Koizumi: "such a feckless project"

Koizumi hits back at criticism of sudden no-nuclear stance

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201311040051

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

YOKOHAMA--Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Nov. 3 railed against criticism that his call for no nuclear plants is “irresponsible,” saying that maintaining the government's policy of promoting nuclear power generation is the more irresponsible course.

“It is overly optimistic and much more irresponsible to think nuclear power plants can be maintained just with the completion of disposal facilities (for spent nuclear fuel),” Koizumi, 71, said during a symposium at the Pacifico Yokohama convention center.

“Some news stories have criticized me, saying my call for abolishing all nuclear plants is optimistic and irresponsible,” the retired politician said.

“(Such articles say) it is improper for a former prime minister to call for zero nuclear plants without offering any alternative plans,” he continued. “However, there is one fact that we had failed to secure sites for final disposal (of the nuclear waste) even before an accident occurred at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.”

Koizumi concluded that the promotion of nuclear energy is only a waste of the country's resources.

“It’s better to spend money on developing natural energy resources--citizens are more likely to agree with that idea--than using such large amounts of expenses and energy to advance such a feckless project (as nuclear power),” he said.

The former prime minister has been criticized for doing an about-face from when he was a supporter of nuclear power in his years in office from 2001 to 2006.

He apparently changed his stance after visiting an underground repository for spent nuclear fuel in Finland in August and hearing about how the radioactive materials would have to be sealed off for 100,000 years.

“It is natural that one changes one’s opinion,” Koizumi said. “Do not hesitate to mend your ways.”