The Future of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Unit 7 Increased

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Future of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Unit 7 Increased TOKYOJan./Feb. 2009 No. 128 NUKECitizens' Nuclear INFO Information Center Akebonobashi Co-op 2F-B, 8-5 Sumiyoshi-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0065, JAPAN Phone: +81 3 3357 3800 Fax: +81 3 3357 3801 URL: http://cnic.jp/english/ e-mail : [email protected] The Future of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Unit 7 increased. The Niigata Prefecture subcommittee which is looking into the earthquake and the ground condition held its first meeting in March 2008. As of mid-January 2009 it had met seventeen times. Strange as it may seem, and contrary to a statement by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in a press release dated December 5, scientific opinion remains divided about the cause of the July 2007 Chuetsu-Oki Earthquake. Pro-nuclear academics say it was caused by the so-called F-B Fault (refer NIT 125). They base their assessment of potential future earthquakes and the design-basis earthquake ground motion ("Ss") Citizens challenge official results by carrying out on this fault. Back-checks (refer NIT 124) were their own boring around the KK-NPP site. carried out for all Japanese nuclear power plants n December 11, the Nuclear Safety to assess seismic safety in the light of new seismic Commission (NSC) announced its guidelines adopted in September 2006. In the case conclusion that, with a few provisos, of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, Ss was assessed on the Othe Kashiwazaki-Kariwa-7 Nuclear Power Plant basis that the F-B Fault was 36-kilometers long. (KK-7) is safe. NSC's conclusion was based on On the other hand, more critical scientists consideration of the results of the Nuclear and believe that the F-B Fault branches off from a Industrial Safety Agency's (NISA) inspection and shallow part of the Eastern Boundary Fault of assessment of the plant. However, moves towards the Sado Basin (see NIT 124), which they say is restarting the plant have not proceeded as NSC 50-70 kilometers long. They claim that this fault is planned. The reasons are as follows: more important for understanding the Chuetsu-Oki Earthquake and the type of earthquakes that could 1) The debate in two subcommittees established arise in future. If that is so, the magnitude predicted by Niigata Prefecture remains polarized on for future earthquakes would be larger than the fundamental issues; officially accepted estimate. Clearly, the design- 2) NSC and pro-nuclear academics were unable to answer questions posed by citizens during a Contents debate sponsored by the above two subcommittees (Kariwa, December 23) and a hearing for local Future of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Unit 7 1,2 residents sponsored by NSC (Kashiwazaki, Replacement of Hamaoka Units 1 and 2 3,4 December 25); Rokkasho Vitrification Problems 5,6 3) In the course of work aimed at restarting the Maps of Nuclear Facilities in Asia 7-8 plants, there have been several fires and injuries, Book Review: JCO - A Slow Death 9 with the result that mistrust towards Tokyo Group Intro.: Saga's Next 100 Years 10 Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has if anything News Watch 11,12 Jan./Feb. 009 Nuke Info Tokyo No. 18 basis earthquake ground motion should also be set maintain that while there is a grey zone, it is not higher, contradicting the conclusion handed down relevant from the point of view of safety. This issue by NISA and NSC. relates to the question of whether to consider KK-7 The pro-nuclear academics justify their separately from the other units (see NIT 127). It position on the grounds that an ultra-sound survey will be very interesting to see how this debate conducted in August 2008 by NISA off the coast of develops. Kashiwazaki failed to detect the Eastern Boundary An issue relevant to the work of both sub- Fault of the Sado Basin. However, despite the committees is how to interpret the fact that the fact that the survey was carried out directly above reactor and turbine buildings have continued to the fault plain that gave rise to the Chuetsu-Oki move since the earthquake. TEPCO has measured Earthquake, it was unable to locate that fault plain. the elevation of the buildings on three occasions Hence, it is not possible to conclude that faults since the earthquake - immediately after the do not exist on the basis of off shore ultra-sound earthquake, in February 2008 and again in August surveys. The critical scientists make this point 2008. There are suspicions that the continued and state that it is necessary to carry out a proper movement could be because the bedrock has geomorphological assessment of the region. broken up, or for some other similar cause. The other sub-committee is looking into Alternatively, it could be related to the Madogasaka equipment integrity and earthquake resistance and Fault, which NSC claims is not active. safety. It held its twelfth meeting on January 13 During the December 23 meeting in Kariwa this year. However, the committee members still do Village hosted by the Niigata Prefecture sub- not agree about whether or not KK-7 is safe. committees, the chair of the subcommittee into TEPCO's assessment of the plant's integrity equipment integrity and earthquake resistance and is based on visual inspections of equipment and safety, Haruo Yamazaki, responded to a question computer calculations. Cross-checks by the Japan with an example of a nuclear power plant floating Nuclear Energy Safety Organization (JNES) found on a cup of starch. When construction of the locations where the stress incurred was near the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant was first permitted