DATE=10/8/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=JAPAN / NUCLEAR
NUMBER=5-44447
BYLINE=JOCELYN FORD
DATELINE=TOKYO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
Intro: Japanese officials Friday said there will
be no permanent impact on health or the
environment in the vicinity of the nuclear plant,
which was the site of the nation's worst nuclear
accident. But as we hear in this background
report from Jocelyn Ford in Tokyo, the same
cannot be said for Japan's nuclear industry,
which could feel the backlash from angry public
opinion.
TEXT: The Japanese like to talk about how their
nation rose out of the ashes of World War Two, like a
Phoenix. The same is true for Japan's nuclear energy
program -- or so the explanation goes in this
publicity video (start fade up) produced by the pro-
nuclear, Atomic Energy Relations Organization.
/// Fade UP SOUND OF BOMB, DRAMATIC MUSIC ///
/// ACT - VIDEO NARRATION ///
August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on
Hiroshima (Fade Under)
/// END ACT ///
When Japan first started pursuing nuclear energy,
less than a decade had passed since the
United States dropped the A-bomb on Hiroshima.
Nuclear power industry officials realized they
had a major public relations problem on their
hands: how to convince a nation shocked by the
horror of nuclear destruction that they should
abandon the so-called nuclear allergy and embrace
nuclear technology for everyday things like
flicking on a light.
Thus was born one of the world's most aggressive
nuclear power public relations programs. To
overcome initial resistance, the government
offered generous subsidies to communities that
agreed to host nuclear facilities. This was
financed by a tax on electricity.
Professor Tatsujiro Suzuki is a nuclear energy
expert at the University of Tokyo.
/// ACT SUZUKI ///
For some small village, the tax income is
something like 20 or 30 percent of the income of
that village.
/// END ACT ///
The ability to deliver new concert halls and
gymnasiums was a big vote winner for politicians.
And Tokaimura, the town 110 kilometers from Tokyo
where the accident occurred, is a case in point.
Professor Suzuki says that one of Japan's more
influential politicians, Seiroku Kajiyama, was
responsible for bringing the nuclear facilities
to Tokaimura early on.
/// ACT SUZUKI ///
At that time this was the pioneering, the
frontier of technology, and the future energy
source, and all prestigious laboratories were
coming, and he was a kind of -- he was a hero.
///END ACT ///
As every schoolchild is taught, Japan has
virtually no natural resources. Additionally,
government and industry have pushed nuclear power
as a way to reduce greenhouse gases that cause
global warming.
At least until the latest accident, the public
seemed to be acquiescent. Japan depends on
nuclear power for 37 percent of its energy needs.
Even after accidents at Chernobyl and Three Mile
Island made many people in North America and
Europe lose their taste for nuclear power, Japan
along with France, continued to be among the few
industrialized countries to pursue ambitious
nuclear programs.
Now, despite the accident at Tokaimura, Japan's
government has pledged to stick to its plan of
building another 10 to 16 plants over the next
decade. But Hiroichi Akasaki of the Japan Atomic
Energy Relations Organization, an industry group,
says he is not so confident about the future.
///ACT AKASAKI (JAPANESE) ESTABLISH AND FADE
UNDER ///
He says the nuclear industry managed to survive
Chernobyl. But he does not think that after this
accident Japanese people are going to be very
receptive of nuclear power plants anymore.
The nuclear industry's concern about public
reaction does not stop at Japan's shoreline.
The biggest hope for nuclear plant manufacturers
such as Mitsubishi and Toshiba had been the
growing appetite for energy elsewhere in Asia.
The largest potential market is China. But
South Korea and Taiwan have significant nuclear
power programs, as well. Thailand and Indonesia
are also considering whether to introduce
nuclear power.
There are signs that last week's accident has
made them wary.
Professor Suzuki says he was consulting with
Indonesian government nuclear experts when the
accident took place, and he expects the going to
be rough.
///ACT SUZUKI ///
They thought Japanese nuclear technology is high
quality, they never suspected that the accident
would happen. And they tried to explain to the
general public (see this is a successful program
in) Japan, they are very safe so we can do the
same thing. And the accident happened so they
can't explain to the public any more.
///END ACT ///
Japanese authorities are equally at a loss at how
to explain to the public at home why there have
been so many recent accidents and why, in the
latest case, workers at Tokaimura had been
flagrantly violating government regulations for
years, without attracting the attention of
authorities.
While at one time the public seemed willing to
take the government at its word about the safety
of nuclear power, now nuclear publicity officials
find they need a new remedy to cope with the
latest strain of the nuclear allergy. (signed)
NEB/JF/FC
08-Oct-1999 06:54 AM EDT (08-Oct-1999 1054 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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