Japanese people now begin with nuclear-power-free life , first time since 1970 !

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       We, concerned Japanese, would like to celebrate this new era on the day for Children, May 5, 2012 !

       However, we, concerned Japanese, fully understand that we face at very difficult path to continue this ways of living because we must burden TEPCO Fukushima Diichi crippled power plants ( No.1,2,3,4), vast amount of radionuclide and other nuclear waste treatment facilities.
     
      We,concerned Japanese, come to realize that that kind of difficult path is the only way to transcend Japan's historical incorrect decisions and behaviors !
     
      At the same time, we, concerned Japanese, see a kind of light ( vision) for such a historical challenge !


                    










        ZERO Nuclear power plants for a  future! (Tokyo Shimbun, May 6,2012)
        
       

      



     

         Japan Times May 6,2012

     








     

     Challenge to a era of zero nuclear power plant
    (Tokyo Shimbun, May 5,2012)












            
    Mass Hunger strike at the front of METI Tento-mura !


     
       
     
         
    miwakokurosen * The Constituion of Japan * 10:11 * comments(0) * trackbacks(0) * - ログピに投稿する

    The construction of "nuclear power plant" is the violation of the Constitution of Japan!- Mr. Makoto Ito, Tokyo Shimbun May 3,2012

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         Since the Constitution of Japan was enforced from May 3,1947, I wonder how many times the violation of this Constitution happened.  The following is another one.
         
         " The construction of nuclear power plant is the violation of the Constitution of Japan!", Mr. Makoto Ito, lawyer, mentioned in the Tokyo Shimbun ( newspapers) , first page, May 3,2012.

          Do you know about the Article 99 of the Constitution?
       
       " Article 99  The Emperor or the Regent as well as Ministers of State, members of the Diet, judges, and all other public officials have the obligation to respect and uphold the Constitution."

                    
      miwakokurosen * The Constituion of Japan * 06:32 * comments(0) * trackbacks(0) * - ログピに投稿する

      Regarding A Crisis of Parliamentary Democracy: Illegality of the Ozawa Trial ---To: Members of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan , From Ms.Yuko Mori Member, House of Councillors ; Former Senior Vice Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Sc

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          To:  Members of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan
         
           Regarding " A  Crisis of Parliamentary Democracy: Illegality of the Ichiro Ozawa Trial "

          (  Because Japan's mass media has failed to report fairly about the Ichiro Ozawa Traial for last several years and has made fake stories about him, Ms.Mori wrote this kind of letter.    
           Please access to her website. and read the full  English version of her letter . )

         
          From: Ms.Yuko Mori 
                    Member, House of Councillors ;
                     Former Senior Vice Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

          Contents:  http://my-dream.air-nifty.com/moriyuuko/files/20120425134747.pdf
        miwakokurosen * Human rights * 22:14 * comments(0) * trackbacks(0) * - ログピに投稿する

        At Rio+20, this topic should be discusses! "How Wealth Reduces Compassion As riches grow, empathy for others seems to decline by Daisy Grewal"

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          JUGEMテーマ:ビジネス
           
              If at " Rio +20" in June, this topic is ignored, "Rio+20" could be a festival for people of UNs and international organizations !

                                                 ***

            http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/04/17-1

           

             How Wealth Reduces Compassion

          As riches grow, empathy for others seems to decline    by Daisy Grewal

          Who is more likely to lie, cheat, and steal―the poor person or the rich one? It’s temping to think that the wealthier you are, the more likely you are to act fairly. After all, if you already have enough for yourself, it’s easier to think about what others may need. But research suggests the opposite is true: as people climb the social ladder, their compassionate feelings towards other people decline.


             Berkeley psychologists Paul Piff and Dacher Keltner ran several studies looking at whether social class (as measured by wealth, occupational prestige, and education) influences how much we care about the feelings of others. In one study, Piff and his colleagues discreetly observed the behavior of drivers at a busy four-way intersection. They found that luxury car drivers were more likely to cut off other motorists instead of waiting for their turn at the intersection. This was true for both men and women upper-class drivers, regardless of the time of day or the amount of traffic at the intersection. In a different study they found that luxury car drivers were also more likely to speed past a pedestrian trying to use a crosswalk, even after making eye contact with the pedestrian.

           In order to figure out whether selfishness leads to wealth (rather than vice versa), Piff and his colleagues ran a study where they manipulated people’s class feelings. The researchers asked participants to spend a few minutes comparing themselves either to people better off or worse off than themselves financially. Afterwards, participants were shown a jar of candy and told that they could take home as much as they wanted.  They were also told that the leftover candy would be given to children in a nearby laboratory. Those participants who had spent time thinking about how much better off they were compared to others ended up taking significantly more candy for themselves--leaving less behind for the children.

