Events

Outline

WiN-J held an International Citizen’s Forum under co-sponsorship with the Society and Environment Division, Atomic Energy Society of Japan on October 18, 2008, in Tokyo. The theme of the forum was to “Think together about nuclear waste toward the solution of the repository site selection”and 180 audience received practical information about the HLW situation around the world and in Japan. The objective of this forum was to advance the selection of the High Level Waste (HLW) repository site in Japan. Like other countries, the Japanese government and the nuclear industry have an important challenge in choosing a repository site for HLW. It is most important to point that making choices does not only include national and local governments but also the people themselves. People need to be more vocal and motivated on this issue.

Summary of Panel Discussion

Thanks to the cooperation of WiN chapters over the world, WiN-J was able to invite Ms. J. Y. Kim from Korea, Ms. M. Palmu from Finland, and Ms. C. Fillet from France. In addition, Dr. T. Issacs from the Unites States and Mr. M. Futakuchi of Nuclear Waste Management Organization in Japan were also invited to this forum.

The panelists delivered an excellent series of lectures followed by a panel discussion and question and answer session facilitated by Dr. M. Miyazaki, Professor of Chiba Business University.

WiN-J also made a film interviewing Mr. Tajima, former Mayor of Toyo-town, located at Shikoku Island district. A local referendum was held in this district to consider the repository issue. Mr. Tajima was a supporter of investigating the repository and was defeated by anti-Nuke candidate in the 2007 election. Mr. Tajima talked about his experience of supporting the location of the repository site investigation in Toyo-town.