November 4, 2013

Nov 4, 2013 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • A ruling party executive stunned Japan with a comment about Fukushima evacuees. Shigeru Ishiba, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), feels it is inevitable that some evacuees will never go back home, “The time will definitely come that someone must say ‘they cannot live in this area but they would be compensated.’” He also said, “Unless we come up with answer (sis) as to what to do with a measure for decontamination, reconstruction of Fukushima won’t ever make progress.” This flies in the face of his party’s position that all Fukushima evacuees will eventually return home. Ishiba’s statements have set off a serious debate across Japan over this heretofore taboo issue. One government official agreed with Ishiba specific to the current “difficult to return zones” containing locations in excess of 50 millisieverts per year of exposure. On the other hand, a cabinet minister said “It’s not for the government to say such-and-such areas are uninhabitable.” A Fukushima Prefecture official called Ishiba’s statement premature, “It’s too early to suggest some may not be able to return.” Futaba Mayor Shiro Izawa insisted on his residents being allowed to return, “We have to envisage the return of the next generation, even if we were not able to return. Even if an area were to be declared uninhabitable, I would want to know how long it will remain so.” Tamotsu Baba, mayor of Namie, says “A secretary-general suddenly blurts out that some evacuees may not be able to return. I doubt residents will be given proper explanations.” Iitate Mayor Norio Kanno said he is opposed to any such move by Tokyo, “Some want to return to their homes in difficult-to-return zones, while others have not returned to areas with lower radiation levels. No simple line can be drawn.” Koichi Miyamoto, mayor of Tomioka, takes a slightly different stand, “I have been pinning my faint hopes on the return of the entire town, but that remains up in the air. It is so heart-wrenching, but reality sobers me up. If we cannot return, just say so.” http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/ldp-questions-plan-to-let-fukushima-evacuees-go-home — http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/recovery/AJ201311040066  (comment – What no-one is mentioning is the fact that thousands of Fukushima evacuees will never go home because the tsunami either swept away or totally destroyed their residences. They would be refugees even if the Fukushima accident had never happened. It is long-past time to bring this undeniable situation into the open. – end comment)
  • Tokyo plans use public funds for Fukushima Prefecture’s decontamination. Informed sources say it could total as much as $10 billion. The money will be earmarked for infrastructure restoration as well as decontamination of school property, parks and other public facilities. The funds will also be used to build interim low level waste storage facilities. This will not affect the estimated $30 billion that Tokyo Electric Company will be asked to repay the government for total costs. Tokyo also has no desire to exempt Tepco from cost payments already incurred by state and local governments. http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20131102p2g00m0dm065000c.html
  • The US DOE Chief says America can help remove Tritium from Fukushima wastewater. Secretary Ernest Moniz spoke to the Press on Saturday and addressed the processing of contaminated waters at F. Daiichi. Tepco says their new isotopic removal system, ALPS, will eliminate all radioactive materials except Tritium. Although the isotope of Hydrogen has a very low energy level and would produce no detectible health hazard if released to the sea, radiation fears in Japan make such an operation problematic, to say the least. Moniz said removal of Tritium is a challenge. But, he stressed that the DOE and US firms have experience in processing the isotope because they have dealt with Tritiated water in the past. Moniz also expressed shock with the scale of damage he saw during his Friday tour of F. Daiichi and the difficulty workers face while toiling in full anti-contamination gear. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131102_19.html
  • Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has continued his antinuclear crusade. During a Press conference in Yokohama, Koizumi said he wants none of the currently-idled nukes restarted, and instead replaced entirely with renewables. He dismissed the claim that he is being irresponsible made by Prime Minister Abe. Conversely, Koizumi said that Abe “should discuss how to introduce renewable energy that would substitute for atomic power.” When asked about his turn from being nuclear energy supporter while in office, Koizumi said, “People often change their minds.” He explained that his position is based on a belief that the permanent disposal of high level nuclear waste is “impossible” due to widespread local opposition. Koizumi rhetorically asked, “If a strong leader emerges, can he or she achieve the construction of a site that can be used for 100,000 years by ignoring opposition of local residents? It would be optimistic and irresponsible to think that it is possible.” http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20131103p2g00m0dm085000c.html
  • Japan’s ex-IEA Director Nobuo Tanaka says nukes must be restarted to maintain international industrial competitiveness. Tanaka believes that “Japan should maintain a certain number of nuclear plants as they are the best power sources that can provide a stable supply of electricity at reasonable prices.” He adds, “Adequate attention, of course, needs to be paid to ensuring safety, but the risks of keeping reactors offline should be considered as well.” http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/11/04/national/japan-needs-set-number-of-reactors-to-stay-competitive-ex-iea-chief/#.UnelZIEo4dU
  • Tokyo’s maverick antinuclear politico is in a lot of trouble. Upper house legislator Taro Yamamoto handed a politically-motivated letter to Emperor Akihito last Thursday. Japan’s Constitution, established after World War Two, defines the Emperor as a symbol of the state with no political power. All letters to the Emperor are to be mailed and never delivered personally, especially during a public gathering covered by the Press. Further, attempting to politically influence the Emperor is forbidden. Yamamoto indicated he did this because he believed the Emperor was unaware of the health risks posed to children by the Fukushima accident and recent contaminated leak reports, and also ignorant of the working conditions for F. Daiichi workers. The results of Yamamoto’s act have been considerable. Members of the Upper House called Yamamoto’s act “irrelevant” to his role as a lawmaker and are considering appropriate punishment. The most extreme response is from Education Minister Hakubun Shimomura, who has called for Yamamoto’s resignation. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/japan.html