Intl safety standards vital to restoring faith in N-power
A series of accidents at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is shaking nuclear energy policies in Europe.
In Germany, the conservative center-right coalition government led by Chancellor Angela Merkel had been seeking to extend the lifetime of the country's nuclear power plants but decided, after the accidents at the Fukushima plant, to completely abolish them at an early date. The German government has returned to a policy of "breaking with nuclear power generation" touted by the center-left government of an earlier era.
Germany's policy shift is apparently in response to growing public opinion against nuclear power, which was reflected in regional elections held on March 27.
In Italy, the administration of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, which was previously seeking to build new nuclear power plants, recently announced the government will indefinitely freeze construction of nuclear plants.
In France, where 80 percent of electricity is generated by nuclear energy, a recent survey showed the support rate for nuclear energy fell from 66 percent before the March 11 disaster to 58 percent.
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Nuclear aversion amplified
The public's aversion to nuclear power plants was apparently amplified by the seriousness of the accidents at the Japanese plant, which was previously said to be highly secure, as well as difficulty in bringing the situation under control. Japan must recognize the gravity of the impact of the accidents and make efforts to quickly stabilize the situation.
In Germany, concerns have already arisen over deterioration of industrial competitiveness and an increased burden on households due to a surge in electricity prices without nuclear power.
This is because a huge investment is estimated to be needed to develop alternative energies and electric transmission facilities. Twists and turns are unavoidable in the road toward ending nuclear power.
Some countries remain unchanged in their commitments to nuclear power even after the Fukushima accidents.
U.S. President Barack Obama announced in a speech on March 30 that the United States will generate 80 percent of its electricity from energy sources that do not emit greenhouse gases by 2035. He said nuclear power plants are a main pillar of the clean energies.
As a reason to promote nuclear power plants, Obama also stressed the necessity to reduce the country's dependence on overseas energy sources such as crude oil.
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France, BRICS back N-power
France's policy of promoting nuclear power plants remains unchanged although the country admitted it is necessary to reconfirm the safety of its existing nuclear power plants.
Leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa--emerging economies collectively known as BRICS--on April 14 agreed on a view that building new nuclear power plants is inevitable. They shared this recognition apparently because their countries need to meet increasing demand for electricity that supports high economic growth.
Nuclear power plants had been rebuilding their reputation due to the fact that they do not emit greenhouse gases. If such sentiment recedes after the Fukushima accidents, the world community's measures to reduce greenhouse gases will be significantly affected.
To revitalize nuclear power plants, creating international safety standards is an urgent task. On that basis, we hope that comprehensive debates on energy policy from mid- and long-term perspectives will be held in a calm atmosphere.
Step up fight against harmful rumors about Japan goods
Alarmed by possible radiation contamination due to the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant crisis, a growing number of countries have slapped restrictions on imports of Japan's farm produce and industrial goods.
This is extremely regrettable.
The government and the nuclear plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co., must swiftly provide accurate information on this matter to prevent untrue and harmful rumors from spreading further around the world. If other nations impose excessive regulations on Japanese goods, the government should take steps to have them rectified or rescinded.
About 30 countries and territories, including China and South Korea, have halted or restricted imports of agricultural produce grown in the vicinity of the Fukushima nuclear plant. Some nations in the Middle East have even suspended imports of foodstuffs from every corner of Japan.
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Situation could worsen
Even more worrisome is the fact that about 10 nations and territories have restricted imports of Japan's main industrial export items such as motor vehicles and electronics.
Italy and Taiwan have begun checking Japanese industrial goods for radiation, while the United States and other nations are inspecting ships that sailed from Japan. Belgium requires Japanese-made motor vehicles to undergo radiation examinations, while Hong Kong has gone so far as to check radiation levels on Japanese medicine and cosmetics.
These checks have not yet led to any suspension of imports of Japanese-manufactured products. However, there are fears they could slow customs clearance and hurt Japanese companies' sales. Given that more countries could place regulations on Japanese imports, this situation cannot simply be brushed off.
The government needs to tackle this problem head-on.
At a recent meeting of the World Trade Organization and talks among finance ministers and central bank heads of the Group of 20 major economies, the government did indeed urge other countries to keep cool heads over the nuclear crisis. However, these efforts alone will not be enough.
The government should use its diplomatic offices abroad, as well as other nations' embassies in Tokyo, to spread the message that Japanese products are safe and correct any misunderstandings that have arisen during the nuclear crisis.
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Smaller firms need help
The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association has decided on a set of rules that require each automaker to measure radiation levels of their exports. Electronics companies have been voluntarily checking their products for radiation or having them checked by outside expert organizations.
Chambers of commerce and industry throughout the country have started issuing member firms with certificates that verify radiation levels in areas where they produce goods.
No radiation readings that exceed levels found in nature have been reported on these products. However, the industrial sector has been put on the defensive by overreactions overseas to the nuclear plant problems.
We think the government should provide small and midsize companies with subsidies to help cover the cost of checking products for radiation. The government also should work with local entities to ensure consultation centers for worried companies are up and running.
Japan's export-led growth strategy is of essential importance. We urge the government to do everything it can to get exports back to normal as quickly as possible by restoring trust in the "Made-in-Japan" brand.
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