Where's the power?

Fifteen months after the 3/11 earthquake and tsunami knocked out the power to safeguard the Fukushima nuclear reactors, Japan is still debating the reality of nuclear generated power. Tomorrow, Japan will shut down its last operating nuclear power station and, for the first time in more than forty years, we will be a nation free of nuclear powered generated power. Sounds promising. It isn't.

The reason why Japan got into the business of designing and operating nuclear power plants is obvious. It is a nation with almost no natural resources such as oil, coal and so on. The only choice would be to import all the fossil fuels needed for the country, its people and industry... or nuclear power. At the same time we have built more than fifty reactors around the country and supported local communities with jobs and wealth, Japan has also committed itself to be a energy efficient country. We drive small cars, have world-class energy efficient appliances and turn up the thermostats in offices in the summer.

Now we are told, for the second summer in a row, there won't be enough power supply and more sacrifices are necessary. What more is expected of us? Japan is one of the leading industrial countries in the world and we cannot generate sufficient power to keep its citizens, industries and tourists comfortable? Japanese summers are hot and uncomfortable. Every source of energy brings some risk.

Here is my position on the matter. I will continue to do my utmost to conserve energy this summer as in the past. But I vote to turn the power back on and therefore perhaps I am in the minority. For those citizens who prefer to oppose nuclear generated power and think Japan is better off to import all its energy needs, turn up your thermostats, turn off your AC and say goodbye to the factories in your prefecture.

Japan needs to get on with its recovery, its competitiveness and responsibilities to its citizens.