limit. JNES confirmed the integrity planned, people said it was like building a nuclear of these locations after repeating the checks. In power plant on tofu. Now we find that the ground regard to locations which cannot be accessed due on which the plant is built is no more solid than a to high levels of radiation and locations where the cup of starch. confined space makes it impossible to insert testing On January 7, the mayor of Kashiwazaki equipment, judgments were made on the basis of stated in his New Year press conference that local calculations, or checks on similar parts elsewhere approval is required on two occasions, before and in the plant. after start-up tests of KK-7. His statement suggests However, as a result of the far greater than that the bureaucratic processes are in motion. The predicted ground motion, it is possible that plastic Japanese fiscal year ends on March 31. We expect deformation (refer NIT 125) could have occurred, there will be lots of maneuvering until then. even though there is no visible deformation. Unless pieces are cut out and metallurgical tests are carried Yukio Yamaguchi (CNIC Co-Director) out, there is no way of checking this with certainty. Haiku for the season The only method that the pro-nuclear side has come up with is "hardness testing", but this method a camellia is not accurate enough to detect strain in the key dropped quietly 0.2% ~ 2.0% range. Consequently, a grey zone no one noticed but me remains where any judgment is mere guess work. The sub-committee members do not necessarily by Sachiko Kondoh agree about this grey zone. At the January 13 Comment meeting TEPCO claimed that there is no grey Japanese are spooked by the falling of camellia zone. It says that the computer calculations are flowers. The flowers do not drop petal by petal. sufficiently conservative and that it knows from Rather, the whole flower falls at once. Japanese vast accumulated experience whether equipment say it reminds them of the falling of a human is damaged or not. Some sub-committee members head when a person has been beheaded. Nuke Info Tokyo No. 18 Jan./Feb. 009 Replacement of Hamaoka Reactors 1 and n December 22, the Board of Directors of Chubu Electric Power Company decided that it would terminate operations at OHamaoka Reactors No. 1 (540 MW, BWR) and No. 2 (840 MW, BWR) and replace them with a new Reactor No. 6 (1,400 MW, ABWR). (Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant is located in Omaezaki City in Shizuoka Prefecture.) This is the first ever replacement plan in Japan. The Board also decided that the spent fuel from the spent fuel pools of Units 1 and 2 should be removed and placed in a common dry storage facility to be built onsite for Cartoon by Shoji Takagi all the plants. On the same day, Chubu Electric informed the same time anyway. Besides which, the extra the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry 1,400 MW will not be needed for the next 10 years of its plan to close down Units 1 and 2, or so. requested Omaezaki City and the six local However, Chubu Electric's emphasis on fishing cooperatives to allow construction of a economic rationality and its refusal to admit that sixth reactor, and sought the cooperation of the safety is an issue only increased the distrust of the neighboring two cities and Shizuoka Prefecture. local people. The fact that it went ahead with work In its press release Chubu Electric emphasized to increase the seismic resistance of Units 3 to 5, that rationalization on economic grounds was the while postponing work on Units 1 and 2 suggests reason. It denies strongly that it is closing down that at the time it was already thinking of closing the reactors because of aging. Chubu Electric Units 1 and 2. emphasizes this point because it has been telling At the time when it made its decision on the local governments and others that, given a life seismic resistance work, Unit 1 had already been span for nuclear reactors of 60 years, these shut down for four years since an explosion in reactors are in the prime of life.
Recommended publications
  • The Fukushima Nuclear Accident and Crisis Management
    e Fukushima Nuclearand Crisis Accident Management e Fukushima The Fukushima Nuclear Accident and Crisis Management — Lessons for Japan-U.S. Alliance Cooperation — — Lessons for Japan-U.S. Alliance Cooperation — — Lessons for Japan-U.S. September, 2012 e Sasakawa Peace Foundation Foreword This report is the culmination of a research project titled ”Assessment: Japan-US Response to the Fukushima Crisis,” which the Sasakawa Peace Foundation launched in July 2011. The accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant that resulted from the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, involved the dispersion and spread of radioactive materials, and thus from both the political and economic perspectives, the accident became not only an issue for Japan itself but also an issue requiring international crisis management. Because nuclear plants can become the target of nuclear terrorism, problems related to such facilities are directly connected to security issues. However, the policymaking of the Japanese government and Japan-US coordination in response to the Fukushima crisis was not implemented smoothly. This research project was premised upon the belief that it is extremely important for the future of the Japan-US relationship to draw lessons from the recent crisis and use that to deepen bilateral cooperation. The objective of this project was thus to review and analyze the lessons that can be drawn from US and Japanese responses to the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, and on the basis of these assessments, to contribute to enhancing the Japan-US alliance’s nuclear crisis management capabilities, including its ability to respond to nuclear terrorism.
