November 1, 2013
The revision of the national Basic Energy Plan is facing a crucial moment. Although the revision is meant to incorporate lessons from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident, it is now headed in the pro-nuclear direction because of the biased decision-making process.
The revision was originally initiated to prevent another tragedy like the Fukushima nuclear accident. In the summer of 2012, the “national debate” was launched based on “the options for energy and environment” which had been established through discussions by the “Fundamental Issues Committee, Advisory Committee for Natural Resources and Energy”etc.
However, the Abe cabinet formed in December 2012 completely ignored the national debate and announced that the nuclear-free policy would be thoroughly reconsidered. Now, the Strategic Policy Committee (which serves as an alternative to the Fundamental Issues Committee)is about to establish a policy to define nuclear power as a low-cost energy resource by asserting that the promotion of nuclear energy is a worldwide trend--as if no nuclear accident had happened in Fukushima. This is an irrational argument ignoring the lessons from the Fukushima nuclear accident and the voices of Japanese citizens.
On November 25th, the E-Shift issued a statement against this “disregard of the national debate” and “misdirected decision-making process”.
Japan, the country which let the level 7 severe accident happen, must take urgent actions to shift its energy policy.
▼Basic Policy Subcommittee, Advisory Committee for Natural Resources and Energy
https://www.enecho.meti.go.jp/info/committee/kihonseisaku/index.htm
▼E-Shift’s statement on the energy policy revision: the “national debate” should not be ignored
https://www.foejapan.org/energy/eshift/131025.html
▼FoE Japan’s statement: what happened to the “national debate” in the summer 2012?
https://www.foejapan.org/energy/eshift/131025.html