Dear SSJ Forum members,

My apologies for the very short notice, but please be warmly welcomed to a May 31 (Thursday) lecture and open discussion by Professors Frank von Hippel and Gordon MacKerron, both distinguished experts on the comparative political economy of nuclear power.

Their talk will address the turbulence of Japan's nuclear policy in the wake of the Fukushima disasters of March 11 last year. Former Prime Minister Kan Naoto stressed that Japan's nuclear policy needed a complete rethink, and at present several central-state agencies are giving energy policy a thorough review. In that context, nuclear fuel-cycle policy is attracting a great deal of attention. Japanese authorities have long believed that the best and most economically efficient approach was to reprocess fuel. However, most countries have in fact abandoned recycling nuclear fuel, and instead use the once-through method. Other factors weighing in on the present rethink of nuclear policy here in Japan include the considerable problems with the Rokkasho reprocessing plant and the Monju fast breeder reactor. Japan's Atomic Energy Commission has also heard evidence that the once-through method is in fact the more economical. There is, in addition, deep concern about the nuclear fuel cycle due to the risks of proliferation. We are very pleased to have Princeton University's Frank von Hippel and Sussex University's Gordon MacKerron to discuss these and other issues with us, and hope you will be able to join in.

Title: The Comparative Political Economy of Fuel-Cycle
Policy: Rethinking in the Wake of Fukushima.
Place: Rikkyo University, Building 15, Room M201
Time: 18:30 to 20:30, May 31, Thursday
Language: English (with simultaneous translation) Rikkyo University, Ikebukuro Campus Map:
http://english.rikkyo.ac.jp/access/ikebukuro/campusmap/

Speakers:

Professor Frank von Hippel, Professor of Public and International Affairs, Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University http://www.princeton.edu/step/people/faculty/frank-n.-v
on-hippel/

Professor Gordon MacKerron, Sussex University, Director of SPRU (SPRU - Science and Technology Policy Research, School of Business, Management and Economics)
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/1676

Host: Rikkyo Institute for Peace and Community Studies, Professor Mizukami Tetsuo

This event is open to all interested and on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to attend, please do let us know by reserving in advance:
peace[at]grp.rikkyo.ne.jp