    [Show full text]
  • Convention on Nuclear Safety National Report of Japan for the Third Review Meeting
    Provisional Translation Convention on Nuclear Safety National Report of Japan for the Third Review Meeting August 2004 Government of Japan TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface A. General Provisions Article 6 Existing Nuclear Installations…………………………………………………….. 6-1 6.1 Existing Nuclear Installations in the Scope of this Convention………………………… 6-1 6.2 Major Events in the Existing Nuclear Installations after the Previous Report………….. 6-2 6.3 Evaluation and Verification of Safety, and Position as to Continued Operation………... 6-3 B. Legislation and Regulation Article 7 Legislative and Regulatory Framework…………………………………………. 7-1 7.1 Basic Legislation Governing the Utilization of Nuclear Energy………………………... 7-1 7.2 Legislations and Regulations Governing the Safety of Nuclear Installations…………... 7-2 7.3 Legislative Regulatory Framework at Each Stage………………………………………. 7-5 7.4 Enforcement of Applicable Regulations and Terms of License…………………………. 7-7 Article 8 Regulatory Body…………………………………………………………………… 8-1 8.1 Mandate and Duties of Regulatory Body………………………………………………... 8-1 8.2 Organizations for Enforcement of Safety Regulation of Nuclear Installations…………. 8-2 8.3 Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA)………………………………………….. 8-2 8.4 Organization related to NISA…………………………………………………………… 8-5 8.5 The Nuclear Safety Commission (the NSC)…………………………………………….. 8-6 8.6 The Atomic Energy Commission (the AEC)…………………………………………….. 8-7 8.7 Other Administrative Bodies…………………………………………………………….. 8-8 Article 9 Responsibility of the License Holder……………………………………………… 9-1 9.1 Regulatory measures for the license holder to take the prime responsibility for the 9-1 safety of nuclear installations……………………………………………………………. 9.2 Supervision of the License Holders by Regulatory Body……………………………….. 9-1 C. General Safety Considerations Article 10 Basic Policy for Priority to Safety……………………………………………….
    [Show full text]
  • Teacher's Guide
    AFTER THE DARKNESS TEACHER’S GUIDE Developed by Waka Takahashi Brown Copyright © 2014 By the Leland Stanford Junior University Board of Trustees For further information contact: Stanford Program on International and Cross-cultural Education (SPICE) Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI) Encina Hall, Stanford University Stanford CA, 94305-6055 Tel: (800) 578-1114 Fax: (650) 723-6784 http://spice.stanford.edu E-mail: [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...............................................................................................................IV ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS.............................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................1 Objectives...............................................................................................................................1 Connections to Curriculum Standards..............................................................................2 Subjects and Suggested Grade Levels................................................................................4 Materials.................................................................................................................................5 Equipment..............................................................................................................................5 Teacher Preparation...............................................................................................................6
    [Show full text]
  • The Tsunami of March 2011 and the Subsequent Nuclear Incident at Fukushima: Who Compensates the Victims
    William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review Volume 37 (2012-2013) Issue 1 Article 5 November 2012 The Tsunami of March 2011 and the Subsequent Nuclear Incident at Fukushima: Who Compensates the Victims Michael Faure Jing Liu Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmelpr Part of the Insurance Law Commons, and the Legal Remedies Commons Repository Citation Michael Faure and Jing Liu, The Tsunami of March 2011 and the Subsequent Nuclear Incident at Fukushima: Who Compensates the Victims, 37 Wm. & Mary Envtl. L. & Pol'y Rev. 129 (2012), https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmelpr/vol37/iss1/5 Copyright c 2012 by the authors. This article is brought to you by the William & Mary Law School Scholarship Repository. https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmelpr THE TSUNAMI OF MARCH 2011 AND THE SUBSEQUENT NUCLEAR INCIDENT AT FUKUSHIMA: WHO COMPENSATES THE VICTIMS? MICHAEL FAURE & JING LIU* INTRODUCTION ........................................... 131 I. THE COMPENSATION SYSTEM FOR NATURAL DISASTERS IN JAPAN .......................................... 133 A. Compensation for Households in Case of an Earthquake ................................. 135 1. Earthquake Insurance for Households Provided by Private Insurers............. 136 a. History of the System............. 136 b. Features of the Existing Insurance Policy.......................... 139 c. The Reinsurance Scheme.......... 142 2. Earthquake Insurance for Households Provided by Cooperative Insurers......... 146 B. Compensation for Commercial and Industrial Losses in Case of Earthquake ........................ 148 C. Other Insurance Policies ....................... 150 * Michael Faure, Professor of Comparative and International Environmental Law, METRO, Maastricht University, Netherlands; Professor of Comparative Private Law and Economics, Rotterdam Institute of Law & Economics, Erasmus University of Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands; and Visiting Professor of the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
