Nobel-winning author Oe says Japan should learn from Fukushima, follow Germany's example

[bananas]

http://www.startribune.com/world/295728541.html

Nobel-winning author Oe says Japan should learn from Fukushima, follow Germany's example

Article by: MARI YAMAGUCHI , Associated Press Updated: March 10, 2015 - 8:20 AM

TOKYO — Nobel-winning author Kenzaburo Oe said Tuesday that Japan's push to restart some nuclear reactors following the Fukushima disaster could lead to another crisis, and urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to follow Germany's example and phase out atomic energy.

Oe's remarks to reporters came a day after visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she had decided to end her country's use of nuclear energy by 2022 because the Fukushima crisis convinced her of its risks.

Abe, at a joint news conference Monday with Merkel, reiterated that Japan still needs nuclear power as a stable energy source and said it now has top-level safety standards based on lessons learned from the disaster.

Oe said he saw a stark contrast between the two leaders. "It was very symbolic," he said. "Japanese politicians are not trying to change the situation but only keeping the status quo even after this massive nuclear accident, and even if we all know that yet another accident would simply wipe out Japan's future."

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[Sienna86]

1. Solar would be a terrific way to go

The effect of an earthquake on solar installations wouldn't harm people or the environment.

[DetlefK]

2. Japan is too small for solar.

Solar takes up a lot of area. Japan is densely populated and can't afford to relegate that space to solar-panels.

Wind-power would be great, as Japan has lots of shoreline. But until that's built, Japan needs some kind of energy-source.

Fusion-power in an experimental setup is maybe 10 years away, but that's 20 or 30 years for building a working large-scale fusion-reactor.