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小泉元首相発言 「原発ゼロ」掲げる見識を疑う

The Yomiuri Shimbun October 9, 2013
Koizumi’s call to end nuclear power shows clear lack of perspective
小泉元首相発言 「原発ゼロ」掲げる見識を疑う(10月8日付・読売社説)

Junichiro Koizumi’s recent comment calling for ending Japan’s reliance on nuclear power generation lacked the insight expected of a former prime minister. The last thing the country’s nuclear policy needs is more confusion.
 首相経験者として、見識を欠く発言である。原子力政策をこれ以上混乱させてはならない。

In a recent lecture meeting, Koizumi asked the government to put forth a zero nuclear energy policy by calling for establishment of “a recycling society based on natural resources and that does not rely on nuclear power generation.” Koizumi said his view on this matter changed after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
 小泉元首相が講演で、「原子力発電に依存しない、自然を資源にした循環型社会」の実現を唱え、政府に対し、「原発ゼロ」の方針を掲げるよう求めた。東日本大震災を機に自らの考えを変えたという。

Koizumi’s statement on nuclear power generation contradicts the nuclear policy of the government and the Liberal Democratic Party. This cannot be brushed off even though Koizumi has already retired from politics.
 小泉氏の発言は、政府・自民党の方針と異なる。政界を引退したとはいえ、看過できない。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe intends to restart nuclear reactors following confirmation they are safe to operate, as he seeks to revise the Democratic Party of Japan-led government’s policy of ending the use of nuclear power generation. The LDP, for its part, incorporated a policy of promoting the restart of reactors in its campaign platforms for the two most recent national elections.
 安倍首相は、安全性が確認された原発は再稼働させ、民主党政権の「原発ゼロ」路線を見直す意向だ。自民党も原発再稼働の推進を選挙公約に盛り込んだ。

Koizumi said finding substitute energy sources for nuclear power would “certainly be worked out by wise people.” We think this statement is overly optimistic and irresponsible.
 小泉氏は原発の代替策について「知恵ある人が必ず出してくれる」と語るが、あまりに楽観的であり、無責任に過ぎよう。

Thermal power generation is currently filling the shortfall created by the loss of nuclear power generation. As a result, utility bills continue to rise due to higher fuel import costs. If this situation goes unchecked, the impact on household budgets and economic activity will be significant.
 現在、火力発電で原発を代替している結果、燃料の輸入費が増え、電気料金は上昇を続けている。このままでは、家計や経済活動に与える影響が大きい。

Thermal power generation is a major cause of accelerated global warming because it discharges a huge amount of carbon dioxide.
 火力発電は、二酸化炭素(CO2)を多く排出し、地球温暖化が進む大きな要因である。

Renewable energy sources that utilize sunlight and wind have the disadvantage of being affected by weather conditions. As such, there is no prospect that they will become principal power sources. It is necessary to seek a balanced composition of electricity sources in which nuclear and thermal power account for the lion’s share.
 太陽光や風力を利用した再生可能エネルギーは、天候に左右されるなど弱点があり、主要電源になる展望は見えていない。原子力、火力を主力にバランスの取れた電源構成を目指す必要がある。

If the government adopts a zero nuclear energy policy, it will become impossible to secure sufficient engineers capable of handling such work as decommissioning reactors at the wrecked Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
 「原発ゼロ」が政策になれば、福島第一原発の廃炉などに必要な技術者も確保できまい。

Location of disposal site vital

Koizumi said his reasoning was based on doubts over how radioactive waste produced at nuclear plants is handled. “It is more irresponsible to promote nuclear power generation without ascertaining the likelihood of securing a nuclear waste disposal site,” he emphasized.
 小泉氏は、「原発ゼロ」の理由として、原発から生じる放射性廃棄物の扱い方を疑問視し、「核のごみ処分場のあてもないのに、原発を進める方がよほど無責任ではないか」と主張した。

The technical aspects of methods for disposing of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste produced in this process have already been resolved.
 使用済み核燃料や、それを処理した際に出る放射性廃棄物の処分法は技術的に決着している。

Experts say radioactive material can be disposed safely if it is buried in stable layers of earth. Japan and some other countries have decided to adopt this method. Construction of such a facility has already started in Finland.
 専門家は地盤の安定した地層に埋めれば、安全に処分できると説明している。日本を含め各国がこの方法の採用を決めており、フィンランドでは建設も始まった。

Radioactivity becomes weaker as time passes, and declines by 99.95 percent after 1,000 years have elapsed. This differs from waste materials of heavy metals such as mercury that remain toxic permanently.
 放射能は、時間を経ると減り、1000年で99・95%が消滅する。有害性が消えない水銀など重金属の廃棄物とは事情が違う。

The fly in the ointment is that a final disposal site to bury radioactive waste in Japan has not been found. The government and electric power industry have invited bids for candidate sites, but they have not done enough to convince local governments and affected residents to support such a project.
 問題は、廃棄物を埋める最終処分場を確保できないことだ。政府と電力業界は候補地を募ってきたが、自治体や住民の理解を得る努力がなお足りない。

The government’s dereliction, it may be said, is partly to blame for the failure to secure a disposal site. Part of the responsibility rests with Koizumi, who served as prime minister until several years ago. Discussions on selecting a disposal site need to be moved ahead.
 処分場の確保に道筋が付かないのは、政治の怠慢も一因と言える。首相だった小泉氏にも責任の一端があろう。処分場選定を巡る議論を進めるべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 8, 2013)
(2013年10月8日01時47分 読売新聞)
by kiyoshimat | 2013-10-10 07:16 | 英字新聞

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