Published on Jul.23 ,2013 : The Denki shinbun(The Electric Daily News)
Dr. Michio Ishikawa
Chief Adviser(Former President & CEO of JANTI

Many of the readers may have wondered what the title means: this is a trick mixing together the ACHARAKA (foreign) language, imitating modern catch phrases.

Few people know about DECOMIKEN (Association for Nuclear Decommissioning Study), a private organization founded upon the completion of JPDR dismantlement in 1996. Approximately 40 members meet once a month free of charge to study decommissioning, exchange experiences, and train junior fellows.

GENSHINSEPPO may sound rather exquisite, but what it indicates in English is a “delivery of presentation.” Thus, the title means that the Association for Nuclear Decommissioning Study is visiting Taiwan to deliver a presentation on decommissioning experience.

This delivery presentation carries a sad and painful background. Learning form Japan’s response measures for the Fukushima Accident, the Taiwanese government set a 40-year limit for working nuclear power plants, and determined the fourth nuclear power plant, currently under construction, to be subject to public referendum for pros and cons of its operation.

While the actual condition of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station is hardly communicated, inaccurate information spread by the Taiwanese media walked on its own all over the country. With this background, the Japanese anti-nuclear force upholding “abandoning and departing from nuclear power” are boosting propaganda activities and spreading false information.

Since China joined the UN, Taiwan has been kicked out and is not allowed to participate in IAEA. Thus, Taiwan used to rely on the U.S. and Japan in obtaining accurate nuclear information.

Flow of information has been interrupted due to the accident in Japan, and the U.S. lost confidence because of the delay in the construction of the fourth nuclear power plant. This means that at present, Taiwan has no trusting sources of nuclear information.

The Japanese opposition group is actively promoting propaganda activities. Pseud-scholars plausibly lecture that hundreds of thousands of people would die if an accident comparable to Fukushima should occur in Taiwan. Activists who call themselves victims of Fukushima are visiting Taiwan one after another. Reportedly, the anti-nuclear demonstration gathered 200,000 people in Taipei.

In Japan, by comparison, the demonstrations in front of the Prime Minister’s office gathered only 15,000 people at maximum since last summer. Taiwan has been a great success where the opposition group is experiencing delight. By continuously visiting Taiwan, they are now treated as celebrities.

This is a pitiful situation and I cannot help feeling sorry for it. It is heartless fraud rather than an opposition campaign. This is evidenced by the fact that the Japanese opposition group has never reportedly been engaged in anti-nuclear activities in Moscow or Beijing, appealing the Fukushima Accident.

The Taiwanese government’s decision on 40-year decommissioning may have been forced more or less by this momentum. The first reactor in Taiwan has been operating for 35 years and only five years remain until decommissioning: An application for decommissioning, which is required to be filed three years in advance, must be prepared and filed soon. However, decommissioning is a first-ever challenge faced by Taiwanese engineers. More than 20 years ago, the delivery presentation was requested because they wanted to hear our first experience of decommissioning JPDR.

The only way to break free from lies and superstitions is to present the facts. Taiwan made the request because they wish to do so. If this is the case, it is better than stories told by old people to communicate the request to the members of the Association for Nuclear Decommissioning Study, who are familiar with today’s decommissioning. I thought it would be best to ask them to deliver Taiwan a presentation about the actual decommissioning work, and that was how it all began.

I thought that four or five members would offer assistance. To my surprise, however, 17 members volunteered. Seeing what is right and not acting accordingly is a sign of lacking courage. All of them are competent in the field, but not all are familiar with presentations. Over the last two months or so, they have put tremendous efforts into preparations they are unaccustomed to, such as writing their presentations and creating posters in English.

This enthusiasm reached Taiwan. The Taiwanese side also picked up stream not to be outdone by the Japanese side. Although 40 people were to initially attend, participants turned out to be over 100. People remained until the exit presentation on Day 2 of the conference exceeded 80. The presentation was specific and received numerous questions. The conference was substantial, reminiscent of the good old days of nuclear power development.

Nuclear power exchange between Taiwan and Japan has a long history. However, the Taiwanese side says that this exchange turned to be pro forma over the years, making it impossible to maintain frankness with each other. The delivery presentation seems to have broken this pattern.

Three years have passed since the Fukushima Accident. It is time that the Japanese government and industrial world should begin delivery presentations based on accurate information to sweep away inaccurate information about Fukushima.

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