            A related set of studies published by Keltner and his colleagues last year looked at how social class influences feelings of compassion towards people who are suffering. In one study, they found that less affluent individuals are more likely to report feeling compassion towards others on a regular basis. For example, they are more likely to agree with statements such as, “I often notice people who need help,” and “It’s important to take care of people who are vulnerable.” This was true even after controlling for other factors that we know affect compassionate feelings, such as gender, ethnicity, and spiritual beliefs.

            In a second study, participants were asked to watch two videos while having their heart rate monitored. One video showed somebody explaining how to build a patio. The other showed children who were suffering from cancer. After watching the videos, participants indicated how much compassion they felt while watching either video. Social class was measured by asking participants questions about their family’s level of income and education. The results of the study showed that participants on the lower end of the spectrum, with less income and education, were more likely to report feeling compassion while watching the video of the cancer patients. In addition, their heart rates slowed down while watching the cancer video―a response that is associated with paying greater attention to the feelings and motivations of others.

          These findings build upon previous research showing how upper class individuals are worse at recognizing the emotions of others and less likely to pay attention to people they are interacting with (e.g. by checking their cell phones or doodling).

            But why would wealth and status decrease our feelings of compassion for others? After all, it seems more likely that having few resources would lead to selfishness. Piff and his colleagues suspect that the answer may have something to do with how wealth and abundance give us a sense of freedom and independence from others. The less we have to rely on others, the less we may care about their feelings. This leads us towards being more self-focused. Another reason has to do with our attitudes towards greed. Like Gordon Gekko, upper-class people may be more likely to endorse the idea that “greed is good.” Piff and his colleagues found that wealthier people are more likely to agree with statements that greed is justified, beneficial, and morally defensible. These attitudes ended up predicting participants’ likelihood of engaging in unethical behavior.

            Given the growing income inequality in the United States, the relationship between wealth and compassion has important implications. Those who hold most of the power in this country, political and otherwise, tend to come from privileged backgrounds. If social class influences how much we care about others, then the most powerful among us may be the least likely to make decisions that help the needy and the poor. They may also be the most likely to engage in unethical behavior. Keltner and Piff recently speculated in the New York Times about how their research helps explain why Goldman Sachs and other high-powered financial corporations are breeding grounds for greedy behavior. Although greed is a universal human emotion, it may have the strongest pull over those of who already have the most.

          © 2012 Scientific America

          Daisy Grewal is a research psychologist at Stanford University and aregular contributor at Scientific America. Follow her on twitter@daisygrewel.

          ***

          miwakokurosen * Human rights * 06:49 * comments(0) * trackbacks(0) * - ログピに投稿する

           Mass Hunger Strike to Stop Ooi NPP' reoperation untill May 5, Children's Day

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               In front of the Ministry of Economic, Trade and Industry, mass hunger strike began !  
             
             Key members call to all concerned Japanese citizens to join in this peaceful ways of opposition to Noda's decision!

             
               This mass hunger strike will continue until May 5, Children's day. 
             
              " Safety and Healthy Future for Children !  with  Forever  Sleeping  NPP! "
              

               Priest Tetsuen Nakajima started his hunger strike at the Fukui Prefectural government building to protest against Noda's decision.
             
              Then, Fukkushima Women's group・Totsukitooka( ten months ten days ) for a future responded to Priest Nakajima's action and started their hunger strike on March 31.
            More than 100 people are joining this action all over Japan!

               Then, this mass hunger strike ,,,,,,,  expanding ,,,,,!

               

             
                


                   

                    

                 
                                              Tokyo Newspaper April18,2012



                  

            miwakokurosen * TEPCO Fukushima NuclearPower Plants * 08:29 * comments(0) * trackbacks(0) * - ログピに投稿する

            Because of US's pressure? Noda made the decision to reoperate the Ooi Nuclear Power Plant,while more than 85% of Japanese citizens oppose!

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                 Noda and his Cabinet members made the decision to re-operate the Oooi Nuclear Power Plant , while more than 85 %  of Japanese citizens oppose  to reoperate any nuclear power plant and the governors of Osaka, Shiga and Kyoto oppose such a short term decision.

                 Because of the US's pressure ?
                 Because Noda wants this decision as his souvenirs with TPP participation and military budget increase to visit to Washington DC  from April 29-May 2 ?

