Japan: Sanity, Not Anti-Nuclear Suicide
by Mike Billington
June 15—Fifteen months after the Great East Japan
earthquake and tsunami struck Honshu Island, killing
nearly 20,000 people, and triggering a meltdown at the
Fukushima nuclear facility, the Japanese government
finally declared that it will not follow the suicidal path
demanded by the British-sponsored anti-nuclear Green
fascists. With the trans-Atlantic financial system in its
final stages of disintegration, the role of Japan’s industrial
and scientific capacities is crucial in bringing about
the required global infrastructure-based recovery—especially
in regard to Japan’s potential contributions to
the ambitious Russian plans for the development of the
“new frontier” in the Russian Far East.
Despite an insane anti-nuclear policy which has
dominated the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
since the Fukushima crisis, the nation’s leaders have
been forced to announce an about-face in favor of reopening
the nuclear power plants that have passed
safety inspections—forced by the reality of industrial
collapse, economic breakdown, and an incalculable
number of deaths that would have resulted from a decision
to forgo nuclear power in a nation which was 30%
dependent on its 54 nuclear power plants.
Following the March 11, 2011 tsunami, the DPJ
government declared that all the nation’s nuclear plants,
when they reached the required maintenance shutdown
(on 13-month cycles), were to remain closed pending
safety checks, political debate, and approval of the local
populations—usually meaning that the international
anti-nuclear NGOs centered in London could prevent
any plants from being reopened.
The anti-nuclear lobby, run by the British Crown
through its Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and related
Green fascist outfits, has spread outrageous lies
internationally about the nuclear accident, with claims
of radiation spreading death and destruction in Japan,
and even as far away as the United States. The truth is
that the nuclear accident killed no one, while the tsunami
and earthquake killed thousands. No one is known
to have been exposed to a level of radiation that is considered
earthquake and tsunami struck Honshu Island, killing
nearly 20,000 people, and triggering a meltdown at the
Fukushima nuclear facility, the Japanese government
finally declared that it will not follow the suicidal path
demanded by the British-sponsored anti-nuclear Green
fascists. With the trans-Atlantic financial system in its
final stages of disintegration, the role of Japan’s industrial
and scientific capacities is crucial in bringing about
the required global infrastructure-based recovery—especially
in regard to Japan’s potential contributions to
the ambitious Russian plans for the development of the
“new frontier” in the Russian Far East.
Despite an insane anti-nuclear policy which has
dominated the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
since the Fukushima crisis, the nation’s leaders have
been forced to announce an about-face in favor of reopening
the nuclear power plants that have passed
safety inspections—forced by the reality of industrial
collapse, economic breakdown, and an incalculable
number of deaths that would have resulted from a decision
to forgo nuclear power in a nation which was 30%
dependent on its 54 nuclear power plants.
Following the March 11, 2011 tsunami, the DPJ
government declared that all the nation’s nuclear plants,
when they reached the required maintenance shutdown
(on 13-month cycles), were to remain closed pending
safety checks, political debate, and approval of the local
populations—usually meaning that the international
anti-nuclear NGOs centered in London could prevent
any plants from being reopened.
The anti-nuclear lobby, run by the British Crown
through its Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and related
Green fascist outfits, has spread outrageous lies
internationally about the nuclear accident, with claims
of radiation spreading death and destruction in Japan,
and even as far away as the United States. The truth is
that the nuclear accident killed no one, while the tsunami
and earthquake killed thousands. No one is known
to have been exposed to a level of radiation that is considered
dangerous by the World Health Organization;
of the nine workers who have died in the clean up of the
reactors, none of the deaths were related to radiation.
Nonetheless, the last functioning Japanese nuclear
plant was closed down in early May. Prime Minister
Yoshihiko Noda did not declare himself opposed to nuclear
power, but hid behind the demand that “popular
opinion” must approve before plants could be reopened.
Economy Minister Yukio Edano was less subtle, saying,
“I’d like to see the reliance on nuclear energy cut to
zero. I’d like to have a society work without nuclear as
early as possible.”
However, as the severe Japanese Summer heat has
set in, threatening to devastate the cities, which are built
around reliable power supplies and air conditioning,
political leaders realized that they would be held responsible
for the horrendous suffering and ensuing
death toll. The industrial sector, and most of the opposition
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leaders, demanded
a rapid return to nuclear. The first public break
came from the populist Mayor of Osaka, Toru Hashimoto,
a fanatic opponent of nuclear power (and considered
a potentially dangerous demagogue). In a surprise
announcement on May 31, Hashimoto reversed himself,
announcing that, “If we absolutely need them this
Summer, I think we need to accept a restart.”
Then on June 8, Prime Minister Noda pointed directly
to the murderous consequences of ending the use
of nuclear power: “Cheap and stable electricity is vital.
If all the reactors that previously provided 30% of Japan’s
electricity supply are halted, or kept idle, Japanese
society cannot survive.” He added: “Livelihoods
should never be threatened by failing to restart nuclear
reactors. . . . If a sudden blackout happens, some people’s
lives could be jeopardized.”
of the nine workers who have died in the clean up of the
reactors, none of the deaths were related to radiation.
Nonetheless, the last functioning Japanese nuclear
plant was closed down in early May. Prime Minister
Yoshihiko Noda did not declare himself opposed to nuclear
power, but hid behind the demand that “popular
opinion” must approve before plants could be reopened.
Economy Minister Yukio Edano was less subtle, saying,
“I’d like to see the reliance on nuclear energy cut to
zero. I’d like to have a society work without nuclear as
early as possible.”
