Funds from disaster relief budget given to nuclear operators

That is just wrong -_-....People who fell victim to the "Nuclear Disaster/Tsunami" comes first! What is the Japanese Government thinking? Do they not care about their people?

People first not those nuclear factories.......Oh Japan what are you doing...

Read my comments up there. And I'll add this: Government money really should be used for activities and investments that help all Japanese, not some.

If you look at it in this sense, this may even be a more legitimate action than handing it out to a disaster victim.

On another note: It is the people of Japan that has voted for the politicians they want to have maneuvering their country. Ultimately, they have chosen which government they want and has to, as such, reap what they have sown. The mentality of saying 'shoganai at any- and everthing is unsustainable but this is the society they have chosen. ... People being treated like suckers because they are docile and inactive. It is sad that this should happen but it is the state this country is in.

This is a very naive way of viewing Representative Democracy. These days, no one but a very few political parties really can have major influence on the governmental workings. For example, in the States, you have the Republicans and the Democrats and you have to decide which package you dislike least. Sure, in principle, you can vote for one of the tiny parties or even put yourself up as an independent representative - just don't expect either move to get you very much.

Corruption doesn't need bribes implicit or explicit- doing your job totally wrong is a corruptly done job.

That is just wrong -_-....People who fell victim to the "Nuclear Disaster/Tsunami" comes first! What is the Japanese Government thinking? Do they not care about their people?

People first not those nuclear factories.......Oh Japan what are you doing...

Another hit for those people who still waiting their home reconstructed. I'm really surprised about it, since I thought that Japanese are kind each other...especially in a moment like this.

While there is no suggestion of corruption

WHY THE HELL NOT???????!!!!!!!!

I donated to the disaster fund through my online art auctions!

WHAT THE HELL!?

We had an 8% pay cut from last June, ostensibly to help disaster victims, even though many of us are victims ourselves to a greater or lesser extent. Then we find out that our wages are being given to nuclear power stations and whaling companies and other, unrelated Amakudari-heavy businesses. It's disgusting and the whole thing stinks.

Well, that this one would be unpopular is a given, but let me go against the current and suggest this is not a completely black idea.

1) Try to remember that despite the labeling on top of the money, its source and purpose is no different from any other government money in Japan, paid for by Japanese taxpayers and bond-buyers, to be used for the benefit of all Japanese.

2) Effectively, this is subsidizing power companies for unexpected expenses due to the earthquake, which is a reasonably legitimate use of disaster fund money.

Let's face it, the power companies chose nuclear power because it is cost-efficient. I'm sure you can find some scientist or another who would contest the cost-efficiency of nuclear power and they might even come up with some nice-sounding arguments, but they are one person, and also has no practical experience with all the realities of nuclear power generation, while the company as a collective does, and further gambles its own money on its choice, while the scientist has much less to lose. I'm not saying that the "one person" cannot ever be right over the collective, but nevertheless the odds are clear.

And now to appease the less-than-rational Japanese people, they are not using nuclear power. The risk of nuclear power hadn't increased compared to before the accident (if fact, since accidents always produce at least some lessons learned, the risk actually went down), so if they are rational and they accepted nuclear power including its risks before, logic says they should continue to do so regardless of the accident. But they are not.

Anyway, it is highly probable the power are indeed paying more in costs. Now that leaves two choices. The honest choice is for the government to not subsidize them, but then they would have to raise prices to keep the profit margin. The government can try to block the increase, but if the power companies work in unison ultimately the government will have to give, since the figures would be on the side of the power companies and they ultimately hold the electrical power. If they are willing to play chicken the government will have to concede or risk massive blackouts.

And of course, once the prices go up, it'll take a miracle for it to go down.

So, instead of allowing them to raise prices, they are subsidized. Japanese taxpayer money being used to subsidize the power they use seems to be reasonably beneficial to all Japanese, and thus can hardly be considered wrong.

=

The endorsement above should not be interpreted to mean I support the diversion of diaster relief funds for such fringe activities as whaling or counting turtles.

JaneM: "Money donated to organizations like the Red Cross cannot and are not used by the government. So I would not be so quick to feel cheated in cases like this one."