                     
              miwakokurosen * TEPCO Fukushima NuclearPower Plants * 07:21 * comments(0) * trackbacks(0) * - ログピに投稿する

              Noda Prime Minister again violates the spirts of Japan's Constitution !-Japan PM Noda, UK PM Cameron Agree On Weapons Co-Development

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                   Prime Minister Noda and British Prime Minister Cameron agreed with a framework for the joint development of weapons systems.
                 
                  It would be the first time in the post-World War II period for Japan to cooperate on weapons development with a country other than its main ally, the United States.


                     



                   
                miwakokurosen * TEPCO Fukushima NuclearPower Plants * 06:32 * comments(0) * trackbacks(0) * - ログピに投稿する

                Major Cabinet Members who do not hear their constituencies ' major voices in this Japanese democtratic country!

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                  JUGEMテーマ:ニュース
                   
                     Although TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants has continued to be crippled and to release the radionuclide still now, and more than 80% Japanese citizens opposed to re-operate any nuclear power plant so soon,
                   major Cabinet members have tried to re-operate the Ooi Nuclear Power plants,Kansai Electric Power Company.

                      Today, April 11, Tokyo Newspaper revealed who are key cabinet members!
                     
                     More details will be reported soon!
                   

                     


                    


                  miwakokurosen * TEPCO Fukushima NuclearPower Plants * 08:30 * comments(0) * trackbacks(0) * - ログピに投稿する

                  Japanese Ordinary Citizens are Awakening, Standing up and Taking Various Actions

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                    JUGEMテーマ:ニュース

                        Here are a Hope !





                     
                      
















                    miwakokurosen * “The 3.11’s Revelation" * 08:19 * comments(0) * trackbacks(0) * - ログピに投稿する

                    "Japan's Nightmare Fight Against Radiation in the Wake of the 3.11 Meltdown " Koide Hiroaki, Kyoto University's Nuclear Reactor Experiment Research Center,

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                      Japan's Nightmare Fight Against Radiation in the Wake of the 3.11 Meltdown  Apr. 01, 2012

                        Koide Hiroaki, a researcher at Kyoto University's Nuclear Reactor Experiment Research Center, speaks with Watanabe Taeko,Translated by Kyoko Selden


                        It is now the second year in the fight against radiation. What should be done in a situation where we can't see what lies ahead of us at all, and what is the situation inside the Fukushima atomic power plant meltdown? We asked Koide Hideaki.

                      ―The fight against radiation and contamination has entered a second year and new issues are emerging. First I would like to ask about plans to widely disperse contaminated rubble, which are troubling the nation.

                        As far as radioactivity is concerned, the fundamental rule is to make it compact and seal it off, not dilute and spread it. Scattering rubble all over the country violates the rule. National policy at present consists of two pillars. One is for local governments throughout the country to burn contaminated rubble in incinerators. The other is for each local government to dispose of the ashes as it wishes. Both are wrong.

                      -Although it is not good to scatter the rubble . . .

                        Radiation should not be handled except at facilities designed for that purpose. It should not be burned in an ordinary incinerator. If you do that, radioactive matter will disperse. If radioactive contaminated rubble has to be burnt throughout the country, then the first thing that has to be done is to check whether the facilities have the capacity to prevent radiation from scattering. If it seems that radiation may scatter, then equipment must be added to prevent it. Unless that is done, burning should not take place.

                      ―Do you mean adding a filter?

                       Yes. Most incinerators are equipped with a bag filter. If that is correctly used, then I think that cesium can be processed. However, it is necessary to check whether radiation can, in fact, be captured by a filter. If a bagged filter doesn't work, then it is necessary to add a ceramic or high performance filter to contain radiation.

                        Next, one should never allow each local government to bury the ashes. My proposal is to return the ashes to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. In the past, ashes following a meltdown have been used as material for making concrete. At Fukushima Daiichi, a concrete sarcophagus may be constructed over the power plants. Also, it will be necessary to build dams underground to prevent contaminated water from leaking out. For that, massive amounts of concrete will be necessary. So, my idea is to use the ashes to make concrete.

                        Ideally, incinerators should be used exclusively to handle the rubble at the actual site. But the country has not created appropriate incinerators. Even now the rubble is exposed to the air. If this situation continues unchecked, children in the contaminated areas will continue to be exposed to radiation.

                        I want to protect children from exposure to radiation. Children here includes those in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate and all other areas. I think that the main issue is how we can best reduce children's exposure to radiation. We cannot wait until an incinerating facility for exclusive handling of radiation-contaminated rubble is available. But if it can't be helped that the entire country accepts the rubble, the two conditions that I posited must be fulfilled.

