The 2020 Olympics Are Likely to Be a Disaster via The Nation

By David Zirin and Jules Boykoff

At first glance, this must appear to be the politest anti-Olympics movement imaginable. The group fighting against the games is known as Okotowari Olympics 2020, or No Thanks Olympics 2020. However, after spending a day among them, it is clear that the honchos in the Japanese Olympic Committee should be worried. These organizers are feisty, whip-smart, and their goal is nothing short of preventing next year’s Olympics from landing in Tokyo. Their concerns are based on the recent history of what happens to a city after the Olympics descend: debt, displacement, and hyper-militarization. For them, it is also a question of priorities.

In the words of one organizer, Tomiko, “People are still suffering from [the earthquake and Fukushima nuclear meltdown of] 2011. The government needs to spend money to help those still suffering, not on the Olympics.”

This group of activists and agitators spent the day taking a disparate group of three dozen people—many from past or future Olympic cities—on a tour of Olympic building projects already underway. By the time they were finished, it was very clear why they were protesting.

Akio Yoshida, who, like several of the Okotowari organizers, cut her teeth doing work in solidarity with Tokyo’s large homeless population, said, “The displacement already happening will just move more people from their homes. All Olympics discriminate. Some people are prioritized. Others are disregarded.” After touring future Olympic sites, we could all see who the winners will be: well-connected developers, construction magnates, and security barons. Meanwhile, the working poor and houseless will be left out.

We saw a body of water slated for open-water swimming, with bacteria levels dangerous to the human touch. We saw a baseball stadium, the home of the famed Yakult Swallows, that will be demolished, only to be rebuilt a block away to meet the specifications of the Olympics. We saw public spaces such as a youth aquatic center that will be shut down to make way for Olympic sports, while young people will have to spend next summer with their noses pressed against the glass. We saw a beautifully designed, massive public stadium that was built only for volleyball and will be handed over after the Olympics to a private business concern. The stadium cost $300,000,000.

[…]

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Also see These Women Have Lost Their Homes to the Olympics in Tokyo—Twice

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立民・小沼氏「再稼働させない」 via NHK News Web

茨城選挙区で初めての当選を確実にした立憲民主党の新人の小沼巧氏は、「東海第二原子力発電所は再稼動させないとともに、みずからの官民の経験を生かして、東京に置いてきぼりにされないようなしっかりとした地域経済を作っていきたい。これからも懸命にまじめに県民の声を聞いていきたい」と話していました。

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French regulator to EDF: don’t assume new reactor model is accident-proof via WKZO

By Geert De Clercq

PARIS (Reuters) – French nuclear regulator ASN warned state-controlled utility EDF that it may have to review parts of the design of its new nuclear reactor model if it hopes to get clearance to build it.

EDF’s current “European Pressurised Reactor” (EPR) model – the world’s largest reactor with 1,650 megawatt (MW) capacity – has suffered years of delays and billions of euros of cost overruns at construction sites in France and Finland as its size and many safety features make it unwieldy to construct.

In a bid to make it easier to build, EDF unit Framatome – formerly called Areva – is now designing a new “EPR 2”, which will be cheaper and less complex, most notably because of the single steel-lined concrete hull for its containment building as opposed to the EPR’s double hull.

In initial talks with the ASN, EDF had proposed to design the new EPR 2’s cooling circuit pipes with the same “break preclusion” concept as in the old EPR, of which EDF is building two at Hinkley Point, Britain.

This means that components are manufactured to such a high standard that breakage is ruled out and the manufacturer therefore does not have to make plans for what to do in case of accident.

This break-preclusion concept – which is inherently dangerous according to anti-nuclear organizations – has shown its limits at the EPR under construction in Flamanville, France where badly executed weldings on the main steam lines will lead to new delays and extra costs.

The ASN said in a statement on Thursday that while the overall design of the new EPR 2 seemed to be safe, EDF would have change certain elements for it to be approved, notably the break-preclusion concept for its cooling circuit.

[…]

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IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano Is Preparing to Step Down, Sources Say  via Bloomberg

The international body in charge of inspecting Iran’s nuclear program is searching for new leadership after health problems forced its director to plan an early end to his term.

[…]

Amano, 72, missed an extraordinary board meeting last week because of health issues, the second time in less than a year. His shortened term, which was originally set to expire in December 2021, will thrust the agency into an unexpected leadership battle as its Iran inspectors can expect scrutiny to increase.

“It’s unprecedented for an IAEA director general to resign due to inability to perform duties due to health reasons,” said Tariq Rauf, the agency’s former head of policy coordination. “The IAEA statute is silent on the matter.”

[…]

Amano was instrumental in raising pressure on Iran by issuing a series of reports that detailed the military dimensions of its earlier nuclear work. His approach drew criticism after leaked diplomatic cables suggest he was “solidly in the U.S. court” when it came to dealing with Tehran’s government.

Amano subsequently issued the December 2015 report ending the IAEA’s active investigation into Iran’s past military-related activities. The 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers gives IAEA inspectors the most robust verification system in existence anywhere in the world, he has said.