However, as the severe Japanese Summer heat has
set in, threatening to devastate the cities, which are built
around reliable power supplies and air conditioning,
political leaders realized that they would be held responsible
for the horrendous suffering and ensuing
death toll. The industrial sector, and most of the opposition
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leaders, demanded
a rapid return to nuclear. The first public break
came from the populist Mayor of Osaka, Toru Hashimoto,
a fanatic opponent of nuclear power (and considered
a potentially dangerous demagogue). In a surprise
announcement on May 31, Hashimoto reversed himself,
announcing that, “If we absolutely need them this
Summer, I think we need to accept a restart.”
Then on June 8, Prime Minister Noda pointed directly
to the murderous consequences of ending the use
of nuclear power: “Cheap and stable electricity is vital.
If all the reactors that previously provided 30% of Japan’s
electricity supply are halted, or kept idle, Japanese
society cannot survive.” He added: “Livelihoods
should never be threatened by failing to restart nuclear
reactors. . . . If a sudden blackout happens, some people’s
lives could be jeopardized.”
American System vs. British System
Lyndon LaRouche has often noted that there are two
Japans—the tradition represented by the late-19th-Century
Meiji Restoration, heavily influenced by the American
System of political economy as developed by Alexander
Hamilton, based on national credit for industry,
infrastructure, and scientific development; and, on the
other hand, the British imperial, free-trade, oligarchical
system, which destroyed the Meiji tradition and dragged
Japan into imperial wars with Russia, Korea, China,
and eventually, with the United States.
The American System influence was restored after
World War II, with help from Gen. Douglas Mac
Lyndon LaRouche has often noted that there are two
Japans—the tradition represented by the late-19th-Century
Meiji Restoration, heavily influenced by the American
System of political economy as developed by Alexander
Hamilton, based on national credit for industry,
infrastructure, and scientific development; and, on the
other hand, the British imperial, free-trade, oligarchical
system, which destroyed the Meiji tradition and dragged
Japan into imperial wars with Russia, Korea, China,
and eventually, with the United States.
The American System influence was restored after
World War II, with help from Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur’s leadership of the postwar occupation.
The battle over nuclear power captures the essence
of those two Japans—scientific and technological development
vs. zero growth and anti-human environmentalist
idiocy. A parallel battle is taking place over
trade, as the British, through their agent in the White
House Barack Obama, are demanding that Japan give
up its historic protectionist policy of self-sufficiency in
rice, as a condition for being part of Obama’s Trans-
Pacific Partnership (TPP), an effort to create an anti-
China free-trade alliance in the Pacific basin. If Japan is
to continue its historic dedication to sustaining the livelihood
of its people through technological development
and export of high-technology goods, it must restore its
nuclear commitment, including the export of its nuclear
power technology, and reject the free-trade mantra of
the British Empire.
The battle over nuclear power captures the essence
of those two Japans—scientific and technological development
vs. zero growth and anti-human environmentalist
idiocy. A parallel battle is taking place over
trade, as the British, through their agent in the White
House Barack Obama, are demanding that Japan give
up its historic protectionist policy of self-sufficiency in
rice, as a condition for being part of Obama’s Trans-
Pacific Partnership (TPP), an effort to create an anti-
China free-trade alliance in the Pacific basin. If Japan is
to continue its historic dedication to sustaining the livelihood
of its people through technological development
and export of high-technology goods, it must restore its
nuclear commitment, including the export of its nuclear
power technology, and reject the free-trade mantra of
the British Empire.
Developing Asia’s New Frontier
This past January, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov visited Japan, reversing a period of strained relations,
and setting in motion the huge potential for
This past January, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov visited Japan, reversing a period of strained relations,
and setting in motion the huge potential for
Japan to contribute to President Vladimir Putin’s ambitious
plans for the development of the Russian Far East.
During the visit, Lavrov agreed to ease restrictions on
Japanese business ventures in Russia, and the two countries
further consolidated plans for Japanese involvement
in the development of the massive Chayanda
gas field in the Russian Far East, as well as a nearly
3,000-kilometer pipeline from the Chayanda field to
Vladivostok, and joint construction of a liquefied natural
gas plant in that Russian city.
With Russia’s development plans for the underpopulated
but resource-rich Far East, including the
construction of a tunnel under the Bering Strait connecting
the United States and Russia by rail, Japan,
like China and Korea, can and must play a leading role
in this new frontier for all mankind. That potential will
be dramatically increased as Japan’s nuclear industry
is restored, along with its historic dedication to research
on fusion power and other scientific frontiers
facing mankind.
—mobeir@aol.com
plans for the development of the Russian Far East.
During the visit, Lavrov agreed to ease restrictions on
Japanese business ventures in Russia, and the two countries
further consolidated plans for Japanese involvement
in the development of the massive Chayanda
gas field in the Russian Far East, as well as a nearly
3,000-kilometer pipeline from the Chayanda field to
Vladivostok, and joint construction of a liquefied natural
gas plant in that Russian city.
With Russia’s development plans for the underpopulated
but resource-rich Far East, including the
construction of a tunnel under the Bering Strait connecting
the United States and Russia by rail, Japan,
like China and Korea, can and must play a leading role
in this new frontier for all mankind. That potential will
be dramatically increased as Japan’s nuclear industry
is restored, along with its historic dedication to research
on fusion power and other scientific frontiers
facing mankind.
—mobeir@aol.com
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