"Think of Coastal Forests-towards the East Japan earthquake rehabilitation and reconstruction of coastal forests"June 22, 2011 at Mokuzai Kaikan Hall
Ever since that day, we, as NPO environmental body, have been thinking what kind of action can we make steps! Look at the evening edition of newspaper dated March 29, and witnessed the scene of ‘everything were nothing’ Summary figure was flooded coastal area devastated by the tsunami has become a status far beyond imagination. We lost almost everything what would have been, it’s just not only a house! So is their plants and trees which had grown over the years. The coastal areas were also present in the required coastal forest. But tsunami uprooted almost every thing. Some might view television and in newspapers, "Only one pine tree left in Matsubara area" where there used to have planted 70,000 pine trees,,,,,,
I’ve received the notice of the seminar when I was collecting information on how to rebuild the coastal forest and trees. The venue was with lot of people in this symposium to listen to presentations. I have met Kawai-san who provided good lead incorporation of the establishment of Green Wave, NPO corporation where I work for. Mr. Matsuo Sasaki who is a member of Rikuzentakata Matsubara protection committee was on the presentation and told us real story of earthquake, Tsunami and current situations and also future rehabilitation of the area. I am very gravely listened every word which made me goose-bumps. If you seek to enhance the coastal forest against Tsunami from now on, 50m above the forest belt width, the experts also talked of the need, if possible 200m above the forest belt width should be considered. It is nothing easy to rebuilt and revive the disaster areas, the issue is how to narrow the gap between the local government and national government such as to law and broadleaf species planted trees incorporating with quick recovery.
One simple thing is that those coastal forest has to be redeveloped anyhow as smooth as possible. This was the impression I have got by attending this seminar.
We know it requires a lot of nursery tree for the project to rebuilt the beautiful coastal forest. I hope I could make some contribution for the purpose.
Prime Minister-Experts Open Forum on Natural Energy at Prime Minister’s officeJune 12, 2011
We subscribe Environmental mail news from Ms. Junko Edahiro, an environmental journalist and getting to obtain many valuable information. In the past, I’ve met Edahiro-san and fascinated with her straight yet comprehensive delivery of opinions which I respect her very much. This forum was settled to review on ‘how to shift the movement to Natural energy since the disaster on March 11. Mr. Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank Corp., Mr.Takeshi Okada, former head coach of the Japanese national football team, Mr. Takeshi Kobayashi, Representative Director of ap bank, and Ms. Junko Edahiro, environmental journalist, visited the Prime Minister's Office, with Mr. Ryuichi Sakamoto also participating by means of a video message from overseas. I would like to introduce Ms. Edahiro’s remarks at the forum.
Quotation from what Edahiro-san said at the forum:
I am Edahiro and I feel very honored to be invited here in this place and join the forum and to discuss about the issue.
The disaster on 3.11 really made the big change. As awareness of major issues, "including public awareness and emotions triggered by 3.11, even though the world has changed a lot, however Nagatacho/ bureaucrat does not realize the fact seriously." Many people feel that way, it will also help in disaster areas, even in dealing with nuclear accident, would have been a common theme regarding renewable natural energy.
In that sense, today we are pleased to be able to talk on behalf of many citizens in this field. As you live this forum using Twitter/Internet, to narrow the gap a little, we think we can support in the future whatever requested.
Now story enters on the energy, and the current state of our country relies on fossil energy, 84% of primary energy. However, continued reliance on fossil energy will face very difficult situation in future. It is, as you look at the chart here and explains this is because the rapidly increasing amount of imported fossil fuels.
Japan is paying 23 trillion yen for purchase of fossil fuels. On the other hand, exporting business to earn foreign exchange has not increased much. If peak oil comes, it rises more and more fossil fuel prices, the continued use of fossil energy left for Japan will create very difficult economic situation.
Talking about nuclear power, it will be so difficult to newly built or redesign nuclear plants in Japan due to the accident of 3-11. The life of a nuclear power plants, as the global average is about 22 years, even if calculated at 40 years and decommissioning, as this red line shows, we know that we no longer have one in future.