“This is hugely significant,” Ian Stewart, a nuclear policy adviser at King’s College in London, said in a Tweet. “Amano seemed intent on staying indefinitely and brought a very particular approach to the agency.”

The IAEA frequently drew criticism for the way it disclosed information under his leadership as public access to meetings and data became increasingly restricted. During the Fukushima nuclear meltdowns, diplomats chided it for being slow to communicate the degree of danger.

[…]

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見て見ぬフリの安倍政権 福島原発事故被災者に2倍家賃請求 via 日刊ゲンダイ

東電の福島第1原発事故で、福島県を離れ、国家公務員住宅で暮らしている63世帯のいわゆる「自主避難者」。福島県は3月末の退去期限を過ぎたため、契約を盾に2倍の家賃を請求していたが、渡辺博道復興相は16日の会見で、「県の判断を尊重する」と国は傍観する考えを示した。

 63世帯が退去できないのは、うつ病や障害などで健康面から引っ越しが困難だったり、非正規で低収入で、都営住宅にも落ちたため、民間の高い家賃を払えないなどの事情がある。

 県と入居者の契約には2倍家賃条項が記されているが、「2倍家賃条項は悪意ある住居者を排除するのが趣旨で、やむを得ない事情の場合は発動しないのが普通です」(不動産仲介業者)。

大体、国と東電のせいで福島県を離れざるを得なくなったのだ。「原発事故被害者団体連絡会(ひだんれん)」幹事の熊本美弥子氏は「国策で原発を推進してきたのに、県に丸投げし、被災者に手を差しのべない国の姿勢は許せません」と憤った。

 福島第1原発事故で住宅を解体した後の更地についても、2022年度から固定資産税が大幅に増額される。

 東電は子会社のリストラなど進めず、社員の高年収はキープ。営業利益も右肩上がりと順調だ。

(略)

安倍首相は福島市内の果樹園で参院選の第一声を上げ、「福島の復興なくして東北の復興なし。東北の復興なくして日本の再生なし。この考え方のもと、政権奪還後、復興庁のもとに省庁の縦割りを排し、現場主義を徹底してきました」とアピールしたが、フザケルな! 苦しんでいる現場を切り捨ててきたのが、安倍政権の“実績”じゃないか。参院選で「ギャフン」と言わせるしかない。

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<福島第1原発事故>公務員宿舎未退居の自主避難者に2倍家賃 知事「契約に基づく」via 河北新報

国家公務員宿舎に居続ける東京電力福島第1原発事故の自主避難者に、福島県が損害金の支払いを求める請求書を送付した問題で、内堀雅雄知事は16日の定例記者会見で、請求は避難者との契約に基づいて実施したとの考えを示した。

内堀知事は宿舎の入居に関し「2年間の経過措置として貸し付けた」と強調。3月に措置期限を迎えたことを踏まえ「契約に基づき4月分の請求を行った」と述べた。生活保護受給世帯には請求しない措置を講じたことも説明し「今後も未退居世帯には丁寧な対応をとる」と語った。

県は自主避難者への住宅無償提供を2017年3月末で打ち切り、宿舎入居世帯には一定の家賃支払いを条件に2年間の延長を認めた。19年4月以降は、退居まで家賃の2倍の損害金を支払う契約になっている。

続きは<福島第1原発事故>公務員宿舎未退居の自主避難者に2倍家賃 知事「契約に基づく」

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NRC eyes reducing inspections of nuclear reactors via The Hill

BY JOHN BOWDEN – 07/17/19 07:14 AM EDT

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) officials have reportedly recommended the agency cut back on inspections of U.S. reactors as a cost-cutting measure.

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that NRC officials said that the move would maintain adequate safety measures while allowing the NRC to meet budgetary constraints. The decision was reportedly controversial, however, with some arguing that it exposed the public to unnecessary risk.

This cost-cutting measure “improves efficiency while still helping to ensure reasonable assurance of adequate protection to the public,” the NRC said Tuesday in a report, according to the AP.

“NRC shouldn’t perform fewer inspections or weaken its safety oversight to save money,” countered commission member Jeff Baran, according to the news service.

[…]

According to the AP, the measure would reduce the time and scope of some inspections while reducing the frequency of others from every two to every three years.

House Democrats led by Energy Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) reportedly urged officials to reconsider the changes in a letter.

“Cutting corners on such critical safety measures may eventually lead to a disaster that could be detrimental to the future of the domestic nuclear industry,” the Democrats wrote on Monday.

