Fukushima Dai-ichi Power Plant
Hiroshima: Should Japan abandon the use of nuclear energy?Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Four people in Hiroshima were asked the above question. Read their responses:
Chiyo Sadatomo, 40s, HousewifeFour people in Hiroshima were asked the above question. Read their responses:
Abandoning nuclear energy is out of the question right now. We get something like 25% of our power from nuclear energy. We should scale down and find alternatives like wind or wave energy. We need also need to invest in better safeguards and maintenance of our current power plants.
Derrick Tran, 33 (Australian), Life Coach
What's the alternative? Scaling down is feasible only with viable alternatives. Whatever happens it will be a difficult choice to make.
Eiko Ito, 50s, Shop owner
I think we don't know enough about the cons of nuclear power plants. For example, the cleanup from the current crisis will take too long and cost too many lives and resources. But Japan does not have any energy sources like coal or oil. So even though nuclear power has lots of minuses we have no choice until we can find better energy sources.
Peter Goldsbury, 66 (English), Retired professor
Japan has no natural resources to mention if you exclude hydro-electric sources. I have not seen much in the way of wind and solar production like in Europe. Given the lack of resources, Japan needs a more vigorous investment in safeguards — as well as a more transparent and accountable management and response infrastructure.
What is your opinion on this issue? Discuss your answer in a group and write a comment for homework (by April 28) below. If you don't have a gmail account, use this login:
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I consider that Japan should not use nuclear power plant unless people in Japan understand the safety of the nuclear power plant.
ReplyDeleteNowadays, because of the accident in Hukushima nuclear power plant, image of nuclear energy in all over the world is becoming very bad. People are starting to doubt about the safety of nuclear power plant. However, nuclear power plant is generating almost about 30% of electricity in Japan. It is now one of the most efficient ways to generate electricity.
Now, the most important thing to do is to explain security, degree of safety, danger of nuclear energy, everything that is related to security to citizens. Even for me, I feel afraid about the nuclear energy if it is safe or not. People are afraid of not knowing. Since the safeties of nuclear power plants and clear number of radiation have not explained to people, they are becoming very anxious about nuclear power plant.
Whichever, nuclear energy is safe or not, the safety of nuclear energy should be explained clearly and in detail.
Otherwise, nuclear power plant should not be constructed.
Shuhei Wada
G1
We need “energy sift” It is time to change new energy. There are 2 reasons.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, nuclear plants in Japan are old like Fukushima #1 nuclear plant. There are over 10 plants that are over 20 years old in Japan. At first, When the government built that kind of plants, they reckoned they can use plants for 16 years. However, METI and Tokyo changed limited time that showed how many years plants would work safely from 16 to 40. That figure was result of early-stage investment, cost and so on.
Secondly, though we get 30% electric energy from nuclear electric power generation, we can change that balance of energy. We need full-fledged use of environmentally friendly energy. Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies (ISEP) said that “Now, we get around 10% of power from clean energy , but our goal is that we are going to raise the ratio to 30% by 2020 and to 100% by 2050. For example, Germany became successful on raising ratio of clean energy from 6% to 16% in 10 years. The government stepped in the field.
It is OK to post your comment as "anonymous," but you must write your name at the bottom of your comment so I know who you are.
ReplyDeleteOh!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry. I forgot that.
My name is Yusuke Kusaka
I think Japan should abandon nuclear energy. It is not only because nuclear power is unsafe but also nuclear power product many wastes that never can be the part of nature. They are called radioactive waste. Nuclear power plants are burying them into ground so deeply.
ReplyDeleteI just don't think it is right to bury the wastes. We are just saving them and they are never going to disappear from on this earth.
Therefore I would like Japanese government to make a law which limit us to use electricity. I do not think it is hard to save more electricity. For example lately, each member of family has each TVs and air conditioners but the family can use them togerther by being same room. That can cause them to communicate too. And if you are rich and want to use more electricity they can pay tax for it.
This is my opinion. It's not looking for other source of enegy but just starting not using them.
Lily Okubo
I don't think that Japan should use of nuclear energy if I consider this nuclear power plant
ReplyDeleteproblem in Fukushima.In Japan,there aren't enough mineral resources,so Japan must depend on import from foreign countries such as China
or Ausralia.Even if serious problem like rising
of resource price or lack of resource in these
countries,Japan can't help importing resources because of lacking of resources.In this situation,by continuing the use of nuclear energy with controlling properly,Japan don't
have to depend on importing.The government and
electiric company should tell people correct
information and control nuclear power plants
safely.Ifso,people feel comfortable toward
nuclear power plants and recognize toward nuclear power generation.Aiso,I think so from
one reason.The reason is that people lives in
areas near nuclear power plants whose life quality may decrease if the use of nuclear
energy is abandoned.Towns near them receive
government subsidies.Some towns financially
depend on the subsidy.In other words,abandon the use of the energy may worse financial
situation in these towns and influence citizen
life.To supply subsidies to these towns regardless of abandoning nuclear energy cause
unfair toward other towns or cities.From these
views,I think that Japan should continue to use of nuclear energy.