                        About half a month ago, thirty some members of Osaka's Ishin no Kai (Mayor Hashimoto's group) asked me about disposal of contaminated waste. My proposal was that it should not be done unless the two conditions have been met. But they ignored this. It seems they are claiming that, "Koide says that the rubble must be accepted." People at large, too, are angry, saying that Koide is saying something preposterous. But I am saying no such thing.

                        If Reactor #4 Crumbles, That's the End

                      ―It was pointed out in the October 21 2011 issue that Reactor #4 is in danger. Recently, an aerial video was broadcast showing workers at #4.

                        I saw that video, too. The environment is one of intense exposure to radiation. How many minutes can one stay in that place? It's work that requires a stopwatch held in one's hand. But the work has to be done because, if the pool for spent fuel rods at # 4 crumbles, that's the end. So, the spent fuel at the bottom of the pool has to be taken out before the pool crumbles. At any rate, it has to be removed as soon as possible, before an after shock occurs. For that purpose, some radiation exposure is inescapable.

                        The reactor core contains approximately 100 tons of uranium. The pool for spent fuel at reactor #4 contains approximately 2.5 times that amount of spent fuel . . . approximately 250 tons. And besides that, there is fuel that has not yet been spent. So, in all, the amount of fuel must be around 300 tons. That is 4,000 times the size of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. Spent fuel is a huge mass of nuclear reaction product. Keeping it at the bottom of the pool allows it to be cooled. At the same time, radiation is blocked.

                        It cannot be released into the air, so the only way to handle it is to sink a special container exclusively for removal of the spent fuel. The only way is to put the spent fuel into the container within the pool, put a lid over the container and pull it out. But the floor of the reactor building where the spent fuel pool is buried is crumbling, so a crane cannot be used. Therefore, it is necessary to suspend a long armed crane from outside the building, which means that you have to make a colossal container that exceeds the weight of 100 tons. You have to sink the crane to the bottom of the pool and move the spent fuel into it. This is an enormous operation.

                      ―What about re-criticality and explosion?

                        I think that the possibility of re-criticality is low, and I don't think that there will be an explosion. When the fuel melted and the zirconium reacted with water to produce hydrogen, the hydrogen leaked into the closed space in the reactor building and an explosion occurred. The spent fuel pool is now exposed, but even if the fuel melts and produces hydrogen, it is not accumulating within a closed space. It becomes diluted and escapes. So I don't think that there will be a hydrogen explosion. However, spent fuel is heat generating. If water evaporates and cooling becomes impossible, then the temperature rises and the fuel melts. It melts at 2800 degrees (C.) At that temperature, what can become a gas will all come out. Iodine, cesium, all kinds of radiation, will suddenly jump out into the air.

                       We Want to Take it Out, But We Can't Take it Out

                        As mentioned, the basic principle for handling radiation is to not spread but seal it in as compactly as possible. So if it is there, then take it out and compact it.

                        TEPCO and the government imagine that Reactors No. 1-3 had a meltdown of the fuel and the bottom of the pressure containment vessel dropped, so the fuel is at the bottom of the container. But even that is not clear. It is possible that the bottom of the containment vessel is also broken, so the fuel may have sunk even lower. If that is the case, it can no longer be taken out and the only thing to do is to seal it in place.

                        The Chernobyl Nuclear Reactor was sealed with a sarcophagus without taking out the fuel. Now that coffin is crumbling, so they have to make a second coffin. That too will crumble, so eventually they will have to make a third . . . to be repeated eternally. I think that this will be the case at Fukushima, too. You make a huge concrete coffin; when it crumbles, you cover it with a larger coffin . . . then an even bigger coffin. It is an overwhelming operation. So if possible it would be good to take the fuel out, including the fuel that has already melted. TEPCO also says so. But I think that will take more than ten years to accomplish.

                        ―Concerning the report that the thermometer broke at No. 2, should this claim be taken at face value?

                        Yes, I think it is broken. Radiation generates heat, so if it accumulates where the thermometer is, the temperature rises. However, the thermometer indicated 400 degrees C. It is impossible that a temperature of 400 degrees C. could be generated in the pressure containment vessel. So after all my guess is that the thermometer is broken. TEPCO's conjecture seems to be the same.

                        That thermometer uses the principle of thermocoupling. It is a very simple principle and it rarely breaks down. So what does it mean that the thermometer broke?

