APPEAL ON NPP ABOLITION

Stop nuclear power plants in Japan, where huge earthquakes occur frequentlyIn response to the Noto Peninsula earthquake that occurred at the beginning of this year

by Makoto Tani, on May 27, 2024

Japan's Noto Peninsula earthquake on January 1, 2024 (magnitude 7.6, maximum intensity 7, and 232 fatalities) caused an accident at a nearby nuclear power plant with partial loss of external power and oil leakage (Figure 1). There was once another nuclear power plant project just by the epicenter area, but fortunately it was frozen due to local opposition. In light of this fact, I urge the people of the world to condemn the Japanese government for continuing to operate a nuclear power plant on an archipelago formed by active fault lines (Figure 2). The earthquake caused a ground uplift of 85 km, extending about 200 m seaward of the coast, with a maximum uplift of 4 m per minute. The Shika Nuclear Power Plant, located 9 km from the uplifted coast, was shaken by an earthquake of intensity 5 upper, and 20 m³ of oil leaked due to damage to transformers in Units 1 and 2, disabling part of the external power supply. The plant had been shut down since the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused a total loss of power, meltdown, and hydrogen explosion at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (Figure 3). However, in March 2023, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the power company's claim that the 10 faults running through the site were "not active faults," and, frighteningly, preparations were underway for an early restart.

In Suzu City, where the ground on the overseas coast near the epicenter of the earthquake was uplifted, there had been a plan for a nuclear power plant since 1970, but local residents mounted a opposition movement. After a fierce confrontation between proponents and opponents, the plan was frozen in 2003. As a result of this opposition, the worst was averted this time, and the following is an account of the opposition movement at that time from Tokyo Web (Tokyo Shimbun, January 23, 2024) The electric power company was so coaxed into supporting the project by offering food, drink, travel, and other entertainment that the community was divided into those in favor and those opposed, and was harassed by silent phone calls. In response, opponents such as Makoto Tsukamoto of Enryuji Temple continued to lobby power companies and politicians, and finally won a freeze on the project. In response to the earthquake, Tsukamoto said, "After all, there is no place in Japan where nuclear power plants can be built.

The Japanese government and power companies are still promoting nuclear power plants, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida even advocates building new NPPs. However, there is no scientific evidence that complex man-made structures with numerous cooling pipes can remain safe over the long term, despite the geographical conditions that make major earthquakes occur frequently as the four plates jostle against each other (Figure 2). This is a problem for the Japanese people who cannot bring the government's foolish strategy to a halt. I think, however, despite the fact that many victims of the Noto earthquake are in need of water, food, and toilets and are waiting for urgent relief, Japan's ruling party leaders have no sense of crisis at all.

On May 26, about five months after the earthquake, 'Aera.dot' reported that an outrageous true intention of Yasutoshi Nishimura, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, who was in charge of nuclear power plant until just before the disaster. He said, “Suzu is the kind of area that opposed nuclear power generation, so the government has been slow to develop transportation infrastructure. Since earthquakes occur only once every 1,000 years and are not frequent, we should build a nuclear power plant". My guess is that the supporters in attendance thought this was indeed an outburst, so they made it public.

I wish to request the support of the people of the world for the total abolition of nuclear power plants in Japan. (Translated using DeepL and Modified by Makoto Tani）