photo by kind courtesy of @atuktekt (*click the photo for details)

2012/08/06

Averting the fourth national exposure to nuclear radiation - on the 67th anniversary of the world's first nuclear attack -


I. How the illusion of "peaceful use of nuclear power" was promoted


Peace movements acting as engine of promotion


Today, on the day which marks the first day of the nuclear attack on human history (unfortunately, there is a 'second' which is approaching in three days). I must highlight the role of peace movements in promoting the "peaceful use of nuclear energy."

In order to 'reject' the military use of nuclear power, 'relatively undermine' the value of the military use of nuclear power, and to 'promote' the notion of 'peaceful use of nuclear power,' peace movements in the world in effect became the foremost promoter of nuclear power.

Peace movements, as exemplified by movements such as the WFM (World Federalist Movement) promoted the use of nuclear power as a part of their "anti-nuclear" campaign. They strongly believed the promotion of peaceful use will undervalue its military use.

This belief system was further strengthened by the establishment of the NPT regime, which justified the spread of peaceful use of nuclear power as an effective deterrent against nuclear weapons proliferation.

It is is uncertain whether the promotion of peaceful use of nuclear power was driven by the vested interests of the nuclear industry, or whether international agencies such IAEA and international regimes such as NPT in fact served as an agent to protect these interests. What is certain, regardless of whether it is interest-driven, is that peaceful movements such as WFM were led into playing the role of a "nuclear power promoter" in a global scale.

Marginalization of anti-nuclear movements


While peace movements such as WFM steered itself in the direction of promoting nuclear power, the traditional anti-nuclear movements as exemplified by Gensuikin or Japan Congress Against A- and H- Bombs (Japanese only)maintained their opposition against both military and peaceful use of nuclear power. However, their adamant position often fell prey to the promoters of nuclear power in their political games. 

Under the three non-nuclear principles the peaceful use of nuclear power was an exception permitted by and acknowledged by the state. Opposing nuclear power as a whole regarding peaceful use of nuclear power in the same light as its military use was sidestepped to be regarded as "anti-non-nuclear". As a result anti-nuclear movements expressing 'radical thoughts' were marginalized in an increasingly conservative society.

While anti-nuclear movements were being marginalized as a movement only permitted to oppose military use of nuclear power, peace movements that oppose military use but not peaceful use for 'reducing the value of military use of nuclear power' gained political momentum and contributed in establishing an environment where peaceful use of nuclear power could not longer be opposed.

The consequence of marginalization


As a result, both peace movements and anti-nuclear movements lost their social justification to oppose peaceful use of nuclear power in this country. There were no effective forces in this country that could oppose it anymore. In retrospect, this was a tremendous loss for all of those who now advocate for a nuclear-free society.

After the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, people sought for reliable information and/or data. Where did they turn to? They turned to institutions such as Kakujoho.net (Nuclear Information) or CNIC or Citizens' Nuclear Information Center, which long served as an integral part of the anti-nuclear community that advocated for the end to the peaceful use of nuclear power. For example, Peace Depot, the internationally recognized and self-proclaimed nuclear think tank, have provided many intelligence reports proving the linkages between nuclear power and nuclear weapons development. But their research was only appreciated among the anti-nuclear community internationally, and only in the context of reliable information against the military use of nuclear power, domestically. The value of their information was thus marginalized.

As a result, the general public wasn't aware of the inherent risk of nuclear power plant or the fact that nuclear power plays an integral role in the development of nuclear weapons. They had to face these hard facts without knowing, without having interest, on March 11, 2011.

Fortunately, however, after 3-11 the game has changed. The information provided by the anti-nuclear community has played a vital role in educating the public with the correct knowledge, helping them to mobilize themselves as a group of informed citizens. This in part has led to the successful campaign of the now world renown "Hydrangea Revolution."


II. Peaceful use of nuclear power is impossible under the current policy apparatus 


Nuclear Safety - the core issue of nuclear power plant administration


The core issue underlying Japan's peaceful use of nuclear power (nuclear power plant administration) consists of issues in management, control, and mindset, all leading up to nuclear safety. Of course, in retrospect, a country entrenched with seismic faults should not have nearly 60 nuclear power plants built to serve the core of its energy infrastructure in the first place. However, this choice was given to the public long ago, and the public--however deceived by disinformation and propaganda--accepted it as "safe" without giving much thought, or needless to say, a public discourse on the matter. So the 'acceptance' of the building of power plants is a given. The problem is after building them.

Have there been sufficient measures to ensure nuclear safety?

After 3-11 many of the Japanese people recognized for a fact that even though the nuclear power plants may be operated in perfect condition,  there are still need for employment of strict safety standards (in both design and operation), a clear documented mindset for emergency response, continual training for emergency scenarios, as well as continual improvements on all safety aspects in order to ensure nuclear safety.

