It would be a shame not to call the bluff of the nuclear engineers and their 'you need us, and we are the cheapest' slogans.
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Ben Wedmore, director of equity research at MFGlobal in Tokyo. He says that as companies find new ways of working this summer, they could shine a light toward a new type of power-saving society as Japan rethinks its energy policy currently centered on cheap nuclear generation. (AFP)
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-2
JeffLee
"Cheap"?!? My electricity bill in Japan is NEVER cheap.
I remember a number of technological breakthroughs in solar power in the 70s-80s. Whatever happened to them? One was a thin, flexible vinyl film that could be integrated into the surface of cars, buildings, etc. The conspiracy theorists claim such technologies were bought out by oil and power companies, as individuals producing their own energy would quickly put the world's biggest corporations out of business. I would like to see some evidence of this, though.
0
ihavegreatlegs
My mansion with a nice room garden is airy and cool. Do not use air unless very still. Electric is high here, but my three bedroom mansion only cost me ¥1830 in electric last month.
1
timtak
What does Ben Wedmore know about nuclear power?
1
windandsea
The estimated pay-out for damages for the Fukushima #1 Plant debacle are expected to exceed the entire profits of nuclear energy in Japan since 1970 when that plant first opened. Nuclear energy has never been safe in Japan as we can find upon review of news and new reports that are emerging everyday. The reason the government and industry are so adamant about continuing it is that (they believe) it will continue the profitable blue-chip investment dividends investors have come to enjoy, perpetuation of the energy monopoly so dear to the control-obsessive elite, and the obvious political clout and indirect benefits that issue forth from the vendors of the plants and fuel. The practice of "amakudari" ensures that this government-industry collusion shall not be meddled with by 'those common people.' Another idea that has been bandied about for decades is the that inclusion of breeder reactors would provide, overnight, fuel for a bomb-program should it be that Japan changes its stance on possession and use of such weapons.
It is true, Japan lacks resources, conventional energy such as oil or natural gas; but what Japan does have is brains and people power. These should be harnessed to reap renewable energy sources, to recycle more, to protect and restore nature, and in the process revitalize itself in the form of a more thrifty, efficient, and vibrant society.
0
Osakadaz
Interesting the lenghts the industry will go.There is a furore on Twitter at the moment, as it looks like Japan Nuclear Fuels Ltd has somehow quickly jumped to three in search engine rankings for any search of 'houshasen' and 'disposal of nuclear waste'..with their 'don't worry..radiation is fine sales pitch page'. This could turn out be as big as the Kyushu email scam...if it can be proven that they somehow fraudulently harvested clicks to get there.
0
saru_au
the Kyushu email scam proves the point again, scum like this can not be in control of nukes.
Shut em all down asap.
All local cities should take the power poles and cables off them right now and allow smaller start-ups to sell power.
they had their turn, they lost, good bye
1
Smorkian
There isn't any, because it doesn't exist. How would individuals producing their own energy put the largest corporations out of business? It doesn't make any sense at all.
This quotation doesn't make any sense to me. There's never been any reason people can't and shouldn't conserve power, and the Fukushima Daiichi disaster doesn't change that. There's plenty of great reasons to use less energy that have absolutely nothing to do with nuclear power.
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Smorkian
????? A quick search shows this isn't the case at all.
0
melguy
A furore on Twitter signifies precisely nothing.
The real cost of nuclear is becoming clear even to the terminally dense. But Japan has limited energy options and its nuclear industry has been immensely profitable (to the shareholders), so conservatives still hope for a return to business as usual after a few resignations and reassurances. The shrillest calls for Kan's urgent ouster are now coming from those who fear that he's starting an anti-nuclear bandwagon that cannot be stopped. For example that dear friend of the LDP the Daily Yomiuri labels Takaki's proposal to merely consider shutting down Monju as an example of "haphazard and irresponsible responses to nuclear power issues".
So considering safety at the expense of profit is considered irresponsible. Hardly surprising. The interesting question is whether the little people of Japan are prepared to stand up and fight for their future safety.
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wanderlust
For more than 30 years, they've never had to pay for the full medical care of the nuclear gypsies - the homeless, down-and-out and disenfranchised labour - recruited by the gangs to do the dirty repair, cleaning and maintenance work at these reactors. They account for more than 85% of the recorded radiation absorbed by nuclear workers in Japan, well at least the doses that they bothered recording and are not falsified. Their cancers, bone diseases and general radiation-induced lethargy have contributed to the utilities bonuses.
Welcome to cheap and safety Japan...
0
kurisupisu
The cost of nuclear electricity is not cheap! Take a look at Chernobyl and we can all see that it is not the case.
Solar tech is an alternative here in sunny Japan - where is it then ?
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