2014 Chile Earthquake & Fukushima Daiichi
Channel: rumorecurioso
Date: 2014-04-03

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/

LOWER HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES NUCLEAR DEAL

A committee of Japan's Lower House has approved bills on civil nuclear energy cooperation agreements with Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The bills would allow Japanese companies to export nuclear power-related technology to the 2 countries.

 The foreign affairs committee debated the bills on Wednesday. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said Japan experienced the tragic accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. He added that it has the responsibility to contribute its knowledge and experience to the safe use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes.

 Later, the bills were approved by a majority from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito and the largest opposition Democratic Party.

 The Japan Restoration, Unity, Japanese Communist and People's Life parties voted against the bills.

 But some members of the Democratic Party oppose the bills, as they run counter to the party's policy of working to abolish nuclear power.

 Japan Restoration Party co-leader Shintaro Ishihara spoke against his party's opposition to the legislation.

 The bills were carried over from the previous Diet session. The government wants to pass them in the current session. They are to be put to a vote at a plenary session of the Lower House on Friday.

Apr. 2, 2014 - Updated 09:11 UTC

DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO SUPPORT NUCLEAR PACT

Japan's largest opposition Democratic Party has decided to support the government's proposals on civil nuclear cooperation agreements with Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

 The Lower House foreign affairs committee will vote on the draft proposals on Wednesday, allowing the transfer of nuclear power generation technology to the 2 countries.

 The Democratic Party held a meeting of what it calls the next cabinet on Tuesday.

 Some participants were against the proposals, since they run counter to the party's policy of working to abolish nuclear power by the 2030s.

 But the meeting agreed that Japan's nuclear technology can help improve safety at nuclear power plants in other countries.

 The participants also said the party should consider the fact that it was the Democratic Party that promoted the negotiations with Turkey when it was in power.

 Policy Research Committee Chairman Mitsuru Sakurai said that not all party members are satisfied with the decision, but that it is the result of discussions up until now.

Apr. 1, 2014 - Updated 12:32 UTC

EVACUATION ORDER LIFTED, BUT MAJORITY TO STAY AWAY

A majority of evacuees from an area near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant say they will stay away from their homes despite the lifting of an evacuation order.

 The government on Tuesday allowed residents of part of the Miyakoji district in Tamura City, Fukushima Prefecture, to return to their homes. Decontamination work has been completed there.

 The order is the first to be lifted for one of the areas surrounding the plant since the nuclear crisis in March 2011.

 The move covers 355 people in 116 households as of late March. NHK has found that more than half of them do not plan to return, while some expressed relief to be allowed back.

 Evacuee Hideyuki Tsuboi said his parents, in their 60s, will return home. But the 36-year-old and his wife plan to remain in temporary housing in the city with their 3 young daughters, and move to Fukushima City next year.

 Tsuboi says he cannot choose to return unless living conditions in the district improve sufficiently from a parental viewpoint.

 Mitsuru Tsuboi and his wife Mitsu, both 79, plan to leave the temporary housing to live in their home in Miyakoji this month after repair work is done.

 They visited their home in a truck carrying their belongings on Tuesday morning, and cleaned the kitchen.

 Tsuboi said he was relieved to be able to return home. He said he wants to grow crops to live a self-sufficient life, but is concerned about effects of radiation.

Apr. 1, 2014 - Updated 06:38 UTC