Nuclear Addiction

The reason why it is hard to stop smoking is consistent seduction coming up every day and night. Smokers at bar would not care about a person who quitted smoking standing alongside. He would even see himself smoking in his dream. After all, achievement depends on how his determination is firm. A weak man may resume smoking, despite of diagnosis of lung cancer.

The draft of the new Basic Energy Plan by the government indicated how the bureaucrats were addicted to nuclear energy. It defined nuclear energy to be “important base load resource,” making ordinary people confused with technical term. However, it showed a retreat from a goal of independence from nuclear energy, without addressing a problem of nuclear waste going nowhere. It is scheduled that the plan will be authorized by Cabinet decision late March, after discussion in leading parties, Liberal Democratic and New Komeito.

In spite of LDP’s campaign promise in 2012, which was to get rid of the dependence on nuclear energy, the draft described that the government would reduce it “as much as possible.” This Kasumigaseki literature, phrases manipulated by bureaucrats, is translated as giving up the elimination of nuclear energy, which had been a basic policy during the administration led by Democratic Party of Japan. Resumption of currently halted nuclear reactors would accordingly be promoted with positive governmental efforts for “obtaining understandings and cooperation from local governments.”

The plan intensively ignored the ongoing negative impacts of nuclear generation, which stemmed from the accident in Fukushima on March 2011. It did not estimate the cost of the accident in First Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, which caused vast evacuation of residents still as much as one hundred thirty-five thousands. Instead, it was significantly optimistic in future achievement of nuclear recycle plan, which has no feasibility so far. “With reflection and verification on past measures, and with thorough review, the government will get a conclusion of studies for Monju,” said the draft. Monju is the name of a fast breeder reactor, which has reiterated malfunctions and accidents and yet working.

The government still embraces the empty hope of Monju. If bureaucrats really believe in nuclear fuel recycle, it is just dreaming. If not, they are simply taking advantage of a slight possibility to deceive the nation for maintaining their position in the society and benefits coming from the nuclear community. As long as leaders do not realize the addictive effect of nuclear energy, Japan will not retain health of society.