Society Free From Nukes	No.648 September 1, 2009
		The position of Japan, whose task is to lead campaigns to eliminate nuclear arms and renounce atomic energy programs, is contradictory. It propels nuclear programs and uses plutonium in power generation, enjoying nuclear protection of the United States. A military use and a commercial use of nuclear energy constitute two sides of the same coin. Nuclear development programs carried out even in the name of peaceful application bring a huge volume of radioactive wastes which exceeds the processing capacity. LET’S JOIN NATIONAL RALLY AGAINST NUKES! Nuclear-Free Society Not Yet Expected During the mass events held in August in Hiroshima and Nagasaki against the nuclear arms, people felt a glimpse of hope as many participants quoted the speech of US President Barack Obama given in Prague last April. He told: ‘as the only nuclear power to have used a nuclear weapon, the United States has a moral responsibility to act’ and ‘America’s commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons’. However, campaigns to abolish nuclear programs are not organized sufficiently to achieve the goal. Paths are not yet definitely consolidated. Anti-nuke movements in Japan have not succeeded in pressing the government to give up the nuclear and plutonium packages maintained jointly with the electric and manufacturing industries. The fast-breeder reactor Monju, the key station for the nuclear fuel cycle program, has been shut down since 1995 when a sodium leakage accident happened. The controversial reprocessing plant of nuclear wastes comes to a standstill because of troubles which occur one after another. Residents in many locations across the nation adamantly oppose the so-called Plutonium-thermal Project, in which plutonium is used in the reactors designed for uranium operation. The government has long sought for a construction site of a processing plant of high-level radioactive waste materials, but failed to find one. Apparently, the government’s policy to use plutonium and go forward the nuclear energy plan has been frustrated. Nevertheless, no rectification or cancellation has been made for the fundamental policy. No plan has been suspended or altered. Fear for Strong Earthquakes at Power Plant Hamaoka Two years ago the earthquakes which hit mid-western Japan severely damaged the world’s biggest power plant at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, Niigata Prefecture, which reminded us as a reality of possible nuclear disasters. The recent trembles which shook the Suruga-wan Bay area, southwest of Tokyo, made us think of a presumption of the Magnitude-8 scale quakes, named the Tokai Earthquakes: what would have happened to the Power Plant Hamaoka, if such a big one had hit it? Everyone knows what will happen if a nuclear power plant is damaged. The disaster is beyond control, as is seen in the Chernobyl case. Japan, an archipelago which earthquakes hit so often, faces dangers at any nuclear power site. Power Plant Hamaoka is, particularly, dangerous: the location is very near to the epicenter where some Tokai Earthquakes are anticipated, it is between the two metropolises, Tokyo and Nagoya, which are centers of economies and industries and have a high population density. Before some presumed earthquakes come, the power plant should be shut down. We can imagine disasters. 40% of Electricity Generation Comes from Nuclear Nuclear power development, together with anticipated serious radioactive disasters, has another face; it is to produce weapons. Furthermore, radioactive wastes are piled up to be inherited to next generations as a burden. Nuclear energy development efforts and survival of human beings are not compatible. From this point of view, we have demanded the government authorities consistently to renounce nuclear energy programs. Supported by the heightened social consciousness in the environment protection, R&D efforts have lately enabled to use solar and wind power resources at the commercial level. The government and the Ministry of Economy and Industries, however, cling to nuclear power, though it is obsolete, and maintain the policy to achieve the goal of ‘40% of electricity generation through nuclear power by the Year 2020’. It is time for us to get united with civic groups and organizations involved in ecology and renewable energy resources as well as elimination of nuclear programs. We must enhance movements to force the government to make a fundamental change of the policy. October 3 Rally in Tokyo A civic event, called NO NUKES FESTA 2009, will be held in Tokyo on October 3, to invite participants across the nation, by which the organizers demand the government to change its energy policy. Let’s join the meeting to open a path to abolish nuclear programs.