>From: Robert Eberhart
>Date: 2012/07/12

>Thus, its is inappropriate and unreasonable to find
fault in the confused but ultimately reasonably successful efforts in the wake of an incredible disaster. The failure, if we can find one, is more likely in the lack of anticipation of the disaster and thus no practiced responses. But that failure seems human to me - not uniquely Japanese.

I agree wholeheartedly. But it is appropriate and reasonable to find fault in what ultimately has turned Japanese public opinion against nuclear power, the relentless obfuscation and mendacity of the Japanese
government and nuclear power industry. Here's a
recent example. The prime minister said that not restarting two nuclear power plants in Fukui Prefecture that lie nearly at sea level on seismically risky ground surrounded by potential landslides and connected to the rest of Japan by a narrow land passage and a small fishing port was necessary to preserve Japanese livelihoods. Sengoku Yoshito said not starting them
would amount to mass suicide. KEPCO warned of power
shortages of 15% in its service area. Once the restart was decided, KEPCO's estimated shortfall instantly fell to 10%. The restart of one plant produced a dozen or more alarm-sounding glitches and was even menaced by an invasion of jellyfish. But suddenly, amazingly, after starting only 1 of, 14 is it ? nuclear power plants, in the midst of a heat wave but with the peak of summer heat still to come, KEPCO apparently has not a 10% shortage but a surprisingly large surplus of electricity, so much that it is planning to shut down up to 8 conventional combustion powered electrical plants (see the link below).
http://osaka.yomiuri.co.jp/e-news/20120707-OYO1T00340.h
tm?from=main1
Clearly an electricity shortage was not the reason for the restart.

Greg Johnson