[NukeNet] No Nukes Asia Forum / Japan-US nuclear cooperation

[Citizens' Nuclear Information Center]

The No Nukes Asia Forum was held in Tokyo and Kashiwazaki, Japan from 
June 28-30. Today (July 1) participants handed the letter below to 
officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economy 
Trade and Industry.

Besides Japan's nuclear cooperation with Asian countries, people on 
this list will probably also be interested in the June 7, "Joint 
Statement of Progress on Cooperation for the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear 
Energy under the US-Japan Joint Nuclear Energy Action Plan":

http://www.enecho.meti.go.jp/policy/nuclear/pptfiles/080610_3.pdf

Philip White (CNIC)

-----------------------------------

LETTER OF REQUESTS

Mr Akira Amari
Minister for Economy Trade and Industry of Japan

Mr. Masahiko KOUMURA
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan

July 1, 2008                                        

In the name of responding to global warming, the nuclear industry 
throughout the world, including in Japan, is pushing strongly for a 
great expansion of nuclear power. Also the Japanese government is 
promoting exports of nuclear power plants to Asia and the rest of the 
world. Because construction of new nuclear power plants in Japan is 
declining, the Japanese government and industry are very keen to export 
nuclear plants, including to Asian countries. They are also lobbying in 
international fora to have nuclear energy accepted as a project under 
the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Meanwhile, the governments of 
several Asian countries, including Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, are 
keen to introduce nuclear power.

In order to prevent dangerous climate change, it is necessary for 
global CO2 emissions to peak and begin falling within the next 10 
years. We have so little time to turn the situation around, but it 
usually takes more than 10 years from planning to commencement of 
operation of nuclear power plants. Construction of the Olkiluoto-3 
plant in Finland began in 2005, but it is already 50% (2 billion Euros) 
above budget and two and a half years behind schedule. Clearly nuclear 
power plants are too expensive and will take too long to build to be 
any use as a response to global warming. In fact, according to an 
energy scenario recently produced by the International Energy Agency, 
even if 32 gigawatts (32x1000MW plants, or 2.6 plants a month) of 
nuclear power were added globally each year to 2050, Greenhouse Gas 
emissions from the energy sector would only be reduced by 6%, or less 
than 4% of global GHG emissions.

Besides being of no use in addressing climate change, nuclear energy 
actually undermines the development and introduction of effective 
measures to avert global warming: increase of energy efficiency and 
promotion of renewables. Furthermore, centralized electric power 
systems based on nuclear energy would obstruct the introduction of 
small-scale and decentralized energy system. In addition to reducing 
greenhouse gas emissions, these alternatives also offer the potential 
for greater energy independence and energy security, in particular for 
developing countries.

An expansion of nuclear power will exacerbate the ever-increasing 
problem of radioactive waste management, as well as increase the risk 
of major accidents. It will also lead to nuclear proliferation and 
provoke tension in this region. The Chuetsu-Oki Earthquake, which 
struck the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant on July 16, 2007, 
almost one year ago, alerted the world to the danger of an 
earthquake-induced nuclear disaster ("genpatsu shinsai"), at the same 
time demonstrated how fragile electricity systems based on nuclear 
power are.

For these reasons, we demand that:
1. Countries with nuclear industries such as Japan, not give permission 
or support for proposals to export nuclear power plants and related 
technology, including to Asian countries;
2. Transfers of energy related technology, including to Asian 
countries, be restricted to renewables and energy efficiency, and not 
include nuclear technology;
3. Climate and energy policies not be based on promotion of nuclear 
energy, but on renewable energy and energy efficiency;
4. Financial support mechanism for measures to prevent dangerous 
climate change not include nuclear energy;
5. In order to avoid the risk of major accidents caused by earthquakes, 
existing nuclear power plants should be closed and construction of new 
nuclear power plants should be stopped.

Endorsed by participants to No Nukes Asia Forum 2008 (NNAF2008)
Dian Abraham (Indonesia)
Fabby Tumiwa (Indonesia)
Won Young Yang (South Korea)
Heonseok Lee (South Korea)
Minki Kim (South Korea)
Boknyeo Kim (South Korea)
Woo King Nien (Taiwan)
Woo Chang Mei De (Taiwan)
Cheng-Yan Kao (Taiwan)
Gloria Kuang-Jung Hsu (Taiwan)
Lee Chou Han (Taiwan)
Fenlan Lai (Taiwan)
Chiung lin chen (Taiwan)
Kang Shih-hao (Taiwan)
Gwo Jin-Chywqan (Taiwan)
Santi Choakchaichamnankit (Thailand)
Korn-uma Pongnoi (Thailand)
Monthien Thammawat (Thailand)
Sairoong Thongplon (Thailand)
Supara Janchitfah (Thailand)
Pipope Panitchapakdi (Thailand)
Jan Beranek (Greenpeace International)
Tessa de Ryck (Greenpeace South East Asia)
Daisuke Sato (Japan)
Ryo Okuda (Japan)
Kubo Yasuyuki (Japan)
Manami Suzuki (Japan)
Hideyuki Ban (Japan)
Phillip White (Japan/Australia)
Kuniko Takagi (Japan)
Noboru Kobayashi (Japan)