Takuya Ikeda
Today's our prime concern is radiation problem of Fukushima nuclear plants. This catastrophe gives us a terrible shock and opportunity to consider about energy problem.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that one of the most important points is that it happening in Japan. Generally speaking, Japan is known for having high technology. However that huge earthquake and tsunami broke down them easily.It means that even today's technology cannot overcome nature power, and nuclear energy is not safe.
Japan should not use nuclear plants. Even if scientist care about it, it is too dangerous to use it because it has possibility to destroy the earth by a small mistake. But as you know, Japan is depending on them about 30%.So we cannot stop using them easily, neither use thermal generation instead of them, because of problems about global warming and lack of fossil fuels.
We must make alternative energy like renewable energy. Renewable energy, which has some kind like wind power, Hydropower, Solar energy ,Biomass, Biofuel and Geothermal energy, runs out and be environment-friendly. In addition, Japan has occupied 55% for patents about renewable energy, according to Nikkei newspaper. Of course there are some problems, for example the disability to make energy sufficiently. However Japan should make use of this advantage.
To sum up my opinion, we cannot abandon nuclear plants as far. So Japan should improve renewable energy technology, using nuclear energy much more carefully. We will be able to abandon nuclear plants, and I hope so.
Motoki Ono
I think that we should abandon the nuclear power plant because of the harm to our health and danger. However, considering the current state, I don't think it is easy.
ReplyDeleteNow, people in Japan often shout "We should abandon the nuclear power plant!". Then why have we used it up to now though there has been a lot of danger? Japan depends on about 30 percent of the electronic power from nuclear power. Nuclear power generation doesn't exhaust carbon dioxide unlike thermal power generation. Moreover, the nuclear power generation isn't controled by the weather like solar electricity generation. Taking account of them, the nuclear power plant has a big merit that it can generate larger energy in spite of lower cost. So, if we stop the nuclear power right now, we may face the another confusion. I think that we should abandon the nuclear power plant finally. But, first, we should change the order of priority. That is to say, we should cut down the consumption from nuclear power as much as possible.
Consequently, unless we find the alternative sources and we use less eletronic power,
we can't abolish the nuclear power plant. Now, We should expand our knowledge of the source of the electronic supply.
Kako Furukawa
First、most of Japanese think that there is no energy but nuclear and that is the only way to activate economy in Japan. However that is totally wrong.
ReplyDeleteFrom the beginning, our country started generating nuclear energy only to hide plutonium as a national policy. Nobody intended to generate new energy. Actually, there have been several kinds of energies in Japan which are proud all over the world since past like Wind Power, Photovoltaic Power or so. But they have been restrained for a long time to protect nuclear energy business. Lately, those restraints have been loosen gradually so that there are many ways open to generate energies we can take.
In fact, nuclear energy is more harmful for us than we have thought. There are very few craftsman who work properly at the field, and others 90％ are inexpert at nuclear. That is why there occurred more than 200 accidents in a year.
I think Japan should abandon the use of nuclear energy, and take alternative ways as soon as possible. I am absolutely not for the nuclear.
Shun Yamaguchi
Some people say nuclear energy is useful because Japan has no natural sources like coal or oil. And our country has concluded the protocol in Kyoto. So we have to lower carbon-dioxide emissions by 6% to protect our world. That may be true, but my opinion is different. I think that Japan should abandon the use of nuclear energy for two reason.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, we don't know enough about the safety of nuclear power plants. If the nuclear power plants are safe, why we build them in Tokyo? I think this situation that people who live in the country owe the risks of nuclear energy to people who live in the city is wrong. Now people who live in
Hukushima are suffering from radiation to supply the energy to Tokyo.
Secondly, the risks of nuclear power plants was proven by that earthquake. We must not make same errors.
We should consider people who are suffering and study anything from that earthquake. I think the best way is that we improve alternatives like wind or wave energy or make new energy can be generated in the city. Therefore, Japan should abandon the use of nuclear energy for two reason.
Kosuke Takatsu
I think we should abandon nuclear energies just like everyone else do. I know mass medias and the government don't inform a nation information that are too serious for them to know because they might be panic. Also,
ReplyDeleteI know there are serious devastation around Chernobyl.
However, at this moment, we cannot help using nuclear energies for generating elecricity.
First, unfortunately, science and technology today cannot provide us a whole new way to generate an electricity that are safe and cheap. As you know, Japan is not a rich country like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, or Brunei.
Second, what we most need right now is a revival of Japan, especially Tohoku areas. The economy depression is serious. Many people canceled a trip for spring break and golden week. Abandoning nuclear power plants may affect prefectures that have an nuclear power plants. They get tons of money from the government and they rely on them for the welfare of people living there. Also, making a new power plant makes a lot of companies and the government's economy active.
I am an optimistic person, so I believe and hope that there must be a clean energy coming up in the near future so that we don't have to rely on nuclear powers any more.
Sotaro Suzuki
While many people say that nuclear power plant should be abandoned, I am against with the idea.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that takes a big share of abandoning the plant is because of its danger. The danger found in nuclear waste and the pollution from the damage is a true fact, but I think it is difficult for us to find an alternative for the plants in problem.
