Fukushima Residents Abandoned; Typhoon Heads For Japan; Monju Reactor De...
Publicado el 2 oct. 2016
A Tough Choice
Some
evacuees from the Fukushima nuclear disaster face a tough choice: stay
away and pay their own costs, or return to face their worries about
radiation.
It's been more than 5 years since the meltdowns, and
87,000 people from the prefecture still can't return home. Most were
forced to evacuate in March 2011 but 12,000 families left voluntarily
due to concerns about radiation.
The prefectural government pays rent
subsidies to these voluntary evacuees, but this support will end next
April. Many of them recently visited Fukushima to demand that rent
support for temporary housing, paid for by the prefectural government,
continue.
"Housing is the most fundamental human right," says one of the voluntary evacuees.
Prefectural
officials say radiation is down to safe levels, thanks to years of
decontamination work. They say that they cannot continue paying all the
rent.
"The decontamination process and food safety inspections have
been moving along, so living conditions in the prefecture are
improving," says Hiroyuki Okino, a Fukushima prefectural official. "We
understand that, when it comes to radiation exposure, everyone
experiences anxiety in their own way. So we’d like to support everyone
as much as possible according to their needs."
Reaction Mixed to Reactor Decision
The
Monju reactor was a prototype meant to be a centerpiece of Japan's
nuclear power industry. But more than 2 decades and billions of dollars
later, the government is looking at decommissioning it.
"We will
conduct a drastic review of the Monju reactor project, including the
option of decommissioning it," said Japan's Science and Technology
Minister Hirokazu Matsuno.
The reactor has long been plagued with
problems that have come at a hefty price. Public opinion among people
who live near the reactor is mixed.
"Monju could have worked if it
had been properly managed, but if the operator can't do that, there's no
choice but to shut it down," said one local resident.
"I think it is better to have Monju for our local economy," said another.
The
Monju reactor was meant to play a key role in Japan's nuclear fuel
cycle. It's a fast-breeder reactor that's designed to generate
electricity while producing more fuel than it consumes. What's more,
plutonium in spent fuel from conventional nuclear power plants could be
used as fuel in the reactor.
That was the theory, but the reality is
that more than 10 billion dollars has been spent on building and
operating the prototype reactor. And since trial operations started in
1994, it's only been in operation for 250 days.
Typhoon Chaba heads for southern Japan
A very strong typhoon is heading toward Japan's southern islands.
The
Meteorological Agency says Typhoon Chaba is moving north-north-west at a
speed of 20 kilometers per hour. It was at about 190 kilometers south
of Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, as of noon on Monday.
Its central pressure is 925 hectopascals. It is packing winds of more than 180 kilometers per hour near its center.
Weather
officials say Chaba is expected to approach Okinawa and islands in
Kagoshima Prefecture Monday evening through Tuesday morning. It is
expected to continue heading north. Strong winds and heavy rain are
already being ecorded in Okinawa.
Pro-nuclear candidate wins Ikata mayoral election
A
candidate supporting the restart of a nuclear power plant has won the
mayoral election in a western Japanese town that hosts the plant.
Kiyohiko
Takakado scored a landslide victory in the 2-way race in Ikata Town,
Ehime Prefecture on Sunday. He defeated his anti-nuclear plant opponent
recommended by the Japanese Communist Party.
The election was called
as the former mayor, who had agreed to the restart of the plant's No.3
reactor, resigned because of illness. The reactor was brought back
online in August.
During the campaign, Takakado said the plant is needed for the town's development.
After
securing the win, Takakado said he will press the plant's operator,
Shikoku Electric Power Company, to ensure its safety to ease local
concerns and prevent a nuclear accident.
Takakado said the municipal
government carries a heavy responsibility for evacuation measures in the
event of a nuclear accident.
He added that he will work together
with the central and prefectural governments to improve preparedness by
frequently staging drills.
The 58-year-old Takakado had been elected
as a prefectural assembly member 5 times. He served as assembly vice
speaker and head of the General Council of the Liberal Democratic
Party's local chapter.
Parent's worst nightmare: Wave of babies
born in Japan with extra arms and legs due to Fukushima radiation...
