, 2012)

]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[1)Professor Takamitsu Kohzuma, College of Science, Ibaraki University, has measured the amount of radiation in various areas since the nuclear accident at Fukushima, and he has given 110 lectures to the public. GEPR editorial staffs have deep respects for his effort.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120319-05/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120319-05/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Physician's Letter: People Need to Learn about Radioactivity and Health from Doctors －　For the best interests of patients, we always follow the Oath of Hippocrates.]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Renowned for his academic achievement and medical treatment work, Dr. Hakumei Oh sent GEPR a contributing article expressing his concern over the propagation of scientifically groundless information that is inciting a crisis atmosphere with respect to the current situation of radioactivity and health in Japan.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120227-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120227-01/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[How Not to be Fooled by Psuedoscientific Misinformation — Facing societal confusion over radioactivity.

]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Since the release of radioactive materials from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant, much information on radioactive substances is flying around in various media. At the same time, so-called experts are sending out scientific data or opinions based on such via television, newspapers, and their personal blogs and so on.

]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120312-02/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120312-02/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[[Announcement] GEPR and International Environmental Economics Institute collaborate in research and contents sharing]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Global Energy Policy Research (GEPR), a virtual think tank on the web run by Agora Incorporated , in partnership with International Environmental Economics Institute (IEEI) ,will collaborate in research and contents sharing from this March, 2012.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120319-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120319-04/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Monitoring Information of Environmental Radioactivity Level]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[This web site shows information about radioactivity monitoring in Japan. It is highly unlikely that there will be any health damages with current level of radiation. ]]></description>
		<link> http://radioactivity.mext.go.jp/en/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid> http://radioactivity.mext.go.jp/en/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[This Week's Update － A year from the Great East Japan Earthquake - Reconsidering Nuclear Power (12th March, 2012)

]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[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.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120312-03/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120312-03/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[America’s Energy Future]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[It expects for innovation and technology development in the field of clean energy with the support of federal government. ]]></description>
		<link> http://www.americanenergyinnovation.org/2011-report/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid> http://www.americanenergyinnovation.org/2011-report/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Public Trust in Nuclear Energy]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[He points out that excessive fear for nuclear power had spread under the Cold War structure and emphasizes the necessity to face radiation rationally.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/ja/pdf/20120312-alison/NuclearEnergyAndPublicTrust.pdf</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/ja/pdf/20120312-alison/NuclearEnergyAndPublicTrust.pdf</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Fukushima in Review: A complex disaster, a disastrous response]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
		<link>http://bos.sagepub.com/content/early/2012/02/29/0096340212440359.full.pdf+html</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://bos.sagepub.com/content/early/2012/02/29/0096340212440359.full.pdf+html</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[Rise Up, Japan, and Demand Your Area's Share of Tohoku Debris]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Human beings were powerless to halt the tsunami that took nearly 20,000 lives last March 11. But as the anniversary of that day approaches, the survivors may be facing another disaster—and this time, the Japanese people have the capacity to help.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120308-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 8 Mar 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120308-01/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[This Week's Update － A Year from the Great East Japan Earthquake, Thinking about the Future of Energy (5th March, 2012)

]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[It is soon a year from the Great East Japan Earthquake. Japan is gradually recovering from the earthquake and the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120305-03/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 5 Mar 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120305-03/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[This Week's Update － What is appropriate radiation protection? (27th February, 2012)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[It is almost one year since the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident. Although time has passed, anxiety about radioactivity has not disappeared from the Japanese society.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120227-03/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Feb 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120227-03/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Fukushima: Neither Chernobyl, Nor Hiroshima]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Flooded by the large tsunami of 3.11, the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant lost its cooling function, which caused its nuclear fuel to melt partially. Subsequently, hydrogen explosions outside the containment vessels caused the release of mainly radioactive gases, which contaminated Fukushima Prefecture and neighboring regions.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120220-01/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Feb 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120220-01/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[ICRP Publication 111“Application of the Commission’s Recommendations to the Protection of People Living in Long-term Contaminated Areas After a Nuclear Accident or Radiation Emergency”]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[This was published in 2008, and is a guideline for radioactivity protections for nuclear disasters.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.icrp.org/publication.asp?id=ICRP%20Publication%20111</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Feb 2012 0:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.icrp.org/publication.asp?id=ICRP%20Publication%20111</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[This Week's Update － Would there be any health hazard from a low radiation dose of Fukushima? (20th February, 2012)]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[It is almost a year since the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant accident. Although that much time has passed, there are incorrect information circulating over radiation, resulting in Japanese society still fearing health damage which could be caused by radioactive materials in Fukushima and East Japan.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120220-04/</link>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120220-04/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Preparing for the Arriving Era of Natural Gas]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Ever since the severe nuclear power plant accident of 3.11, Japan and the entire world — to greater and lesser degrees — are now facing the need for alternatives to nuclear power. A lively discussion over a nuclear-free and fossil-fuel free future has ensued, which portends a shift to renewable energy like solar power generation. Many arguments assert this possibility for the mid- and long-term, even if it is impossible now. Many other arguments assert achievement of this possibility mid- to long-term, with efficient usage, during the unavoidable interim, of natural gas, which imposes a much smaller environmental burden (starting with CO2 emissions) than other fossil fuels.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120213-03/</link>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120213-03/</guid>
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		<title><![CDATA[Final chapter "Conclusions" of the Russian government report "25 Years After the Chernobyl Accident: Summary and Overview of its Impact and Overcoming its Aftereffects, 1986-2011"]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[This Article translated from Japanese. Russian National Academy of Science published the original report at 2011.(Russian) This report has not translated in English. GEPR hope to be used this content by all experts and people in the world. Mr. Keiichi Nakagawa, M.D, PhD, provided translated articles from Russian to Japanese to GEPR.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120123-02-1/</link>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120123-02-1/</guid>
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	<item>
		<title><![CDATA[This Week's Update — The Times of Natural Gas – Security of Persian Gulf determines the fate of Japan's energy (13th February, 2012)

]]></title>
		<description><![CDATA[Since the Fukushima nuclear accident, the amount of electric power generation by nuclear in Japan has plummeted. The government and the power companies have increased the amount of generation by Liquid Natural Gas (LNG). This trend is likely to continue.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120213-02/</link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0900</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.gepr.org/en/contents/20120213-02/</guid>
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