Japan should ideally phase out nuclear power: minister

[bananas]

Source: Reuters

Japan should aspire to phase out nuclear power completely, its energy minister said on Friday, even as the government struggles to persuade a wary public that it is safe to restart reactors after the world's worst nuclear crisis in 25 years.

<snip>

"The government's policy is now to reduce reliance on nuclear power as low as possible," Edano said, adding it should in future account for less than the third of national electricity it supplied before last year's Fukushima crisis.

<snip>

"I'd like to see the reliance on nuclear cut to zero. I'd like to have a society work without nuclear as early as possible," Edano told a news conference in energy policy.

"I myself think it should be reduced as soon as possible. But as to in reality how quickly it can be reduced or whether it will ultimately be reduced to zero - I want to judge based on discussion by experts."

<snip>

Read more: http://www.cnbc.com/id/46959407

[Meiko]

1. What would they use

to replace nuclear with I wonder? Wind? tidal generation? The Japanese have really good technology.

[phantom power]

3. they're replacing it with natural gas and oil

[AndyTiedye]

6. Wind and Solar

[IamK]

2. they should stop eating whales also but neither will happen n/t

[phantom power]

4. I'm not sure that's true. Currently, all but one of their nuke plants are shut down.

[mother earth]

5. We don't yet even know the full extent of harm Fukushima

caused, it is far reaching and immeasurable at this juncture. Radioactivity continues to be measured as increasing at the site.

It makes sense to realize nuclear power is incredibly risky, obviously alternatives must be made a priority.

Of course, we'll put it off until the increases in cancers become obvious and other blatant factors stare us in the face.
Everything is under control, right?

[chervilant]

7. Rachel Maddow

just reported the most current information regarding Fukushima. Reactor 2 has only two feet of water covering the core, instead of the expected 33 feet of water. Enough radioactivity is leaking from Reactor 2 to kill a human in a matter of minutes. Reactor 2 is so radioactive, electronics would become inoperable almost immediately. Scientists are admitting that they will have to invent technology to 'fix' this problem.

Reactor 2 is considered the least problematic of the damaged reactors at Fukushima...

[Overseas]

8. K&R. Yes please! Lead the way!

[Prometheus Bound]

9. Wow! Note this sentence.

Experts say the government is racing to try to restart two nuclear reactors by next month out of fear that surviving a total shutdown would make it hard to convince the public that atomic energy is vital to avoid serious power shortages.