May 21&23, 2011
State Minister in charge of Economic and Fiscal Policy Yosano Kaoru on an NHK debate program televised on May 22 hinted at considering an increase in the consumption tax rate as a source to cover the costs for disaster recovery and nuclear damage compensation.
In the debate on whether or not to use the consumption tax to secure the necessary funds, Yosano said, “Someone has to bear the cost. Either a tax increase or a rise in electricity charges should cover the cost for compensation for nuclear damages. In the end, people support society.”
He furthermore stated that a halt to or cuts in operations of nuclear power stations will be “extremely difficult” because an expected increase in fuel costs (to generate more output from thermal power stations) in case of a suspension or termination of the use of nuclear energy will be reflected in the price of electricity and this will “naturally affect people’s daily lives and economic activities.”
Previously, he expressed the view that it is not fair to force the burden on TEPCO for nuclear damage compensation.
At a post-cabinet meeting press conference on May 20, Yosano stated that the accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant “can only be explained as a divine act.” He argued that he believes “utmost human knowledge was utilized” to protect the plant against a tsunami.
Yosano worked at the Japan Atomic Power Co. after graduating from university and later worked as a secretary to Japan’s nuclear energy proponent Nakasone Yasuhiro. Since becoming a Dietmember, Yosano has represented the interests of the nuclear power industry.
Even after the Fukushima accident, he said, “The promotion of nuclear energy was not a mistake in any way” and stated that he would not apologize for having promoted it.
The nuclear crisis occurred as a result of the “safety myth” propaganda under which TEPCO and successive governments had ignored repeated warnings of nuclear power’s potential risks and of lack of safety measures against tsunami and earthquakes raised by JCP representatives and researchers.
If the government thinks of eliminating hardships, even if only a little, of local residents and those who worked for fisheries, farming, and forestry industries in the nuclear-crisis-hit region, it should not blame “a divine act” for the accident but do away with the “safety myth” and fulfill its appropriate responsibilities for nuclear damage compensation.
In the debate on whether or not to use the consumption tax to secure the necessary funds, Yosano said, “Someone has to bear the cost. Either a tax increase or a rise in electricity charges should cover the cost for compensation for nuclear damages. In the end, people support society.”
He furthermore stated that a halt to or cuts in operations of nuclear power stations will be “extremely difficult” because an expected increase in fuel costs (to generate more output from thermal power stations) in case of a suspension or termination of the use of nuclear energy will be reflected in the price of electricity and this will “naturally affect people’s daily lives and economic activities.”
Previously, he expressed the view that it is not fair to force the burden on TEPCO for nuclear damage compensation.
At a post-cabinet meeting press conference on May 20, Yosano stated that the accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant “can only be explained as a divine act.” He argued that he believes “utmost human knowledge was utilized” to protect the plant against a tsunami.
Yosano worked at the Japan Atomic Power Co. after graduating from university and later worked as a secretary to Japan’s nuclear energy proponent Nakasone Yasuhiro. Since becoming a Dietmember, Yosano has represented the interests of the nuclear power industry.
Even after the Fukushima accident, he said, “The promotion of nuclear energy was not a mistake in any way” and stated that he would not apologize for having promoted it.
The nuclear crisis occurred as a result of the “safety myth” propaganda under which TEPCO and successive governments had ignored repeated warnings of nuclear power’s potential risks and of lack of safety measures against tsunami and earthquakes raised by JCP representatives and researchers.
If the government thinks of eliminating hardships, even if only a little, of local residents and those who worked for fisheries, farming, and forestry industries in the nuclear-crisis-hit region, it should not blame “a divine act” for the accident but do away with the “safety myth” and fulfill its appropriate responsibilities for nuclear damage compensation.