    [Show full text]
  • Study on Japan's Nuclear Materials
    Study on Japan's Nuclear Materials China Arms Control and Disarmament Association China Institute of Nuclear Information and Economics September 2015 Foreword The nuclear accident in March 2011 in Fukushima, Japan brought a disaster to the safety of local residents and to the environment of surrounding regions. However, the Japanese government failed to inform the international community of the accident in a timely, accurate, and comprehensive manner. The accident's consequential impacts still linger on today, and the international community is still highly concerned about the safety of Japan’s nuclear facilities. In early 2014, media reports held that around 331 kilograms of weapon-grade plutonium had been stored by Japan for years. And in fact, Japan has stored a lot of sensitive nuclear materials for a long time, which far exceeds its actual need. The imbalance between supply and demand of nuclear materials in Japan has given rise to the concern of and questions raised by the international community. Why does Japan store nuclear materials in such a large amount? How to ensure their safety? How to effectively prevent disasters similar to the Fukushima nuclear accident from happening again? How to ensure that these materials will be used exclusively for peaceful purposes? What measures should be taken to solve this serious imbalance of supply and demand of nuclear materials in Japan? These are questions that are often raised. Regretably, the Japanese government has yet to answer these questions. In September 2015, the Japanese Diet ratified the new bills. In recent years, right-wings forces in Japan have kept denying the history of aggression of Japan and advocated the revision of Japan's "Peace Constitution", Which have aroused vigilance among all peace-loving people.
    [Show full text]
  • W020121101676826557345.Pdf
    (This is a sample cover image for this issue. The actual cover is not yet available at this time.) This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier’s archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/copyright Author's personal copy Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 17 (2013) 126–146 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/rser Accident like the Fukushima unlikely in a country with effective nuclear regulation: Literature review and proposed guidelines Qiang Wang a,n, Xi Chen a, Xu Yi-chong b a State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Western Research Center for Energy and Eco-Environmental Policy, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China b School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University, Brisbane 4111, Australia article info abstract Article history: The reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Japanese Nuclear and Received 31 March 2012 Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) have confirmed that the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant Received in revised form (NPP) survived the initial earthquake impacts, but fell victim to the following tsunami.
    [Show full text]
  • MOX Program Postponed - Nuclear Industry Hit Hard by Dishonesty
    MOX Program Postponed - Nuclear Industry hit hard by dishonesty Plaintiffs for the case against Kansai Electric Power Co. (KEPCO) on using MOX fuel for Takahama 4 rejoice over their victory after KEPCO announced on Dec. 16 that it will cancil the use of the fuel for Takahama 4. An Ever-Growing Scandal of Takahama 3 fuel in October. Citizens’ groups It has been revealed by The Guardian and the considered the fuel data for Takahama 4 suspicious UK Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) that in ever since the scandal broke out over the fuel data addition to falsifying quality control data for mixed for Takahama 3. However, the company claimed plutonium-uranium oxide (MOX) fuel for Taka- that no fabrication had taken place with the data for hama 3 plant, British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL) Takahama 4 and tried to enforce the loading of the workers falsified quality control data for MOX fuel fuel. The release of a series of new information fol- for Takahama 4, which has already been shipped to Japan. NII had been investigating BNFL following CONTENTS the revelation of data fabrication in September MOX Program Postponed 1-3 1999. Following the reports of subsequent data 1999 SPENA Workshop Held In Thailand 4-6 fabrication, Kansai Electric Power Company JCO Criticality Accident 7-9 Conferenece on Transportaion in Malaysia 10-12 (KEPCO) canceled the use of the fuel for Takahama Data on Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste 13 4 and is attempting to have the fuel sent back to the Anti-Nuke Who's Who: Sanshiro Kume 14 UK.
