Fukushima 2020 (Hisashi Kato)

In this article they mainly discuss how difficult to achieve the process of decommissioning. Specifically in this, they talked about by freezing ground itself, TEPCO and government want to reduce radioactive. They were also saying that since this accident is really unique case and there are no-effective example of solving the case like this before, even one of the top analysts of decommissioning says that the plan has been taken could be fail, its just try and error, but this process is important. Although there were already a lot of error on the process of decommissioning, Government still think decommission process will be developed enough to make Tokyo “under controlled” however, this article is basically doubtful for the” under controlled” Tokyo in 2020.

                                                                                                         

I would think, saying “the situation is under control” by 2020 is too dangerous to say. As clearly seen from this article and news we hear, government plan is too easy going and nobody has exact idea what should be done for decommissioning. Of course, decommissioning is really important when it comes to nuclear power policy, but even before the accident, people didn’t think about Japan’s nuclear policy good. For example, Gov. was looking for place to bully nuclear power where radiation never appears to ground. However, not even a single town volunteered for doing it, moreover after the accident, people feel rather antipathy for having nuclear power than good. As one of the great example of decommissioning, The Chernobyl disaster can be examined. It has been over 2decades has passed since the accident and they have been sheltered and segregated from society. However, that can’t be the case of Japan, because Japan is island country and landmass is especially limited from others. The real problem of Japanese decommissioning policy is that they don’t accept huge help by American or European companies or organizations. They are only focusing on decommission by TEPCO, so even though others are ready to help, Gov. refuse for that help. I believe that’s why these decommissioning process has been failed or delayed.　In Japan especially after disaster, people began to think about alternative energy as new energy source. Such as wind power, hydro power, shale gas etc… they are more harmless for earth environment and consider to be sustainable. However, with the technology we possess today, they are too expensive to sustain and we still have deal with leftover problems of used rods and decommissioning. I don’t think there aren’t any fundamental solution to nuclear power problem, even a small step, it’s essential for Japan to get back to reliable country for all people. Point is constant achievement to new alternative energy source and active commitment of decomissioning cooperated with intenational comunitys are really important. After so, people from all over the world could regain their trust to Japan again, and that will leads to success for 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Fukushima 2020 (Shinya Uchida)

March 11, 2011, we had a tremendous earthquake that forced people, who live in Fukushima, to evacuate from the dangerous place the safety one. In spite of the situation, in 2013, Tokyo was erected as 2020 Olympic because many believe Tokyo was much better than any other city. Shinzo Abe, the prime minister, strongly said to members of IOC,” The situation is under control”, but the critics claim that this is uncertain because both of Japanese government and Tepco have not been going a step to clean up the contaminated area yet.

What should we be concerned about? First, we wonder how Japan will be in 2020. This is so hard to predict what Japan will happen, especially Fukushima with 4 nuclear power plants, because of decommissioning plans not finished at all. According to the Tepco and the government, it takes 40 years complete all of the process. Besides, the removals of spent nuclear fuel rods from a cooling pool littered with debris are causing them a great deal of trouble. In other words, Tepco has not prepared enough safety systems to prevent accidents from occurring during the tough work.

Next, much of radioactive water was found to have leaked at the nuclear power plans. What we need to stop leaking are to build a frozen wall and freeze the ground around reactors. However, it costs annually 3 billion yen to construct this wall as well as about 30 billion yen to freeze it, which of the plan is unprecedented. In addition, if they use the permafrost walls, experts expect the system to require lots of electricity even though nuclear power plants cannot work moreover. How can we compensate for? The question is not yet settled.

In my opinion, we have to come up with new idea, like reformation of energy structure in order to make up for nuclear energy. Nuclear energy has to be changed for alternative energies such as solar, geothermal, water and wind power. But I would like to suggest the new thermal power. For example, now, Tepco and Mitsubishi group think about constructing two cutting-edge coal-fired power stations in Fukushima Prefecture. The two facilities’ capacity will be equivalent to one of the nuclear reactor. The new power plants discharge less auto emissions, eco-friendly facilities. Furthermore, the plan will generate thousands of jobs in Fukushima that must be helpful for many workers there. The new plants do not produce ill effects that are different from nuclear reactors, so this is the safest for us and most effective energy something like shale gas. I guess shale gas is also the best source of energy we have to make use of, as the cost of it is not higher than other alternative energies.

Japan has been in trouble because of the situation. Just now, Japan should rely on other countries experts to reform the old structure, reconsider the system of safety and help lots of people who cannot return to their home town. Everybody all over the world hopes Japan comes back and constructs the safest land linked with preparing for 2020 Olympic.

Fukushima 2020 Maria Yaka

The prime minister assured that the problem of Fukushima nuclear power plants is under control and it won’t affect Tokyo at all. However, decommissioning plans has a lot of problems. A specialist says predicting what the situation will be in 2020 is still very difficult. Decommissioning damaged nuclear reactors is expected to take 40 years to complete. Now, Tepco face a big problem which is contaminated water leaks from the facilities.