Part of this has been highlighted as one of the recommendations (my blog in Japanese)from the BAS or Bulletin of Atomic Scientists whey they set their Dooms Day Clock to "5 minutes to Midnight"(BAS Timeline) on January 2012.


2012: "safer nuclear reactor designs need to be developed and built, and more stringent oversight, training, and attention are needed to prevent future disasters;"


It has been more than a year after the nuclear power plant accident, but none of these recommendations were adopted. Despite the civilian as well as parliamentary investigation committees leading to the same conclusion that the accident was "manmade" (my blog in Japanese), the National Diet, which is supposed to serve an oversight function over the executive, is utterly dysfunctional. Just by looking at the way they are handling the members selection of the new, Japanese version of Nuclear Regulatory Commission, it is clear that they are incapable of enacting "improvements in human quality".

The direct causes of the accident were all foreseeable prior to March 11, 2011. The TEPCO Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant accident was the result of collusion between the government, the regulators and TEPCO, and the lack of governance by said parties. They effectively betrayed the nation’s right to be safe from nuclear accidents. Therefore, we conclude that the accident was clearly “manmade.” We believe that the root causes were the organizational and regulatory systems that supported faulty rationales for decisions and actions, rather than issues relating to the competency of any specific individual. -- Conclusions from the NAIIC Executive Summary of their final report

So as I have stated repeatedly in my blog 
(Japanese)this nation is not equipped to operate nuclear power

A pledge commemorating the 67th anniversary of the first nuclear attack


We have, since 67 years ago on this day, three times suffered the exposure to radiation. First and second was due to exposure through nuclear explosion, and it was due to an act of war. Our government has failed to compensate the victims in full till this day. The third exposure was due to natural disaster, but the spread of radiation harm was brought by the incompetence of the nuclear administrators.

Our government does not have the will or the capacity to protect its citizens from the horrors, the threats, the risks, and the dangers of nuclear power.

On this 67th anniversary of the first nuclear attack in world's history, we here by pledge:
that we shall chose a government that would serve to protect its citizens from the horrors of nuclear power; that we shall form an executive branch that would serve to protect its citizens from the threat of nuclear power; that we shall form a legislative branch that would not allow to expose its constituents to the inherent dangers of nuclear power; and that we shall learn from our lessons, all to avert our FOURTH exposure to nuclear radiation.
But we know that today's administration and policy apparatus do not have the will or the capacity to realize this ideal.

After more than a year from the accident, our judgement for the executive as the well as the legislative branch, the regulators, the utilities companies has been set. We have to remake them from scratch. First, we must start with the dissolution of the legislative branch. In order to do that we must force the current administration to step down.

August 6, 2012
 
In commemoration of the first nuclear attack in world's history
And to avert the fourth national exposure to nuclear radiation



?ˤۤ?\֥�¼ ?­?­\֥� ????ȯ?????¼?ǽ??(巻末資料)各キーワード別の現在の報道 

67年目の原爆記念日に4度目の核被曝回避を祈念する


“核の平和利用”という虚像が推進された背景 

原発推進の片棒を担がされた平和運動

今日世界史上初の「原爆の日」にどうしても語らなければならないことがある。
それは「核の平和利用」をどう平和団体が推進してきたか。

核の軍事利用を“否定”し、核の軍事利用としての価値を“相対的に削減”し、核の平和利用を“促進する”―平和団体は、この理念のもと原発推進者となった。

世界連邦運動などの平和団体による原発推進は、元々は平和理念に基づく「反核」としての運動だった。平和利用の促進が、兵器利用の価値を下げると確信していた。

この価値観は、後に核不拡散防止条約(NPT)というひとつのレジーム(体制)の確立により強化される。核の拡散防止のために平和利用促進が是とされたのだ。

核の平和利用が原発ビジネス推進のために国際原子力機関(IAEA)やNPT体制によって支えられた謀略なのかどうか、そこまでは確信を持っていえない。判っているのは、謀略の有無に関係なく、世界連邦運動という国際平和運動は、“国際規模で原発を推進する片棒を担がされてしまった”ということだ。

マージナライズされた反核運動

世界連邦運動などに代表される「平和運動」が「核の平和利用促進」のために原発推進に柁を切った一方で、原水禁などの「反核運動」は、核の兵器利用も平和利用も両方認めないというスタンスで一貫して運動を続けてきた。そしてその頑ななスタンスは、原発推進勢力に政治的に逆利用されてしまった。

非核三原則のもと、核の平和利用は例外的に認めることを国是としている我が国で、核の利用を一体化視して「核の平和利用」をも認めないというスタンスをとることは、国是に反するだけでなく、“非核の精神をも否定する”という論理のすり替えが行われ、反核団体は社会の中でその存在をマージナライズ(矮小化)された。