    [Show full text]
  • Corporate Brochure 2011
    TEPCO CORPORATE BROCHURE 2011 Contents 2 Message from the Management 3 TEPCO Group Medium to Long-term Growth Declaration 2020 Vision 4 Value Social Trust 5 Stable Supply of Electricity 9 Communication with Stakeholders 10 Open the Way to the Future 11 Actively Introducing Zero-Emission Power Sources 14 Recommending Electric Systems to All Sectors 16 Developing “Smarter” Power System Networks 18 Actively Diversifying into Growth Businesses 23 Maximize Human and Technological Potentials 24 Creating Operational Excellence Driven by Employee Performance and Cooperation 28 Research and Development 30 Corporate Organization Chart/Directors and Auditors 31 Corporate Overview/History We will contribute to creating affluent and comfortable environments by providing optimum energy services. Tokyo Electric Power Company Corporate Brochure 2011 1 Message from the Management The environment the TEPCO Group fi nds itself immersed in is undergoing tremendous transformation. In addition to upheavals in Japan’s social structure caused by such factors as the rapid aging of society due to a declining birthrate and decreasing population, we are confronted with many other changes, including global warming issues, the development of energy-saving technologies and increasing Tsunehisa Katsumata Masataka Shimizu energy consumption, particularly in Asia. Chairman President The TEPCO Group is poised to meet these challenges head-on. We realize that this new environment will provide us with opportunities for additional growth, and in order to push forward progressive management policies characterized by fl exibility and enhanced awareness, the TEPCO Group unveiled its “TEPCO Group Medium to Long-term Growth Declaration 2020 Vision” in September 2010, marking the fresh beginning of a dynamic and new 10-year era.
    [Show full text]
  • The Failed Nuclear Risk Governance: Reflections on the Boundary Between Misfortune and Injustice in the Case of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster Hiroyuki Tosa
    The Failed Nuclear Risk Governance: Reflections on the Boundary between Misfortune and Injustice in the case of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster Hiroyuki Tosa Abstract Although technological progress has greatly created the possibilities for the expanded reach of risk management, its newly manufactured uncertainty may bring about a big scale of catastrophe. In order to control risk of the nature, the human ironically may create a hybrid monster that the human cannot control. Te Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster also can be described as a hybrid monster, in which natural and technological elements combine to produce uncontrollable risks that may have disastrous consequences. Tis article scrutinizes the politics of the boundary between calculable risks and unpredictable uncertainty as well as the politics of the boundary between misfortune and injustice by focusing upon the lineage of a hybrid monster such as the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Following the check of implications of a hybrid monster, we will interrogate historical lineage. Tird we will examine the way in which technocratic politics of <risk/uncertainty> would infuence the boundary between misfortune and injustice. Fourth we will scrutinize problems with the probabilist way of thinking, which tends to suppress the risk of nuclear technology. Finally we shed a light on technocratic governance forcing the people to become resilient. As recent Science and Technology Studies (STS) literature suggests that sci- entifc and technical knowledge needs to be seen as situated in social and material spaces(Simondo 2010, 204, O’Malley 2004), political interests would shape the presentation of scientifc facts and predictions in areas of high uncertainty(Heazle 2010, Jasanof 1990, 6) and the confguration of political actors in each country may bring about the diferent perceptions of risk and its related diferent regulatory policy(Jasanof 2005, Brickman, Jasanof, and Ilgen 1985, Vogel 2012, Jasanof 2012, 23–58).
