Resolution to Drastically Reconsider the New Basic Energy Plan
On 11 April 2014, the Japanese Cabinet approved a new Basic Energy Plan that
positioned nuclear energy as a “key base-load power source that contributes to thestability of the supply and demand structure, on the major premise of guaranteed safety”.
Furthermore the plan made clear the intention to “respect judgements made (by theNuclear Regulation Authority) and resume the operations of nuclear power plants”. On
the other hand, the plan also states that dependence on nuclear energy will be“minimized as much as possible” but fails to offer any clarity at all in regards to the timeframe and level that will be used to achieve this. On the contrary, the energy plan has
devised policies to promote the development of new generation nuclear power
generation such as high temperature gas cooling reactors etc., and has set its sights on
new and additional nuclear power generation facilities. Far from minimizing the degree ofdependence, this actually brings into view the possibility of unlimited dependence on
nuclear power. New and additional facilities or even the idea of such cannot be tolerated.
The nuclear accident in Fukushima ripped apart the myth of nuclear power safety andtaught us that nuclear power has the ability to cause brutal accidents. “Safety” plans
based on such lessons therefore place absolute responsibility with Japan, which caused
the accident. Furthermore, astronomical funds have been spent on cleaning up theaccident and we are still in a situation where there is absolutely no idea what will happen
hereafter. What is more, it is clear that it will take vast amounts of time and funds todecommission the reactor. In spite of the fact that nuclear energy is clearly far frombeing low cost technology, its positioning as a “key base-load power source” insults thevictims of the accident.
If it is accepted that “In the event of an accident, the state will take responsibility toaddress said accident based on relevant laws and regulations”, then fundamental reformof the Act on Compensation for Nuclear Damages following the Fukushima nuclear
accident is necessary. Furthermore, an insurance system under which businesses andenterprises can take responsibility for causing accidents should be newly introduced.
However, the new “Basic Energy Plan” states that there will be comprehensive review
without making clear the time frame or substance for carrying this out. This alone
undeniably debunks the premise for resumption of nuclear power plants operations.
Moreover, promotion of the already completely bankrupt nuclear power cycle while
pumping vast amounts of funds in to it is tantamount to promotion of nuclear power
itself.
We simply cannot accept this basic plan, which ignores the debate taking place amongcitizens in these ways and acts as if the Fukushima accident did not even happen.
As mayors of the local government, we have the responsibility to protect the lives andproperty of our citizens, as well as to safeguard the future of our communities. We
strongly appeal for a drastic revision of this basic energy plan and for a clear policy that
rejects the building of new nuclear power plants. The new basic energy plan should takethe stance of being a “Basic Non-Nuclear Plan” and should be developed together withlegal systems such as the Basic Non-Nuclear Law, in order to realize a zero nuclear
society.
26 April 2014
Mayors for a Nuclear Power Free Japan