Mayors for a Nuclear Power Free Japan6F, 3-13-1 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku
Tokyo Japan 169-0075
Tel: 03-6581-9791, Fax: 03-3363-7562
Email: mayors@npfree.jp
Letter of Statement
Prime Minister, Noda Yoshihiko
Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy, Furukawa Motohisa

Tokyo, July 31 2012−

Statement Regarding the New Basic Energy Plan
Mayors Calling for the Government to Open a Real Public Debate－On June 29 2012, the Japanese government put forward three scenarios for Japan's long-term
energy and environmental policy.
After thorough debate, “Mayors for a Nuclear Power Free Japan” urges the government toreconsider the content of the basic energy plan under review considering the following three points.

1.
The fundamental principles of the policy should not place further burden on the recovery ofFukushima, or on the future
When Prime Minister Noda assumed office, he said: “without the recovery of Fukushima, there
can be no recovery for Japan.” However, TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident
has not been resolved, and there is no clear plan in sight for mandatory evacuation zones and therecovery of Fukushima Prefecture. The government's lowering of compensation amounts andnarrowing of the contents for compensation has strengthened the feelings of neglect by local
citizens in Fukushima. Without a clear path towards recovery in Fukushima, operations at the Ohi
Nuclear Power Plant should not have been resumed.
The basic energy plan should be reviewed withwith a clear plan for the recovery of Fukushima andcontaminated areas and the disposal of nuclear waste, with a fundamental principle to not place any
further burden on future generations.

2.

It is wrong to limit to three scenarios based only on power supply and demand

The TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident urged the government to make a fundamental shift
in its energy policies. The scenarios presented by the government are based upon power supply anddemand, measured and compared during the hottest peak hours of the 2010 summer. The lesson of
the Fukushima nuclear accident was the need for a shift in our current social system and our own
lives from a large-scale and centralized supply system to a small-scale decentralized supply system.
It is wrong for the government to only present three scenarios based on the old system as if these
are the only alternatives, and force the public to select from these. Not making these changes to theoverall system and presenting the 3 options is to mislead the public. The government should
actively promote a dramatic increase in renewable energy, efforts for energy efficiency such assaving electricity, and using thermal, reform of the electricity system (separation of electricity
production from distribution and transmission, re-examining regional monopoly) etc. We mustwiden our scope when thinking about the energy shift.

3.

We must gather wisdom through real public debateStarting 2 July till 12 August, the government is conducting a public opinion survey and holding
hearings throughout Japan. However, it has been pointed out that these public hearings have only
been for the government to create an alibi, with utility company employees promoting nuclear
power at the hearings. This has lead to questioning of this public debate, losing the public'sconfidence even more. The public debate must be overhauled, and time taken to gather knowledge
and wisdom from the public.
From the points mentioned above, the Mayors for a Nuclear Power Free Japan propose acomprehensive revision of the current scenarios regarding energy and environment, and without
waiting for 2030 instead, urgently develop a zero nuclear policy.
On 5 July, the National Diet of Japan Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation
Commission (NAIIC) – the commission to investigate the background and cause of the TEPCO
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster - submitted a report which clearly indicated that the accident
was a "man-made disaster." Upon these grounds, the safety standards set forth must guarantee
standards that will prevent any severe accidents. Without taking note of the findings of the report,
the Ohi nuclear power plant has not met the requirements for operation. Until a thoroughinvestigation of the Fukushima nuclear accident takes place, nuclear power plants restart must not
be allowed, and we renew our call for the cessation of operations of the Ohi nuclear power plant.