Stillbirth numbers on the rise
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/053731_Fuk...
http://nucnews.com/whatsnew.php
https://nuclear-news.net/
Some
evacuees from the Fukushima nuclear disaster face a tough choice: stay
away and pay their own costs, or return to face their worries about
radiation.
It's been more than 5 years since the meltdowns, and
87,000 people from the prefecture still can't return home. Most were
forced to evacuate in March 2011 but 12,000 families left voluntarily
due to concerns about radiation.
The prefectural government pays rent
subsidies to these voluntary evacuees, but this support will end next
April. Many of them recently visited Fukushima to demand that rent
support for temporary housing, paid for by the prefectural government,
continue.
"Housing is the most fundamental human right," says one of the voluntary evacuees.
Prefectural
officials say radiation is down to safe levels, thanks to years of
decontamination work. They say that they cannot continue paying all the
rent.
"The decontamination process and food safety inspections have
been moving along, so living conditions in the prefecture are
improving," says Hiroyuki Okino, a Fukushima prefectural official. "We
understand that, when it comes to radiation exposure, everyone
experiences anxiety in their own way. So we’d like to support everyone
as much as possible according to their needs."
Reaction Mixed to Reactor Decision
The
Monju reactor was a prototype meant to be a centerpiece of Japan's
nuclear power industry. But more than 2 decades and billions of dollars
later, the government is looking at decommissioning it.
"We will
conduct a drastic review of the Monju reactor project, including the
option of decommissioning it," said Japan's Science and Technology
Minister Hirokazu Matsuno.
The reactor has long been plagued with
problems that have come at a hefty price. Public opinion among people
who live near the reactor is mixed.
"Monju could have worked if it
had been properly managed, but if the operator can't do that, there's no
choice but to shut it down," said one local resident.
"I think it is better to have Monju for our local economy," said another.
The
Monju reactor was meant to play a key role in Japan's nuclear fuel
cycle. It's a fast-breeder reactor that's designed to generate
electricity while producing more fuel than it consumes. What's more,
plutonium in spent fuel from conventional nuclear power plants could be
used as fuel in the reactor.
That was the theory, but the reality is
that more than 10 billion dollars has been spent on building and
operating the prototype reactor. And since trial operations started in
1994, it's only been in operation for 250 days.
Typhoon Chaba heads for southern Japan
A very strong typhoon is heading toward Japan's southern islands.
The
Meteorological Agency says Typhoon Chaba is moving north-north-west at a
speed of 20 kilometers per hour. It was at about 190 kilometers south
of Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, as of noon on Monday.
Its central pressure is 925 hectopascals. It is packing winds of more than 180 kilometers per hour near its center.
Weather
officials say Chaba is expected to approach Okinawa and islands in
Kagoshima Prefecture Monday evening through Tuesday morning. It is
expected to continue heading north. Strong winds and heavy rain are
already being ecorded in Okinawa.
Pro-nuclear candidate wins Ikata mayoral election
A
candidate supporting the restart of a nuclear power plant has won the
mayoral election in a western Japanese town that hosts the plant.
Kiyohiko
Takakado scored a landslide victory in the 2-way race in Ikata Town,
Ehime Prefecture on Sunday. He defeated his anti-nuclear plant opponent
recommended by the Japanese Communist Party.
The election was called
as the former mayor, who had agreed to the restart of the plant's No.3
reactor, resigned because of illness. The reactor was brought back
online in August.
During the campaign, Takakado said the plant is needed for the town's development.
After
securing the win, Takakado said he will press the plant's operator,
Shikoku Electric Power Company, to ensure its safety to ease local
concerns and prevent a nuclear accident.
Takakado said the municipal
government carries a heavy responsibility for evacuation measures in the
event of a nuclear accident.
He added that he will work together
with the central and prefectural governments to improve preparedness by
frequently staging drills.
The 58-year-old Takakado had been elected
as a prefectural assembly member 5 times. He served as assembly vice
speaker and head of the General Council of the Liberal Democratic
Party's local chapter.
Parent's worst nightmare: Wave of babies
born in Japan with extra arms and legs due to Fukushima radiation...
Stillbirth numbers on the rise
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/053731_Fuk...
http://nucnews.com/whatsnew.php
https://nuclear-news.net/
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