反核運動が核の兵器利用への反対運動として“のみ”認められる形へとマージナライズされていく一方で、核の兵器利用には反対するが核の平和利用は、“兵器利用の削減のためにも推進すべき”とする平和運動は、その政治的利用価値を高めていき、いつしか、“核の平和利用に反対できない環境”が構築されていった。

つまり、総合的にみれば、平和運動も、反核運動も、両者とも核の平和利用には反対できなくなっていった。日本に核の平和利用に反対する有効な勢力は存在しなくなったのである。しかし振り返ってみれば、これはいま脱原発を主張する多くの国民にとって、非常に大きな痛手であった。

福島原発事故以降、国民の多くが頼りにするようになった情報・データの源(核情報原子力情報資料室、等)はどこだったか。長年、核の平和利用としての原発を問題視してきた反核運動コミュニティそのものではなかったか。たとえばピースデポという自他共に認める核シンクタンクは長年、原発と核開発の一体化構造に警鐘を鳴らしてきた。

だがピースデポの研究・調査内容はあくまで「反核」のコンテクストにおいてのみ有効な情報とされ、「反原発」の部分の価値はマージナライズされたままだった。

結果、原発の危険性、核開発との一体性という危機認識は一般の中に育たず、多くの国民が無知・無関心のまま2011年3月11日を迎えることとなった。

これら一連の平和運動・反核運動の発展の歴史が、原発推進勢力の謀略によって導かれたかどうか、そんなことは、もはやことの本質とは関係がない。問題は実態であって、背後に何があるかではない。

本質は、いずれの運動も「核の平和利用」に反対しにくくなったということだ。
だが、それはもう過去の問題であることは周知の通りである。

もはや現体制では“核の平和利用”は不可能 

核の平和利用=原発が抱える問題の本質とは

現在日本が抱える「核の平和利用」の問題の要は、その管理体制と意識にある。遡れば、地震列島日本に原発を建設すること自体に問題があるが、これは多くの国民が巧みな情報操作によって「安全」と信じ込まされ、「容認」してきたこと。問題はその後にある。

安全性は確保されてきたのかということだ。

311以後、多くの国民が認識したのは、仮に原発が完璧に運営されていても、そこに“厳格な安全基準(設計と運営の両方)の運用と、明確な危機管理意識と、それを明文化した対応、厳格な訓練が行われ、常に改善が繰り返されるような体制”がなくては、「原発の安全性は確保されない」という事実だ。

これは今年初め、「終末時計」を1分進めた理由としても指摘されている。
2012: "safer nuclear reactor designs need to be developed and built, and more stringent oversight, training, and attention are needed to prevent future disasters;"
より安全な原子炉が設計及び建造されなければならない。また、将来の災害を防ぐために、より厳格な監督、訓練が行われ、かつ十分な注意が払われる必要がある

原発事故から1年以上が経った今も、これらの改善はなされていない。民間・国会事故調の両方により「人災」認定されても、行政監視機関の国会は、新設する原子力規制委員会の人事の状況を見ても、「人質」(じんしつ)の改善を徹底できない。
「歴代の規制当局と東電との関係について、「規制する立場とされる立場が『逆転関係』となることによる原子力安全についての監視・監督機能の崩壊」が起きた点に求められると認識する。何度も事前に対策を立てるチャンスがあったことに鑑みれば、今回の事故は「自然災害」ではなくあきらかに「人災」である。」(国会事故調報告の「結論」より)

すなわち、これまで繰り返し述べてきたように、この国に原発を管理する資格はない。
67年目の誓い

我が国は、67年前の今日を境に3度、核に被曝した。2度の“被爆”は戦争によるものだったが、政府は被爆者の補償すら満足にしてこなかった。3度目の“被曝”は天災に端を発するが被害を拡散する結果を招いたのは“人災”だった。

我が国の政府は、核から国民を守る意思を有していない。

だからこそ、核被爆67年目の今日、新たに誓おう。

今度こそ、全国民を核の恐怖から守る政府を選択しようと。
今度こそ、全国民を核の脅威から守る行政を創ろうと。
今度こそ、全国民を核の危険に曝すことを許さない立法府を創ろうと。
そして今度こそ、教訓を学ぼうと。
4度目の被曝を経験しないために。

だが、現政権・体制には、これらの理想を実現する意思も力もない。

震災後1年強、行政・立法・当局・産業の対応・議論・施策により、
現体制への評価はもはや決した。すべてを作り替える必要がある。

まずは、行政を構成する立法府からはじめよう。
その為に、現政府は退陣しなければならない。

2012年8月6日

平和を祈念する原爆記念の日に
4度目の被曝回避を祈念して



?ˤۤ?\֥�¼ ?­?­\֥� ????ȯ?????¼?ǽ??(巻末資料)各キーワード別の現在の報道 

2012/08/04

German translation: Nachricht: Der Naturkostladen "Araiguma (=Waschbär)" wurde geschlossen.





