Posted in: Japan passes record Y95.88 tril budget See in context
They forgot to mention in the article that 41.3 trillion yen (43% !!!) of the 96 trillion yen is being financed through new debt. Then more than half of the 41 trillion yen goes directly into debt-servicing. Question is how long this situation can continue like this.
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Posted in: TEPCO reports Y685.3 bil loss due to compensation and energy import costs See in context
How come they are only talking about increased fuel import cost and not about the clean up and decommissioning cost of the Fukushima Daiichi?
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Posted in: We the people See in context
Only in your dreams. Take a look a the numbers before touting such nonsensical slogans.
Why dont you go to Fukushima and help cleaning up the mess? Believe me, they need a steady flow of workers there since many have reached their lifetime radiation doses already.
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Posted in: TEPCO submits restructuring plan to gov't See in context
Thats how things work here. Large and politically influential companies create some mess and in the end the taxpayer has to pay for it.
Why arent the TEPCO execs in prison yet? Why isnt anyone held responsible for what happened in Fukushima? How come the same ppl who have been preaching nuclear safety all the time before 3/11 are still in charge now?
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Posted in: Criticism mounts over plan to restart nuclear reactors See in context
The Oi nuclear power plant lies less than 100 km of Osaka. Quite close to the plant is lake Biwa, from where 99% of the water supply in Osaka is coming from.
If anything similar as Fukushima happened to the Oi plant, game over for the Kansai region. And with what happened in Fukushima, I think, that the Japanese still got very lucky. The worst case would have been game over for whole Japan, which still may happen if another large quake or tsunami hits Fukushima.
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Posted in: No nukes See in context
There are many other ways to generate electricity. In fact many developed countries in the world are doing just fine without nuclear. Considering the high costs of nuclear power in case of an accident, Germany was very wise to abandon nuclear power last year. I hope Japan will do the same soon. For Japan with their earthquakes and tsunamis nuclear energy is without doubt the most expensive way to generate electricity. For the utilities this is of course no argument, since in case of an accident such as last year the taxpayer is handling the bill. Another unsolved task, which all countries with nuclear plants are facing is where to put all that radioactive waste, which is going to pose severe risks to humans for the next tens of thousands of years. Wonder who is going to pay for the storage? I guess you all know already.
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Posted in: TEPCO to raise electricity rates for corporate users by 17% from April 1 See in context
Why cant there be any competition on the japanese electricity market? I would quit TEPCO right away and change to a competitor, if I just could.
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Posted in: Nuclear safety panel received donations from industry: report See in context
Honestly, is anyone surprised reading this? Me, no. This is how business works in Japan: You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.
And TEPCO had to scratch a lot of people's backs to build and run their plants.
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Posted in: For nuclear power industry, Fukushima was just bump in road See in context
It costs several billions of dollars to build one of those reactors and several hundred billions of dollars to clean up the mess after one of those things blows up. I wouldnt call this a save investment.
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Posted in: Gov't may buy land within 20-km radiation no-go zone See in context
TEPCO is responsible for their plants. They should buy the land and compensate the former residents there. I dont see any reason why tax payers money should be used for this.
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Posted in: 45% of children tested near Fukushima plant have radioactive elements in thyroid glands See in context
"No immediate health risks", huh? Very convenient for Tepco and the government not to mention long-term health risks. I feel very sorry for all the children, who have to pay with their health for mistakes done by the greedy nuclear lobby.
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Posted in: Gov't, TEPCO reiterate goal to bring Fukushima plant under control by January See in context
Nothing surprising here. The plan to bring the crippled plant under control was totally unrealistic in the first place and was just proposed to calm down the public. Who knows if they ever gonna get the thing under control. Just take a look at the Chernobyl plant in what condition it remains today, 25 years after its disaster.
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Posted in: Japan's largest solar power facility commences operations See in context
In fact, in nuclear power's case, the fuel (uranium) is a small part of the cost of power generation.
I know. The by far largest chunk is the costs involved when one of those reactors has an accident.
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Posted in: Japan's largest solar power facility commences operations See in context
Japan does not need any nuclear power. Japans natural resources are sunshine, wind and geothermal energy.
The best thing of renewable's is, you do not need any fuel (oil, coal, uranium) to run it. After the initial installation cost, you get your energy provided for free, 25 years and more.
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Posted in: Nagasaki mayor calls for shift away from nuclear energy See in context
Japan has almost no natural resources ...
So where are you gonna get the uranium from, which is necessary to fuel nuclear power plants? Worldwide uranium reserves are said to last only for 25 more years at constant consumption. Same as oil, you cannot expect uranium prices to drop in future. So, what are you gonna do then?
Not to mention that Japan has no place to put all that highly radioactive waste, which will still radiate for thousands of years, after the last plant has been shut down. Who is gonna pay for that?
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Posted in: Six million people could die from HIV and AIDS if U.S. funding stops, UN agency warns
Posted in: Governor puts parts of Russia's Sakhalin on high alert after cargo ship runs aground
What was that about Japan being the one trying to turn the islands into a dump?
Posted in: Governor puts parts of Russia's Sakhalin on high alert after cargo ship runs aground
Posted in: Six million people could die from HIV and AIDS if U.S. funding stops, UN agency warns