- Fukushima has raised food safety awareness in Japan to a high level. Before 3/11/11, less than 40% of the public felt fairly well-informed about food safety. That has now increased to 66%. Tokyo’s dietary education office polled more than 2000 people across Japan each of the last seven years. What they found this year surprised everyone. Why has this happened? An anonymous official said, “one of the reasons is the spread of knowledge on food safety by media and other reports (due to the) nuclear accident.” Perhaps more of a surprise is that radioactivity in foodstuffs was not the greatest interest. What do the people want more information on? At the top of the list is instructions on healthy meals (48%), followed by prevention of food poisoning (36%), food preservation methods (35%), and then comes radioactivity levels in food (32 %). Respondents were allowed to mark multiple answers concerning new information they want to receive. (Japan Times)
- Kansai Electric Company (Kepco) has given Minister Yukio Edano a timetable for getting Oi units #3&4 up to full power. Based on anticipated restart approval this week, Kepco says they cannot have the two units at full capacity before July 2ndwhich is the same date as Kepco’s start of its customer voluntary power-saving period. Power-saving’s planning is based on the assumption that no other nukes will be restarted this summer. Kepco says that there could still be shortages even after the Oi nukes are at full power. (Yomiuri Shimbun).
- Disaster Minister Goshi Hosono will meet with Fukui governor Issei Nishikawa today to explain why Tokyo believes the Oi restarts are safe. It is expected the governor will give his approval, paving the way for a final restart decision by Prime Minister Noda and his cabinet later this week. Hosono will explain the safety improvements made since the Fukushima accident and the upgraded regulatory oversight at Oi planned to be enforced during the startup and operational periods. It is expected the nukes will take 3 to 4 weeks to go through the pre-operational startup phase before full operations will begin. (NHK World)
- A new poll reveals that 48% of the population feels 15% nuclear generation is optimum for Japan’s energy infrastructure. 25% of Japan’s people feel complete abolishment of nuclear energy is the way to go. Seven percent feel there should be 20-25% nuclear generation, while 15% believe in the market-oriented option based on economics. (Mainichi Shimbun)
- A protest was held Friday outside the Prime Minister’s office to demand the Oi restarts not happen. The group feels any restarts at this point would be too hasty and unsafe. The protestors chanted “We oppose restarts” and beat on drums to show their displeasure with PM Noda’s anticipated approval of nuclear operations at Oi. (Reuters)
- The Mayor of Okuma wants to make the next 5 years a mandatory “no-repopulation” period. Okuma is one of two host communities adjacent to F. Daiichi. According to Mayor Toshitsuna Watanabe, 95% of the town will be designated as a 5-year off limits zone, so why not make it 100%? He wants this to insure former residents will receive full, state-mandated compensation payments, even though Tokyo has said they will pay everyone whether they return home or not. The government is considering extending an evacuation advisory covering the whole town for five years under the Disaster Countermeasures Act. Wanatabe says, “I think we will receive the understanding of the citizens for trying to make the compensation payments equal.” (Mainichi Shimbun)
- A major geothermal construction project in Fukushima Prefecture, planned to ease the area’s reliance on nukes, has been stalled by protests. The prefecture is promoting renewables since the F. Daiichi accident, and has openly welcomed the geothermal project. Initial drilling began late in March after the central government deregulated excavation and the prefecture relaxed drilling regulations in national parks. It is anticipated the plant could produce 270 MWe. However, local hot spring resort operators fear the plant will affect their natural water supply. (Yomiuri Shimbun)
- This morning’s Japan Times has a lengthy article which demonstrates the negative effect the concept of “nuclear radiation” has on the public. The public seems to think radiation from nukes is somehow different and more dangerous than natural and medical exposure. Rather than summarize, here’s the link. Don’t be dissuaded by the grossly-misleading and sensational headline. It’s a very good report. http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/radioactivity-japans-invisible-enemy-within