In order to solve this, one project was revealed.  They will freeze the ground around the reactors. This has never carried out before. Also, it costs a lot to carry this plan out and it will require an abundant electricity supply, though we Japanese are short of electricity. Besides that, it is not sure if this will work.

 In addition to this suggestion, there is another plan of getting rid of fuel rods from plant four.  In order to get rid of fuel rods, TEPCO have erected mobile cranes. However, has received mixed reviews regarding its safety from nuclear experts because it may cause a severe accident. Also, we must think about remaining 3 power plants.

 In conclusion, it’s extremely difficult to predict exactly how long it takes to solve all these problems.

It has been 2 years since we experienced the big earthquake in Tohoku.  However, the situation of nuclear power plant in Fukushima is getting worse and worse. I thought Abe was irresponsible to say such a thing because I thought it is impossible to solve all these problems by 2020. Reading this article, I was surprised to know that government and Tepco is thinking such a plan. I was happy to hear this because it may make a progress.

 

I think we should carry out this plan at once.If we don’t do anything, leaking of contaminated water will never stop. It will cause problems such as disrupting an ecosystem. This might affect all over the world.

 They concern about electricity but I think it is possible to save electricity. Japanese use too much electricity. I know it will affect Japanese companies and threaten our economy. But if nuclear power plants explode again or if contaminated water continues to leak, all Japanese won’t be able to live a normal life. In order to avoid this crisis which will destroy japan itself, I think these plans should be carried out immediately. 

 However, these plans have a lot of problems.  I think we should contact with experts in other countries. For example, Russia has experienced the accident in Chernobyl. After discussing with experts in other countries, I think all these plans should be carried out at once.

 

 

Fukushima 2020(Yuka Sakurai)

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that the situation in Fukushima is under control in the Committee of International Olympic on September 7. He said that multiple meltdowns at Fukushima nuclear power plant will not damage Tokyo.

However, the reality is not that easy. It is difficult because we must remove spent nuclear rods from cooling pool. Also, we must make frozen wall on every four damaged power plant so that radioactive isotopes will not spread out. We must find the place to put melted nuclear fuel which is very poisonous.

Those who study nuclear power plants say it is very difficult to know what would be happening in 2020. It is said that dismantling four damaged nuclear reactors takes 40 years to be completed.

First of all, we must try to stop the water leaking from the facilities.

Government says that 30 billion yen would be probably used to permafrost the ground around the reactors. They are thinking this so as to guard ground water from leaking into the plant. Government is trying to finish this by 2014.

In order to do permafrost, it is estimated that it would cost 3 billion yen per year. They also mentioned that they need a lot of electricity in order to move the system 24 hours even though whole country is lack of electricity since Fukushima disaster.

Moreover, they hope to get rid of radioactive material from polluted water.

It seems to be a good way to make artificial permafrost but no one have done this in such a scale, so we do not know what may happen.

In spite of many problems and failure, government action is very slow toward this problem. They asked for an advice worldwide only in September once, about how to handle radioactive water.

However, none of the proposal is successfully implemented in the world because it’s scale is too big.

The head of Atomic Energy Society of Japan, Tanaka says that they should try, and if problem happens, fix it and try again. That is the only way to make out this big problem.

Surprisingly, there are radiation in cooling pool that is 14000 times the amount of Hiroshima’s atomic bomb in 1945. In order to remove rods which contain radiations, they erected moveable crane. This is said to take 3 months to be done. Since they have to do this work without seeing the inside, problems may occur, which is very dangerous.

Article said that no one knows what may happen to Fukushima plant in 2020.

 

 

              By reading this article, I felt several things.

              First, I felt that Japanese Government should have more contact with worldwide expert of nuclear plant because this is a problem related to the whole world. From this article, I learned that Japan only had contact with them once in September and I feel it is too less. We must talk more with experts in the world, get manifold advice so that we can try many ways, and get a better idea to breakthrough this situation. This is not a problem only related to Japan. Since the ocean is spreading throughout the world, it also affects people all around the world. We must think together, get advices from universal professionals.

              Next, I cannot believe that Japan is still trying to sell nuclear power plant to India and Middle East even after experiencing the disaster in Fukushima. We should change this movement since we are the one that know how dangerous nuclear power plant is. I cannot believe what our country is doing to the world, which is a shame. How come we can do this? I cannot understand what Abe is thinking about this. We must not repeat the disaster which we experienced.

              At last, we must try to find new energy for our country. Maybe, we should all make it duty to have solar system in every building. I understand it might be expensive, but we need safe energy to lead our life. We might need government’s financial support for this. Moreover, I once heard that there are machine that can produce energy by people stepping on them.  It might be very expensive, but if we can put them on scramble intersection in Shibuya, for example, we might produce a lot of energy without even emitting bad product such as carbon dioxide.

              If we are faced with problems, we must think something to breakthrough it. It seems easy try not to look at it, but that does not change anything. If there is a problem, there is a reason for it. We must think and try hard to get over it. I understand it is very hard to do so, but I am sure we can learn something if we overcome one problem.

              Thank you for reading my long blog!

about selling nuclear power plant