Japan Times recently published another anti-nuclear editorial that is really rather poor, as usual:
Whatever the exact number, the rally was another expression of deep-seated opposition to nuclear power in Japan. The central government should recognize rallies like this as an important expression of political opinion.
Is this going to be a new measure, how many people organisers can turn out? What if 30,000 people turn up for a "Let’s nuke North Korea!" rally? Will that be another important expression that you will call on the government to heed?
left others living in fear of exposure to radiation
…with newspapers like yourselves being one of the fear mongers.
Power companies and the central government do not seem to be listening to scientists, either.
To take one example, the Nuclear Regulation Authority judged the fault running under reactor 2 at Japan Atomic Power Co.’s Tsuruga nuclear plant to be active and therefore extremely dangerous.
First off the "therefore extremely dangerous" does not follow, but more importantly, this editorial does not demonstrate how the power companies and central government are not listening. Furthermore, it is my understanding that the central government cannot override NRA decisions, so they play no role here, and of course neither can the power companies.
Objective data and scientific facts from geologists and specialists outside the nuclear power industry clearly point out the danger of operating nuclear power plants in earthquake-prone areas, which pretty much make up all of Japan.
If that was true, then there is no role for the NRA. They would just say "shut them all down." The geologists in the NRA are saying that it is dangerous to operate a reactor on an active fault.
Even former Prime Minister Naoto Kan, giving his first speech abroad since the 3/11 disasters, stated in California last week that the only way to contain the risk of nuclear accidents is to create a nuclear-free society.
I don’t know why that needs to be qualified with an "even", as he has been anti-nuclear ever since 3/11.
it is a healthy change for Mr. Kan to admit being ashamed of his previous role as an apologist for exporting Japanese nuclear technology to developing nations
I just found it quite entertaining that he was called an ex-apologist!
despite the clear public and scientific opinion against nuclear power
There is not one scientific opinion, and as I point out above, the NRA is not anti-nuclear.
In the short run, safety procedures at power plants must be made more stringent and followed scrupulously.
That’s exactly why the NRA was set up, and it’s interesting that you seem to be accepting some reactors will be turned back on; this implies that you believe (or you want to lead your readers to believe) that the Nuclear Village will override the NRA.
hatred, entitled "
The first question was about the need for constitutional amendments. 42% thought it was necessary to do so, 16% that it was unnecessary, and 39% couldn’t say one way or the other. However, when NHK previously asked the question six years ago, the numbers were 41%, 24% and 30%, so it would appear that all the recent talk about external threats like China in the Senkaku islands and North Korea have not convinced a significant number of people of the necessity of change.
Looking specifically at Article Nine, just 33% thought it was necessary to amend it, 30% thought it was unnecessary, and 32% couldn’t say either way. Six years ago, the numbers for and against were 28% and 41% respectively.
This article spells out how the constitution may be amended, namely that a two-thirds majority of all members (not just those present for the vote) of both Houses, and then a national referendum where a simple majority of the votes cast will be sufficient to ratify the amendment. The proposed amendment to the Amendment Article is that both houses need just a simple majority of all members of each House.