    [Show full text]
  • Black Planet Award 2011
    ethecon Foundation Ethics & Economics Fundación Ética & Economía Foundation Ethics & Economics .English. Spanish German version International ethecon Black Planet Award 2011 for Tsunehisa Katsumata, Masataka Shimizu, Toshio Nishizawa, other responsible executives and the major shareholders of the energy company TEPCO / Japan Cover Photo The photo shows Tsunehisa Katsumata (chairman, on the right hand side), Masataka Shimizu (former president, in the middle) and Sakae Muto (vicepresident, on the left hand side) during an emergency meeting on April 15th, 2011 in the crisis management centre in TEPCO’s company headquarters in Tokyo during the acute stage of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan. ethecon Foundation Ethics & Economics Fundación Ética & Economía Stiftung Ethik & Ökonomie Publisher ethecon is a member of the ethecon Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen Foundation Ethics & Economics (Association of German Foundations) Ahrenshooper Str. 73 ethecon is a member of the network D-13051 Berlin / Germany of alternative and progressive political foundations Phone +49 - (0)30 - 22 32 51 45 eMail [email protected] Chairman of the Board of Directors Dipl. Kfm. Axel Köhler-Schnura (Founder) P.O.Box 15 04 35 Donations Account 40081 Düsseldorf / Germany EthikBank Freiberg GERMANY Schweidnitzer Str. 41 IBAN DE 58 830 944 95 000 30 45 536 40231 Düsseldorf BIC GENODEF1ETK Phone +49 - (0)211 - 26 11 210 GLS-Bank Bochum GERMANY Fax +49 - (0)211 - 26 11 220 IBAN DE05 430 609 67 6002 562 100 eMail [email protected] BIC GENODEM1GLS Internet www.ethecon.org nd Printed on 100% recycled paper 2 revised version, December 2011 With adequate profit, capital is very bold. A certain 10 percent will ensure its employment anywhere; 20 percent certain will produce eagerness; 50 percent, positive audacity; 100 percent will make it ready to trample on all human laws; 300 percent, and there is not a crime at which it will scruple, nor a risk it will not run, even to the chance of its owner being hanged.
    [Show full text]
  • Nuclear Disasters and Health: Lessons Learned, Challenges, and Proposals
    Series From Hiroshima and Nagasaki to Fukushima 3 Nuclear disasters and health: lessons learned, challenges, and proposals Akira Ohtsuru, Koichi Tanigawa, Atsushi Kumagai, Ohtsura Niwa, Noboru Takamura, Sanae Midorikawa, Kenneth Nollet, Shunichi Yamashita, Hitoshi Ohto, Rethy K Chhem, Mike Clarke Past nuclear disasters, such as the atomic bombings in 1945 and major accidents at nuclear power plants, have Lancet 2015; 386: 489–97 highlighted similarities in potential public health eff ects of radiation in both circumstances, including health issues This is the third in a Series of unrelated to radiation exposure. Although the rarity of nuclear disasters limits opportunities to undertake rigorous three papers about Hiroshima research of evidence-based interventions and strategies, identifi cation of lessons learned and development of an and Nagasaki to Fukushima eff ective plan to protect the public, minimise negative eff ects, and protect emergency workers from exposure to Department of Radiation Health Management high-dose radiation is important. Additionally, research is needed to help decision makers to avoid premature deaths (Prof A Ohtsuru MD, among patients already in hospitals and other vulnerable groups during evacuation. Since nuclear disasters can S Midorikawa MD), Fukushima aff ect hundreds of thousands of people, a substantial number of people are at risk of physical and mental harm in Global Medical Science Center each disaster. During the recovery period after a nuclear disaster, physicians might need to screen for psychological (Prof K Tanigawa MD, Prof O Niwa PhD, burdens and provide general physical and mental health care for many aff ected residents who might experience Prof K Nollet MD), Education long-term displacement.
    [Show full text]
  • Science Mdemocratic Action
    -- VOLUME 9, NUMBER 4 AUGUST 100 1 Science mDemocratic Action : The Cheney Energy Plan: Technically Unsound and Unsustainable BY ARJUN MAKHIJANI n May 2001, a task force led by United States Vice-president Dick Cheney issued a report entitled National Energy Policy: Report of the National Energy PolicyI Development Group. An alternative title is provided inside: Reliable, Affordable, Envi~onmentallySound Energy for America's Future. The report is often called the Cheney Plan for short. It is on the Internet at http://www.whitehouse.gov/energy/. It has unleashed a flood of debate on energy policy questions. This debate has been needed for some time for a number of reasons: A wind farm in Minnesota. See page 9 fo7 information on wind energy b U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide, the potential in the United States. principal greenhouse gas, are at record highs and rising, in contrast to those of the Euro~eanUnion and. in recent vears,. Rokkasho: A Troubled : even Chiia. : : b The rising world demand for ~iland I Nuclear Fuel Cycle Complex growing U.S. oil imports are occurring in BY MASAKO SAWAI1 the context of a renewed political- military crisis in the Middle East, both allowing the sodium leak and fire at Monju fast breeder as regards Israel-Palestine and Iraq. reactor in December 19952, Japan switched the focus of its There is also an emerging competition nuclear fuel cycle policy from fast breeder reactor develop- between the United States, Russia, and ment to MOX (mixed oxides of plutonium and uranium) fuel possibly China over the oil and gas useF at tight water reactors.
    [Show full text]