Of course many idea of alternatives have been held by those that are for abandoning the plant, such as solar, wave and wind. But where would the funds for construction come from? Not from my pocket.
Also there would be other problems building new power plants. A solar plant can only generate in the day time and the amount would be small. Wave seems to be a dramatic source, but the harm it may cause to the life form of the ocean can't be easily predicted. Wind plant is a clean energy that has been talked by many people, but do you know how loud it is to make the motor make a turn?
Not until a new energy source is found, I believe we shouldn't abandon nuclear power plants.
Junpei Osada
I think Japan should abandon the use of nuclear energy because if anything happened to it, it's very dangerous to us.For example, the recently accident in Fukushima caused the nuclear pollution and its damage continue to spread.
ReplyDeleteThe electricity from nuclear power in japan makes up about 25% as a whole. 75% of its rest which if we stop the all nuclear reactor is the same percentage as a producting power of the electricity in 90's. I think it's possible to cover 25% of its with the new power plant like wind or solar energy and an energy-saving measure.
We need to find some ideas which we don't use nuclear energy as soon as possible because Japan is one of the earthquad country.
YUKI koguchi
We should abandon nuclear power plants as soon as possible. We have other ways to produce electric power such as fossile fuels, solar plants, hydro plants, and so on.
ReplyDeleteThese kinds of ways each have not only advantages but disadvantages as you know.
For example fossile fuels make electric power by burning coal. Their advantage is to generate larger amount of electric power in one place than other kinds of electric power plants. We can range CO2 as their disadvantage. It means that fire power plants make more CO2 than other plants. it causes Global warming which is one of serious problems all over the world. Anyway we face many problems to make electric power.
But nuclear power plants had bigger accidents such as Chernobyl disaster in Russian and fukushima disaster in Japan. We should not happen any disaster like that. Actually nuclear power plants have many advantages. It costs lower than other kinds of plants. It does not generate CO2. It does not need to use much sources. But we should emphasis on its disaster. These disaster made us dangerous. We can generate electric power without using nuclear power plants. we can make other kinds of plants in place of nuclear powers.
this is my idea.
YUNA KODAMA
I think we should abandon the nuclear power plant, and develop alternative energy.
ReplyDeleteFirst, absolutely safety energy doesn't exist.
The damage is too extensive like Fukushima nuclear power plant’s disaster even if the probability of accident is very small.
Of course, a lot of energy is indispensable to everyday life.
The nuclear power plant is wonderful at the point it can produce energy efficiently and doesn't exhaust CO2 like thermal power generation.
However, the risk is too big when an emergency occurs.
Second, I consider it is a good chance to show Japan has a wonderful technology.
Now, it should be powered by thermal power and water power as alternative nuclear power, and advance the development of new energy at the same time.
The idea of using alternative energy is sure to rise in the future because the nuclear power plant threat theory has spread worldwide after the Fukushima.
It is necessary to develop technical improvements such as the force of the wind, the wave force, and sunlight with a comparatively lower risk than old energy like thermal force and water force.
Also, an economical recovery will be able to be done by developing the new industry.
At last, we, Japan, can appeal the revival from the earthquake when succeeding in technological development by marketing the technology to the world.
Daiki Arima
I think Japan should not abandon the use of nuclear energy immediately. Japan doesn’t have enough recourses of energy like oil or coal, and depend on other countries to get 96% of those resources. But should we quit nuclear electric power generation?
ReplyDeleteI researched the real situation, for example Italy. Italy had closed all nuclear reactors by nation voting in 1987. It was happened the nuclear power disaster in Chernobyl. At that time, Italy’s choice was recognized as a wise decision by environmental organization. But was that true?
As a result, the electric of Italy depends on the import from neighboring such as France, Swiss and Australia. In 2003, the power went out in the whole of Italy, because the power line between Italy and those countries became extinct.
Italy is also the country does not have any energy recourses. In 1975, Italy planned to decrease the ratio of import energy from other countries to use nuclear power. But actually, the amount of nuclear power was only 6% of the total power generation. Also their dependence degree of foreign was almost 12%.
Japan should learn from Italy. If Japan stops nuclear power generation, we would depend on other countries. I think it is strange situation to import the most of electric power that made by nuclear power, even we understand the terrible of nuclear. That has a contradiction. Moreover, Japan is an island country, so it is different to import the electric power from China, Korean or Russia.
To sum up, Japan should not abandon the use of nuclear energy immediately. Before that, it is more important to inform the nation of the safety of nuclear energy. The nuclear problem should be thought from a long term and global view.
Narumi Tsunashima
I am very sorry that I forget writing the comment by 28 April.
ReplyDeleteThe nuclear issue is a VERY big issue for us. I think that we should use some alternative energy instead of nuclear power, and make an effort to reduce electricity consumption. For acting this two things, strong appeal and support of a government are required.
I do not describe a clear solution to the nuclear problem because I do not have enough knowledge about some energies, however I can only say that we should have found how nuclear power plants are scary by happening the earthquake on May 11.It is very strong that Japan which have suffered by nuclear bomb in 1945 uses nuclear energy. I believe that Japanese people should strive to stop using nuclear energy.
Akiko Kuzuu