Der Naturkostladen "Araiguma" wurde heute am 31. Juli geschlossen. Vielen Dank für Ihre lange Unterstützung.




Trotz Ihrer besonderen Gunst, die wir im Laufe der Jahre geniessen durften, müssen wir Ihnen mitteilen, dass wir unser Geschäft Ende Juli geschlossen haben. Wir sind Ihnen für die lange Begünstigung unseres Shops dankbar.

Die 2011 vom Tohoku-Erdbeben verursachte Nuklearkatastrophe im Kernkraftwerk Fukushima Daiichi hat eine beispiellose radioaktive Verseuchung hervorgerufen, und es ist äußerst schwierig geworden, Ihnen unschädliche Lebensmittel anzubieten. Trotzdem haben wir seitdem mit aller Anstrengung versucht, Gemüse aus den weniger verseuchteten Gebieten zu besorgen und die Herkunft des Rohmaterials unserer Waren ausführlich zu erfragen. Aber die Kontaminationsumstände werden dennoch immer ernster.

Die gegenwärtige japanische Regierung handelt der weltweit verbreiteten Übereinkunft zuwider, dass alle radioaktiven Stoffe innerhalb des betroffenen Gebietes, nicht nur in Fukushima, eingesperrt sein müssen. Sie betreibt eine betrügerische, verbrecherische Politik, indem sie die radioaktiv verseuchteten Tsunami-Trümmer landesweit verbreitet und sie dort einäschert. Wegen dieser törichten Politik der Noda-Regierung breitet sich die radioaktive Verseuchung absichtlich und systematisch besonders schnell aus.

Inzwischen ist die Verseuchung so extrem, dass ein kleines Einzelhandelsgeschäft wie unseres nicht mehr damit zurechtkommen kann. Zudem können wir unter solchen Bedingungen nicht mehr versprechen, dass unsere Waren sicher sind.

Wir empfehlen jedem von Ihnen dringend, sich bei jedem einzelnen Produzenten nach der Herkunft und der Erntezeit seiner Produkte zu erkundigen, um die richtige Entscheidung zu treffen.

In jedem Fall fahren wir fort, Sie über die Folgen der Katastrophe, den Grad der nuklearen Verseuchung sowie über die Diätetik und Seifenprodukte zu informieren. Wir würden uns sehr freuen, wenn Sie uns auf Twitter folgen würden.

Bitte zögern Sie nicht uns jederzeit anzurufen, solange unser Ladentelefon noch freigeschaltet ist.



3-19-3 Meguro Honcho, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Telefon: +813-3794-1848

Veröffentlicht mit der ausdrücklichen Zustimmung des Ladenbesitzers


Ursprüngliche Nachricht
 : 
Naturkostladen Araiguma
Japanische Bericht von: Merx
Artikel übernommen vonOffice BALÉS
Deutsche Übersetzung: Naoco Franz

Announcement: Natural Food Store "Araiguma" is Closed - "The Araiguma" Newsletter -




Thank you for your long support. Natural Food Store "Araiguma" has closed down as of today, July 31, 2012. 
Despite the excellent support we enjoyed over the years, we are announcing that we have closed our store at the end of July. We deeply appreciate your long support and love for our store.

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident caused by the 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake have caused an unprecedented damage through radioactive contamination. Today, it has become extremely difficult for our store to provide safe food stuff. Despite our tireless effort to secure vegetables from regions that are deemed to be less affected from the radiation exposure, and our diligent checks on the origins of our raw materials, the contamination is getting worse by the day.

The current Noda Administration completely went against the global common sense that all radioactive contaminants of an affected region, including Fukushima, must be contained. Instead the administration went ahead with a "wide-area treatment" of the so called "radioactive debris." As a result, a human-made structural violence of radiation harm is spreading rapidly, through the incompetent, deceitful and criminal policies of the Noda Administration.

The level of harm done can no longer be dealt within the capacity of a single retailer anymore. We are no longer conditioned to say, "this is safe" to our customers.
As for our customers, we seriously recommend that you inquire each and every producer on the origin and the harvesting period of their products to make an informed decision.

We will however continue to disseminate information on the nuclear power plant accident, the level of radioactive contamination, and on dietetics and soap products through Twitter etc., so we encourage you to follow us.
Please feel free to call us at any time while our store phone remains functional for a short while.

Owner, Natural Food Store "Aragiuma"
3-19-3 Meguro Honcho, Meguro-ku, TOkyo
Phone: +813-3794-1848

Posted with explicit consent of the store owner.



Original announcement : Natural Food Store Araiguma
Japanese report by: Merx
Article adapted by: Office BALÉS