Futaba Memorial Nuclear Energy Park

In the wake of the triple meltdown nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, Japan is seeing a public backlash against nuclear power. A recent poll showed that an overwhelming majority of Japanese, 82 percent, support getting rid of the nation's reactors. The Governor Sato of Fukushima has committed himself to ridding his prefecture of nuclear power. At this point, it appears certain that nuclear power's days in Fukushima Prefecture are coming to an end.

But there is an alternate outcome and this blog begins an exploration and tracking of that outcome. That possible outcome is that the Futaba coast around Fukushima Daiichi will instead be turned into a nuclear energy plantation, precisely the opposite of the currently accepted scenario.

Updated 2011-7-4

My current outline for this exploration is below.

1. History
1. Fukushima's history of dependence on Tokyo for direction and money
2. Historical migration of Futaba area residents out of the area
3. Japan's history in dealing with industrial pollution, notably accidents
4. Civil society in Japan's nuclear history - particularly Daniel Aldrich's study Site Fights
2. State of the site and evacuees
1. The 20-km exclusion zone around Fukushima Daiichi may be uninhabitable for decade. If so, nuclear energy may be the only alternative to leaving the area go wild.
2. Economic and social plight of evacuees
3. Economic burden facing Japan, particularly Kanto
3. Japan's decision making process going forward
1. Durability of public opposition to nuclear power
2. Effectiveness of opposition organizations
3. Strengths and strategies of pro-nuclear forces
4. Roles, if any, of international pro- and anti-nuclear organizations
5. Central versus regional government control

This blog is a spin-off of the Great Tohoku Rival blog and will include several posts moved from that blog.