ヾ(゜Д゜)ノ"英字新聞

White paper failed to embrace N-power
Without nuclear power generation, it would be difficult to ensure a stable supply of electric power in this country. It also would be hard to cut the emissions of carbon dioxide that cause global warming without nuclear power generation.
Now, more than ever, the role of nuclear power needs to be widely understood.
But the recently released White Paper on Nuclear Energy compiled by the government's Atomic Energy Commission failed to send such a message.
The annual white paper usually features a special section on key issues and provides information regarding government initiatives taken on the issues from the standpoint of the development and use of nuclear power. For example, when the nuclear fuel cycle was hotly debated, the white paper for that year explained why it was necessary.
This year's white paper merely provides a simple overview of situations concerning nuclear power both at home and abroad. The commission is supposed to be the nation's control tower on nuclear energy policy. Has the commission abandoned its vital duty to promote the role of nuclear power?
There is, as yet, no prospect of Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture, which was ordered to stop operations of all the seven reactors after being struck by a powerful earthquake, resuming operations. It also is unknown whether or how the problem of disposal of high-level radioactive waste produced in the process of nuclear power generation will be resolved.
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Issues piling up
Problems related to nuclear power are accumulating. Given this situation, it is even more vital that the commission informs the public about the nation's nuclear energy goals and how it intends to achieve them.
In many other parts of the world, the efficiency of nuclear power generation has again been drawing keen attention. The generating capacity of nuclear power plants is huge, and virtually no CO2 is emitted.
Plans for building nuclear power plants have been gaining momentum rapidly and widely. Worldwide, there are about 435 nuclear reactors operating. The number is expected to increase to about 790 by 2030.
A panel of experts set up by the commission compiled a report this month on envisaged use of nuclear power in the future. The report called for making nuclear power generation part of the effort to tackle global environmental problems, and listed specific measures to support the construction of nuclear power plants overseas and the development of innovative technologies.
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Pushed to back burner
The white paper touched on the contents of the report only briefly, without referring to the concrete measures it listed.
Nuclear power seems to have been relegated to the background in terms of the government's policy priorities.
At the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda made no mention of nuclear power generation in his speech on global warming.
There is concern that issues regarding nuclear power will not be on the agenda at a meeting of energy ministers of the Group of Eight major nations scheduled to be held in Aomori Prefecture in June.
In the prefecture, there are many nuclear-related facilities such as a reprocessing plant for spent nuclear fuel. A brochure on the meeting put out by the prefecture makes no reference to nuclear power generation, but merely states that great efforts have been made on solar and wind power generation.
Drawing up of policy on nuclear power should be open and fair.