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福島第一原発事故を描く『Fukushima50』、緊迫の撮影現場を映した初映像解禁 via Exciteニュース

俳優の佐藤浩市が主演し、渡辺謙が共演する、東日本大震災時の福島第一原発事故を描く映画『Fukushima 50』より、佐藤と渡辺のコメントとメイキング、本編カットを合わせた特別映像が到着した。

本作は、ジャーナリストの門田隆将が90人以上の関係者への取材を元につづったノンフィクション『死の淵を見た男 吉田昌郎と福島第一原発』(角川文庫)を原作にした人間ドラマ。2011年3月11日午後2時46分、日本観測史上最大の地震によって引き起こされた巨大津波に襲われ、未曾有の事故に苛まれた福島第一原子力発電所を舞台に、事故後も発電所に残り、事態収束のために奔走した約50名の作業員の戦いを描く

(略)

解禁された特別映像は、メインキャストの姿を中心に、緊迫した撮影現場が映し出され、スタッフ・キャスト陣の作品へ向かい合う“緊張”と“本気”が伝わる熱量を帯びた映像に仕上がっている。

 映像の中で佐藤は「忘れなければ生きて行けないことと、絶対に忘れてはいけないこと、その2つが、生きていく上で大変大事な事だと思っています」と思いを語り、渡辺は「単純に映画を創るという以上のいい意味での緊張感があります」とコメントしている。
 映画『Fukushima 50』は2020年3月より全国公開。

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チェルノブイリの国ウクライナが原発を使い続ける理由 via 朝日新聞 Globe+

[…]

ゼレンスキー大統領は、「これまでチェルノブイリはウクライナのイメージの負の側面だった。我が国の問題を、優位へと転換する時が来た。ここは自然が再生している地球上でも稀有な土地であり、世界の学者、環境専門家、歴史家、旅行者たちに、それを見せてあげる必要がある。チェルノブイリ・ゾーンを新たなウクライナの成長拠点の一つにしたい。これまでゾーンへの入域が利権と化し、腐敗の温床となっていたが、自由化することでその余地もなくなる。ゾーンからの金属スクラップの違法な持ち出し、天然資源の勝手な利用なども防止できる」と、新機軸の狙いを説明しています。

[…]

実はウクライナは今日でも原発ヘビーユーザー

ところで、日本人の感覚からすると、ウクライナの新任大統領が初めてチェルノブイリを訪れたわけですから、この機会に、今後の原子力政策について方針や見解を述べてもよさそうなものです。しかし、筆者が調べた限りでは、ゼレンスキー大統領はそういったことには触れず、ひたすらチェルノブイリ・ゾーン活用についてだけコメントしたようです。

それもそのはずであり、実はウクライナは今日も原子力発電に深く依存しているのです。さすがにチェルノブイリ原発での発電は2000年に停止されましたが、それ以外の4箇所の原発で15の原子炉が稼働しています。ウクライナの政財界のエリートで、「脱原発」を唱えるような向きは稀であり、それを求める社会運動なども目立ちません。近年の選挙で争点になったこともないと思います。ゼレンスキー新大統領にしても、原発の維持を当然のものと受け止めているでしょう。

ちなみに、1986年の大惨事で汚染を被ったのはウクライナだけでなく、ロシアとベラルーシも深刻な汚染にさらされました。実は、最大の被害国はベラルーシであり、汚染物質の70%以上がベラルーシに降り注いだと言われています。皮肉なことに、この3国とも、現在は原発推進国と位置付けられます。

[…]

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Yamamoto Taro: New Prospects for Progressive Politics in Japan via Foreign Policy in Focus

[…]

One of the most impressive of this new generation, who is currently touring Tokyo to give speeches in the lead-up to the July 21 elections, is the charismatic and committed Yamamoto Taro.

A long-time critic of the government’s denial of environmental damage resulting from the Fukushima nuclear disaster, he has openly advocated on behalf of the citizens of the region who suffer from high rates of cancer. Yamamoto made headlines when he handed the previous emperor, Akihito, a letter in 2013 describing the terrible health conditions of children living around the disabled nuclear plant and the workers involved in the cleanup. Mainstream politicians attacked him for trying to use the emperor for political purposes at a public event, and many demanded that he resign and that be barred from future such events.

Yamamoto’s willingness to talk about the details of daily life for those confronted with the fallout of the nuclear disaster – in spite of the virtual media blackout on the issue – won him a small but devoted base in Japan.

Yamamoto started his career as an actor and established himself as a “talent,” a popular figure who appears on late-night talk shows to discuss current affairs and culture in a lighthearted manner. He took up the anti-nuclear issue after the meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi reactor caused by the March 11, 2011 earthquake. To the detriment of his acting career, Yamamoto threw himself into activism, promoting renewable energy and working with those whose health was effected by the disaster.

[…]

A New Party

Yamamoto broke his primary affiliation with Jiyuto (Freedom Party) in April 2019 and launched a new political coalition known as Reiwa Sinsengumi. The Reiwa Sinsengumi (Reiwa New Election Team) coalition has fielded multiple candidates for the current elections (including Yamamoto) and has taken forceful positions not found among other established opposition parties. For example, Reiwa Rinsengumi demands an immediate end to the regressive consumption tax (other opposition parties only ask that the rate not be raised), has openly opposed the construction of the Henoko Base in Okinawa, has demanded an immediate and unconditional end to nuclear power in Japan, and has proposed a 1500-yen-an-hour minimum wage.

[…]

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