Our Impact

2 June 2011 To: Foreign Media in Japan Japanese Utility Still Committed to New Nuclear Reactors Amid calls to halt all nuclear development in Japan, following the unprecedented disaster in Fukushima, Hiroshima-based utility Chugoku Electric is pushing ahead with a total of three new nuclear reactors in Matsue and Kaminoseki, the latter despite three decades of opposition by local island residents, and recent warnings on the need to safeguard biodiversity in Kaminoseki’s “Kiseki-no-Umi” – “Sea of Miracles.” Chugoku Electric Power Co. Inc. (head office, Hiroshima city) has a new reactor (No. 3) nearing completion at the Shimane Power Plant, close by Matsue city. Two more reactors are planned for the…

Green Action (Japan) and Mihama-no-Kai Urgent Statement Concerning Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident 23 March 2011 High Levels of Radiation Detected in Vegetables, Unprocessed Milk, Water, and Soil Unnecessary Radiation Exposure Imposed Due to Japanese Government’s Lack of Evacuation plan and “Declaration of Safety” Immediately evacuate infants and pre-school age children and pregnant women who are within the 20-30km radius (“stay indoors” zone) to locations farther from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Extend the evacuation zone radically to avoid further exposure Discontinue the “declaration of safety” that states, “there is no immediate harm to human health”. This message is not properly transmitting the dangers of internal exposure and late–onset…

23 January 2011 Statement by Minamata Victims and Supporter Groups Addressing the Government of Japan’s Proposal to Call the Mercury Treaty the “Minamata Convention” ta disease is an ongoing tragedy. As the global community negotiates the mercury treaty, the Japanese government must first confront the Minamata disease issue at home. After fifty-five years of struggling with the disaster, we are opposed to naming the mercury treaty the “Minamata Convention” until the tragedy is faced head on and a road map created for its genuine resolution. The Government of Japan must make clear what was learned from Minamata, implement the lessons learned and, before the diplomatic conference in 2013, reexamine its…

Japan Civil Network for the CBD “A Nuclear Plant in Biodiversity Hotspot” http://webcast.cop10.go.jp/player.asp?id=1919&type=ondemand COP 10 Convention on Biological Diversity (Nagoya, Japan)

This is the English original of a PowerPoint presentation by Mycle Schneider* to Japanese Diet members and staff. The briefing was held in the House of Councillors Office Building (Tokyo, Japan) on 13 October 2010. The meeting was organized by Green Action, Citizens’ Nuclear Information Center, and Gensuikin. See Green Action Japanese site for Japanese translation: URL: http://www.greenaction-japan.org/modules/japanese/index.php?id=27 *Mycle Schneider Consulting—Independent Analysis on Energy and Nuclear Policy Lessons from System Analysis of Energy Policy in the US, France and Germany Is Pursuing both Renewables and Nuclear Feasible? Download PDF version (4.5 MB)

30 June 2010 STATEMENT We Protest MOX Fuel Arrival at Takahama Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 To Makoto YAGI, President of Kansai Electric Issued by: Green Action (Kyoto, Japan) and Mihama-no-Kai (Osaka, Japan) For immediate release. Contact: +81-90-3620-9251 (Smith) Today, 30 June, Kansai Electric, ignoring the many voices of protest, brought MOX (mixed oxide) fuel into the Takahama Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3 and Unit 4. Many countries around the world have expressed their concern and protest against the numerous Japanese plutonium shipments from France. However, Kansai Electric, totally ignored these voices of concern, forced through this shipment. We strongly protest this shipment and the arrival of MOX…

“Has fast breeder Monju been good for Japan’s energy?” Fast breeder’s electricity is expensive. Download PDF version (266 KB)

Dangerous shipment of Japanese High-Level Radioactive Nuclear Waste Crossing Pacific Ocean on Defective Vessel 08 February 2010 (Kyoto, Japan) For more information contact: +81-90-3620-9251 (Smith) For immediate release: A shipment of 28 canisters of highly toxic Japanese vitrified high level radioactive waste departed Sellafield, UK on 20 January aboard the Pacific Sandpiper bound for Japan. The cargo is today passing through the Panama Canal and will be entering the Pacific Ocean momentarily. The high level waste (HLW) has been produced by the reprocessing of spent reactor fuel from Japanese electric utilities. It is the first of this kind of shipment from the UK. A press release issued 25 January by…

Dangerous shipment of Japanese High Level Radioactive Waste Passing through the Caribbean and Panama 22 January 2010 (Kyoto, Japan) For immediate release: A shipment of 28 canisters of Japanese vitrified high level radioactive waste departed Sellafield, UK on 20 January aboard the Pacific Sandpiper bound for Japan. Japan Nuclear Fuels Ltd. (JNFL) reported today that the route of the 6-week voyage will be through the Panama Canal. The high level waste (HLW) has been produced by the reprocessing of spent reactor fuel from Japanese electric utilities. The Pacific Sandpiper is still operating despite having been built to the same design and construction standards as predecessor vessels decommissioned or scrapped following…