Noda pledges rebirth of Fukushima, tax and social security reform

I would have preferred if he pledged only to lift the rate of taxes if absolutely necessary, with efforts first and foremost to cut wasteful spending.

What about cleaning up other areas like Tokyo and Kanagawa. I spent the last two days cruising around Yamato-shi and Kugenuma Kaigan in Kanagawa-ken and consistantly found hot spots over 1.0 µSv/h

People watching and talking to me were in shock. I told them to call up their ward offices, police or firemen to get the radiation cleaned up. Highest areas near drainage from flat top roofs.

Good points by the above, crazy to raise sales taxes when no one really has extra money to spend and hearing about radiation hotspots around Kanagawa, well, not much of a surprise, but do wish the J government and the J people would worry just a bit more about this situation, I guess the voters of Japan should get a bit more angry and let their voices be heard next election time.

How can this guy go against his party and decide to raise taxes, when he ran for the position with no tax raises. Liar.

JG: I have checked Kuges also. Found some high spots too. If you ever see me say hello. I am probably older than your father for sure.

Voters never get and Elbuda

I think before any further nuclear adventure sirious steps have to be taken to make sure it doesnt happen again. One more time woud be to much

Promise all you want, Noda. Your words mean zero: You'll be history by spring.

I'm still waiting for criminal charges to be filed against TEPCO. Don't suppose he could have made a promise on that?

Noda said that this week he planned to complete a final draft of the party’s tax and social reform plan calling for Japan’s sales tax to double, from 5% to 10%, by 2015. The sales tax would rise to 8%rcent in 2014

Hmm, why not try a 36% paycut to all Ministers Mr. PM Noda. Just like the PM and MP's in Singapore. OH and Singapores President is facing a 51% paycut based on the findings of the Ministerial Salary Review Committee.

The government declared that the plant had achieved "cold shutdown conditions, and was essentially stable" "This nuclear accident is something that people all around the country are concerned about, so transmitting the information accurately and appropriately is fundamental," he said.

If he really means that transmitting the information accurately and appropriately is fundamental, I would like him to explain the differences between "cold shutdown conditions and cold shutdown" & "essentially stable and stable".

Man my confidence in this place just keeps on that downward trajectory

And then he said: Never, never, never, never give up. That's what Churchill said not long after the Blitz. The only thing is that Japan was on opposite sides at that time and lost the war. It feels a bit strange for Noda using that quote.

When asked about how he might work to regain public confidence, Noda - who took office in September....

When did he ever have the public's trust? The public didn't vote him into the prime ministership.

Noda's purpose for occupying the position for a short period is to push ahead with the consumption tax rise that he and his Finance Ministry colleagues believe is essential to Japan's future. He has no concern about taking the fall for this as he will not last long as PM anyway.

The work to rehab and revive parts of Japan devastated by the 3/11 disasters will fall on the shoulders of numerous successors for decades to come.

This nuclear accident is something that people all around the country are concerned about

Yes, we are monitoring everything every step Japan is taking.

Noda said the social security costs have been growing steadily and reforms should not be delayed any longer.

No kidding here. Japan is scraping a bottom of barrel now.. A few more yen left and everything else will go for a bust big time!! Ojiisan, Obaasan and your parents will be thrown to the street with hunger. Shame.

There can be NO rebirth of Fukushima. It should be used as a nuclear waste storage facility. When the health issues start in the near future (which cannot be hidden) there will be an uproar the likes of which has never been seen before. How can he even utter such words when the site is still emitting radiation and the completely unstable (3 possible China syndromes and a spent fuel pool that may collapse with ~1500 fuel rods in it). People need to remember who the liars were so they can be dealt with fully once it is vengeance time.

The trouble with the rebirth of Fukushima is going to be the birth defects.

This idiot should be announcing the closure of Fukushima.