Fossil fuels is neither cost effective, and it comes to nuclear power out situation, leaves only that we rely the natural energy. Renewable energy so far, which has been talked about as a fine and rich and luxury, the immediate future is no such period.
Therefore, I recommend that strong and combined efforts by Japan’s business organization and industry primacy to take initial actions against natural energy otherwise it may create very serious problem in future by the shortage of power.
In our side, we have conducted a survey examining the attitudes of citizens, twice after the earthquake. In response to the survey, it shows three out of four people have changed their mentality on energy after the earthquake and the nuclear accident. Please refer our home page for further details about the survey.
We also asked what will be the best and suitable power for Japan after 30 years. A recent study conducted three months after the earthquake, 30% of the people say it should be zero relying on the total nuclear power, also saying those who cut back or zero amounts to 84%.
On the other hand, 96 percent of people of Japan is saying that they should increase the renewable energy. I think this is the majority opinion of the general public.
Prime Minister Kan submitted story at the beginning, "the share of renewable energy to 20 percent in early 2020s" was heard by the same research. The some of 60% gave positive rating which is much higher than negative rating.
Therefore, the result of the survey clearly shows "nuclear power will decrease. Increase the number of renewable energy and" this is what the majority of Japanese people wants. There are voices that can not so easily change the energy structure, however, Japan has greatly changed the energy structure in the past 30 years. After the oil shock, Japan has been shifted to raise public and private sectors. If the shift shock can raise public and private sectors in connection with 3.11, I assume it will be possible for Japan to start quickly to settle power policy in such short period of time.
As for the world situation nowadays, we show the growth of the wind power, see the graphics here, but here is solar power which has grown steadily. Renewable energy supply in the entire world is 26% and see the energy that is newly installed in the year 2009 and 2008, however, renewable energy has become a half spread of renewable energy in the world.
With regard to this, it has created area of invest in this field, unfortunately, Japan is not placed to gain an economic margin. Instead, Japan' is losing the share in this area now.
I have often received the question about the possibility of natural power business and potentiality in Japan. My reply to such question is that it will bring huge business potential if Japan could set up manual structure of purchasing all electricity wind power. It will all cover and produce easily exceeding to 40 nuclear plants power electricity.
Some might said that the natural power business is high cost. In fact, nuclear power is more expensive than it now publicized, renewable energy costs are coming down rapidly. Therefore, the cost of fossil fuels and nuclear energy as a natural flow, and it will soon intersect each other, renewable energy will be much more cheaper. In some countries in the world, this trend is reflected already.
In any event, no matter what type of energy you use, it is associated with the costs anywhere, we have to prepare what type of future life cycle along with the power policy.
Not only short-term economic efficiency and cost relation, you also need a mechanism and policy leading to activation of the region. For example, over 80% of windmills in Denmark are owned by local citizens. So the money goes back to the community. In Japan, we can create similar mechanism, and at the same time we can set up methodology of activation of the region not only with the power related community.
We think there are two important things to do so. One is that the government to establish the renewable energy promotion law as early as possible.
Secondly, we strongly hope that the government reflects public will and discussion to the political stage as you are conducting this time. Peoples of Japan anticipate such policy more and more. Germany has decided the primary removal of the nuclear plants, after and basis of in-depth discussion with the public. This is the first in a position of such an open dialogue with a variety of themes now, but this caused such a national debate, we appreciate and hope to proceed to the national politics from now on. Thank you.
To refer Edahiro-san’s information, please visit:
http://www.es-inc.jp
And the scene of the forum could be seen at government Internet TV:http://nettv.gov-online.go.jp/prg/prg4972.html
Spring Event of Planting treesMarch 11, 2011
Fortunately, we are able to participate the Annual event of Plantation of trees. Together with the people of Konoike Construction Company and PEET Cooperation, we’ve completed the plantation of total 130 nursery trees. We thank to all people who participated on this day; Ms. Aritomi, Ms. Kato, Ms. Kita and Ms. Naoe, See pictures:
