Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2012 June 13 - 19 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

Lower House passes bill to establish nuclear energy regulatory body in Environment Ministry

The House of Representatives on June 15 approved a bill to establish a new nuclear power generation regulatory body in the Environment Ministry, a promoter of nuclear energy.

The bill was jointly submitted to the Diet on that day by the Democratic, Liberal Democratic, and Komei parties. The government withdrew the bill it initially proposed.

The Japanese Communist, Your, and Social Democratic parties voted against the bill.

At a House environment committee meeting held prior to the vote, JCP representative Yoshii Hidekatsu condemned the move, saying that to discuss and take a vote on a bill on the very day it is submitted to the Diet is outrageous and goes against the norms of parliamentary democracy.

He criticized the bill for failing to ensure the independence of a regulatory body.

The bill also proposes revising the Atomic Energy Basic Law, adding to the law the phrase that the use of nuclear power “contributes to the nation’s security.” Yoshii warned that this will run counter to the three principles behind the peaceful use of nuclear power.

What the government should do right now is to promote the development of renewable energy, create renewable energy-related jobs for smaller businesses, and break away from dependence on nuclear power generation, Yoshii stressed.