Why wouldn't you? If the government did not get money from the Red Cross and millions upon millions from other governments and organizations, the government wouldn't have 'spare' money to give for counting turtles, building expressways and contact lens factories far from Tohoku, refitting whaling ships, and all sorts of other public works projects. They would have had to use THAT money instead of what they used from donations. So, yes, you absolutely SHOULD feel cheated and angry.

there is no mention that the money used for the facilities was donated

Irrelevant, public tax money or donation, it is not the point. Both are public money anyway....and I feel cheated on my taxes.

The headline is indeed angering but if you get past it and read the article, there is no mention that the money used for the facilities was donated. In fact, it is money from the national budget, allocated by the government.

Money donated to organizations like the Red Cross cannot and are not used by the government. So I would not be so quick to feel cheated in cases like this one.

While projects like preservation of sea turtles etc. are a very far cry from what we want for the disaster victims, it is true that many facilities which had nothing to do with the nuclear accident would be having difficulties with the rising production costs, once their nuclear reactors were shut for inspection. Such facilities employ a large number of people so my question is: would it have been ok to have more people (even though in areas different from the one suffering from the disaster) left without work due to the rising costs of imported fuels?

It may be better to stop and think about what is written (and how it is written) in the article before getting angry over it.

This was a very poor move as the world donated the money to rehouse and accommodate and feed these displaced people the industry should have held insurance for any mishap what happened to the insurance payouts who's pocket did it end up in or what business has not paid any premiums to cover any event.

New boss just like the old boss.

Well, looking at all those news coming up day after day I think the govt & Nuclear operators are posing milestones and planning the "robbery" of the century, they plan to rob the whole country.

People should be going to jail but not in Japan.... This also shows that the electric utilities in Japan are bankrupt in more ways than one.

unbelievable. the government should be ashamed.

But, if you think it is bad now, wait until after the upper house election on July 21. If the coalition gains control of the upper and lower houses there will be nothing stopping from changing the constitution, giving them even more power to divert funds in any direction they see fit and the public will have no say in it at all. At present, the constitution can only be changed by a public referendum, but they intend to change this so it can be changed within parliament. One can only hope that the public will see through the deceit and lies to get these criminals out of power, but it is a nation of mushrooms that have been kept in the dark and fed BS for a very long time.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/29/national/abe-wants-to-gut-public-protections-expert/#.Uc5UfTvjdZ4

Why am I not surprised ???

Because you are living in Japan maybe...

WTF !..... Mr. Abe, open your eyes and ears. It's about time heads must roll inside or outside your cabinet. The only way you can proved your sincerity and quality of a good prime minister for the masses. No matter what elected officials and party they belong be affected. Be the famous scandal tainted LDP or whoever. Nuke power plant is not bad source of power as long as it is managed and maintain properly and not just for profiteering. WTF is the diversion of funds intended for the victims of 3/11. Who ordered the disbursement of those funds. Fan will hit the ceiling if you really intend to investigate and look for those head departments and punish them to show the people of Japan that you really meant good as their prime minister. It's a no brainer to find those culprits. Japan is by the book and manual so it is documented I assumed.

So "diverted fund" is the new political correct words for "stealing" ?

What a bunch of Parasites all those Nuclear Operators, you can't get 10 billions yen out of this govt without corruption. I want my money tax back. How long are they/we going to feed those thieves ? Why are those Nuclear operators above the law ? OK now look closely to TEPCO and fund they have just received this week, an amazing 6 billion$ for the "so called" compensation... money for paying certainly their running cost of operation, bank loans and hefty summer bonuses looking at the timing and how stealth was again tax money distributed (almost no agencies reported it)....

This is a disgrace in every sense of the word, and I for one will no longer donate any money.

It seems you (and many others) gave money after Kobe's quake. And that was exactly the same script. There will be people giving next time.

****The people should come first before the power companies, there was only ONE that was effected.

There are still people living in shelters and in the parks, streets or where ever they can.

Do not turn out like the rest of the world especially America.

If only those diverted two billion yen had gone to creating a whale watching industry for Tohoku instead of the insane whale slaughter...the entire affair is just infuriating. What is the response of the homeless and displaced?

Rick Kisa,

It should be people first...

Agreed. It should be but it never will, not in Japan.