                        Some time ago, TEPCO put an industrial TV set inside the containment vessel of No. 2. Water was not visible. In short, water has not accumulated there. Moreover, inside the containment vessel, water is dropping like a waterfall, radiation rays are flying wildly and the image on TV is scarred. It was realized afresh that this was a terrible environment. In that environment, a cable runs which pulls the signal of the thermocouple outside. What I think is that the cable was hit.

                        This means that from now on, thermometer after thermometer will break. When they break, we have no clue to detect what is going on and we will less and less understand the present situation.

                        What Does it Mean to Decommission a Nuclear Reactor?

                      ―We often hear of decommissioning, but what precisely is meant?

                        When a nuclear plant operates and stops without any big accident, that is, when it runs its course, the reactor is then decommissioned and the spent fuel is removed, but the pressure vessel and other things remain a radioactive mass. So, how is decommissioning accomplished? To oversimplify, there are two approaches.

                       One is to bury it on the spot. You seal the door so that people cannot approach. In this method, you don't have to do too much and there is little exposure to radiation. However, this means that the power plant itself becomes garbage. So it's thought that this is not a very good plan for a country like Japan where land is scarce. So Japan proposes another method.

                        That method is to take apart the plant and sort out things ranging from badly contaminated parts like the pressure vessel to things that are not so badly contaminated. Something like a pressure vessel can't be handled, so it is necessary to make a deep hole and bury it. As for things that are not badly contaminated with radiation, because it is too much work to baby-sit them given the radiation, they can be handled as general waste.

                        Handling these parts as general waste is called clearance. But when you chop up a nuclear plant, you get 600,000 cubic meters. When you sort that garbage by degree of radiation, more than 90% is barely contaminated, so it can be handled as general waste.

                        For example, iron. It may be viewed as general waste. Then scrap iron dealers buy it and recycle it, making for example, tables or desks or frying pans for home use. If you cook with such a frying pan, you will eat radiation with the food. If you eat something cooked in that pan, and if the amount of radiation does not exceed 10 mSv, then it's ok. This was the law up to now. This is what decommissioning a nuclear reactor means.

                        But the case this time is completely different. First, it's not clear if the spent fuel can be removed and it's hardly possible to dismantle the reactor. So whatever we choose, there has to be a sarcophagus. But it is said that to decommission a normal atomic power plant without problems takes 30, 40, or 50 years. So, it will take far longer to decommission Fukushima Daiichi, which has melted down.

                        To Mothers of Fukushima

                       ―I hear that in Koriyama, people who call themselves advisors have been instructing groups of ten or more people saying, "We radiation specialists are here, so you need not worry." When people are totally exhausted, many feel "that's enough". Fukushima mothers say that they are utterly exhausted. May I have your message for them?

                        I'm not qualified. I'm at one end of the spectrum of the group of criminals. I'm among the criminals who made them shoulder a heavy weight. I can only say that I'm very sorry. It's impossible to keep facing fear forever. That is exhausting and people want to forget if possible.

                        How are we to handle such a heavy burden? If you speak of monetary calculation, individual suffering and sorrow can't be translated into money and there is already a huge amount of sorrow. It's hard to know what to do. As long as one lives, there is no choice but to live with this reality. I'm very sorry. I don't know how to apologize.

                        But apology doesn't allow one to take responsibility. I have long been thinking about what I can do to reduce radiation exposure in children, if only a little. And I would like to continue to do so.

                                                        ***

                       Interviewer: Watanabe Taeko (editorial board, Shukan Kinyobi.)

                        Koide Hiroaki, b. 1949, assistant professor, Kyoto University, Nuclear Reactor Experiment Research Center.   

                        Main writings: Genpatsu no uso (The Lie of Nuclear Power) (Fusosha); Genpatsu wa iranai (We don't need Genpatsu) (Gentosha); Genpatsu. hoshano -- kodomo ga abunai (Nuclear Power Generation: Radiation. Children are in Danger (co-authored, Bunshun Shinsho).

                                                     ***

                        Kyoko Selden is an Asia-Pacific Journal associate. With Noriko Mizuta she edited and translated Japanese Women Writers and More Stories by Japanese Women Writers. She is the coeditor and translator of The Atomic Bomb: Voices From Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

                        This interview appeared in the March 16, 2012 Shukan Kinyobi.         http://japanfocus.org/events/view/136

                                                           ***


                      miwakokurosen * TEPCO Fukushima NuclearPower Plants * 08:02 * comments(0) * trackbacks(0) * - ログピに投稿する
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