On another note: It is the people of Japan that has voted for the politicians they want to have maneuvering their country. Ultimately, they have chosen which government they want and has to, as such, reap what they have sown. The mentality of saying 'shoganai at any- and everthing is unsustainable but this is the society they have chosen. I am quite sure this is not the first time funds have been diverted from their intended use to ludicrous quasi-projects like counting turtles in Kagoshima. It has happened before and it will happen again. So, until the Japanese learn to stand up for themselves and demand politicians to be held accountable for their actions, it is just one more ride on the merry-go-round. People being treated like suckers because they are docile and inactive. It is sad that this should happen but it is the state this country is in.

Funds set aside to help earthquake, tsunami and nuclear victims

Tohoku increasingly resembles the grandmothers of old carried up the mountain to starve.

Is this Tokyo's true intention?

Why am I not surprised ???

It's a big pile of cash and every agency wants a piece of it. The thing that really P's me off is, the nuclear power companies are receiving support from the Gov, but they are also increasing power tariffs. This means that, we, the working class, are paying for it twice. Furthermore, what will happen when they get their reactors back online? Will tariffs be reduced? Of course they bloody well won't! The LDP and power companies are a criminal syndicate and anyone that votes for these wankers on July 21 needs a good face palm!!!

The displaced people of Tohoku should be infuriated by this.

NB. This is not donated funds. This is YOUR taxes being exploited.

sf2k, it was the minshuto who diverted the funds...ask Mr. Kan and Noda. LDP on the other hand did not scrutinize the funds but then thats what you get when amakudari ends as bureaucrats in power (meaning mentally challenged, morons who were removed from politics). Stop the amakudari and maybe we can see some changes in Japan. Until then, let us suffer. Japanese people stop voting these idiots in power. But then younger generations don't vote, only the old and the frail...shoganai

wow, this is just so sad. With the LDP in power literally no one cares about their fellow citizens. Scary, actually

Wow! This is first time my heart has broken while reading a JT article! Those poor people up there... You are so right to feel ripped off, as I'm sure you do!!!!

No Surprises here, and please realise that the counting of turtles is way more important than helping people rebuild there lives after a disaster, N O T !

I guess we are lucky they are not reporting the money was used to feather the nests and line the politico's pockets,oh wait that'll be next weeks news.

Now if that's not a kick in the teeth to those STILL living in shelters thanks to TEPCO and the like then I don't know what is. It's time for these people to revolt, seriously. This is a disgrace in every sense of the word, and I for one will no longer donate any money. The wingers on here can come and blab about how it was not taken from donations, but any money earmarked by the government is done so because they GET donations, otherwise there would be no 'found money' to earmark because they would have to use it for its intended purposes in lieu of said donations. I recommend foreign nations ask for their money back.

The public should be demanding immediate compensation to those still suffering and that the remaining 8-billion go immediately to building housing for those in shelters, and getting businesses IN THE AFFECTED AREAS off the ground, not helping companies who cause the problem, want to cause it again by restarting reactors, depend on other handouts, and are jacking up prices all at the same time. There are very few people in favor of NPP restarts, so let's see them put their words and opinions into action.

We've had several of these stories in the past 2 years. Many people from outside Japan who donated after the disaster are feeling like naive suckers on hearing of the slow and inappropriate use of disaster relief money. People who donated were under the impression that Japan's authorities would do everything they could to ensure fast and efficient recovery and relief for survivors of this tragedy, with total dedication to the task at hand.

Japan may have a hard time receiving foreign donations when the next disaster hits.

I know people will point out that this is Japanese tax-payers' money that keeps being diverted away from disaster-relief. But to outsiders it feels like Japan's government is saying "Now we have all these foreign donations for Tohoku, we can spend more of our own money on hats and scarves."

Is there any group left that hasn't gotten funds meant for those who really need them? I seem to have read here about the misappropriation of loads of funds. Think of all those who donated money to the displaced in the tokoku region. Things like ths should be on the international news so that those who control this money here can be named and shamed. Happy I donated much needed items at the time instead of money.

I wonder if in a strange way the Abe Gov't didn't release this information now as a form of blackmail to the electorate. "Either you let us restart the nuclear power plants, or more of the money and resources needed to help rebuild the Tohoku area will be spent on helping the power companies." Because they know that after the initial rage felt by the victims, this too will blow over and people will vote for the LDP in next months election, ensuring Abe can rape and pillage as much as he wants!

It should be people first before the greedy nuclear operators' needs. It is the people that keep their businesses afloat