Energy and Climate Policy Institute
 
KOREAN  |  ENGLISH


       Newsletter
 
작성일 : 11-04-15 13:43
Enerzine No.9 Joining the clamor for a No Nuclear Asia, No nuclear world
 글쓴이 : 에정센…
조회 : 6,360  
   Enerzine No 9 Joining the clamor for a No Nuclear Asia, No nuclear world.pdf (111.0K) [11] DATE : 2011-04-15 13:43:13
1. Issues
                        Korea: Time to be disillusioned

While the first nuclear power plant accident in Fukushima caused by a strong earthquake and tsunami in Japan last March11 has not been settled yet, Korea has also experienced the consequences. Radioactive elements have been detected in the air and rain; several elementary schools have closed temporarily; and seafood consumption has been avoided already in Korea.

Related to the issue of safety from the effects of the nuclear power plant accident in Japan, there have been voices of complaints on the national nuclear power in Korea. Korea has the 6th biggest range of nuclear power system in the world and also has the highest concentration rate. Ironically, this is caused by the ‘low carbon green growth’ policy of the Korean government under President Lee, which has seen a huge increase in nuclear plants 

Currently, there are 21 units in four nuclear power plants in operation, which constitute 28% of the country’s entire power source. Moreover, Lee’s government has announced the construction of 15 more units until 2050, which will raise the percentage of nuclear power to 59% of the total. This policy will not likely change even after the Fukushima accident. The Korean civil society, which has kept silent for many years, however, is fast developing an anti-nuclear movement. This anti-nuclear action started with residents in the new nuclear power plant sites (Samcheok, Uljin, and Yeongdeok) which will be decided this June. A related demand to stop operating two old units (Kori and Wolsung), which the government has tried to extend, has been raised.

 The Korean civil society and other progressive parties are now scrambling to propose anti-nuclear and enucleation efforts. Now is time to get together to wake up the Korean society from the nightmare and illusion of nuclear power and take the opportunity to avoid the tragedy that happened to Japan.
 
 Written by Hyun-woo Kim (Researcher: nuovo90@hanmail.net)

2. Opinions
                                  Joining the clamor for a No Nuclear Asia, No nuclear world
 
It has been more than a month after the nuclear power plant accident in Fukushima, Japan. The Fukushima accident has led us to ponder on the same tragedy that befell the Three Mile Island and to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Chernobyl. Further nuclear disaster should be stopped, and we should come forward to a nuclear-free world.

 East Asia, which includes Japan, Korea and China, has constructed nuclear power plants the fastest in the world. The governments of these countries have aggressively pursued nuclear power generation. Moreover, they vehemently try to export nuclear power to other Asian countries such as Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and United Arab Emirates, among others. This action might lead to more and bigger catastrophic consequences than what happened in Fukushima.

Last April 6, the Korean civil society and Citizens’ Nuclear Information Center Japan, which is the representative anti-nuclear organization in Japan, released a joint statement demanding a nuclear-free world.
This joint statement does not just represent a small group in Japan and Korea. In line with this, we hope to make a more powerful and a louder voice heard – a voice that represents all the people and civil societies who want a ‘nuclear-free world’.

We, the Korean civil societies, are proposing to make a global joint statement based on the Korea-Japan joint statement and gather more opinions from all over world. This proposed statement and the Korea-Japan joint statement, with English and Japanese translation, will be shared with mailing lists of Anti-Nuclear, Energy and Climate activists. The final version will be presented in the 25th Anniversary of Chernobyl.
 
Please send in your organizational signature if your organization wants to join this global statement. You may also send any opinions or suggestions for a better statement by 25th April (Korea and Japan time, preferably sent by 24thApril).
Written by Jae-kak, Han (Deputy Director: hanclk@hanmail.net )
 
* Contact person for this global joint statement
Hun- Suk, Lee (representative, Energy Justice Actions) : eja@energyjustice.kr
Bo- young (researcher, Energy and Climate Policy Institute for Just Transition) : jobo8184@yahoo.co.kr

 
<Korea-Japan joint statement>

                                          We want a nuclear free world, and it is possible

We have had a very tragic experience with a huge earthquake and tsunami in Japan and cannot stand the deep pain and sorrow they caused. But this disaster is not the end. Hundreds of thousands of Japanese people evacuated from their hometown because of the nuclear power plant explosion and the radiation. These people are still trembling in fear of radioactive contamination. All of us pray for the solution of the Fukushima nuclear accident as soon as possible, and express much thanks from the bottom of our hearts to the labors that face huge risk of exposal to radiation for trying to control the situation.

We think the Fukushima nuclear accident has become more serious than the Chernobyl incident and is already the worst nuclear disaster. The responsibility for this nuclear disaster lies in the Japanese government and the nuclear industrial system, which has operated 54 units of nuclear power plants while standing by the ‘myth of nuclear safety’. They have ignored warning voices from all over the world on the danger of nuclear power. Besides, their tendency to downsize the consequences of, and their complacent response toward the accident further raised the effects of the nuclear catastrophe. Moreover, they have not given clear information on the real situation of the nuclear power plant accident and radioactive contamination to not only the surrounding countries but also to the Japanese people. The Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power should give accurate and detailed information about the radioactive contamination and should actively protect the Japanese people from the huge risk.
 
This tragedy, which the Japanese people have experienced as a result of the Fukushima nuclear accident, should not be repeated and people from all over the world, including Korea and Japan, should ask themselves what role nuclear power plants really play in our society. Government’s insistence that nuclear energy is a viable alternative to climate change or that there is no alternative energy better than nuclear power, or that government and nuclear industries can control the safety of power plants, cannot be trusted any more. East Asia, including China, Korea, and Japan, is poised toward nuclear preference, composing 52% share of nuclear power plants which are now being constructed over the world. Taking lessons learned from this Fukushima accident and it is possible to remove nuclear power plants from our planet through earnest action for nuclear-free declaration in this area,

This Fukushima nuclear power plant accident should be the starting point for closing and giving up nuclear power plants all over the world. Worldwide people have started to demand an escape from the dangers of nuclear power as soon as possible. European countries, including Germany, have already expressed their defiance of nuclear power after experiencing the effects of Chernobyl. People of Asian countries such as Korea, Japan, India, Philippines and Taiwan, which have seen the effects of the Fukushima nuclear accident most closely, have come out on the streets to express their anti-nuclear sentiments.

Now, the world will get together and go toward the great transition to turn away from nuclear power. Based on this action, there should be no more nuclear accidents such as Fukushima in this planet. There should be a more peaceful and righteous world through a no-nuclear policy.

6. April. 2011

Joint Action of the Korean civil society in supporting victims of the nuclear accident and severe earthquake in Japan and in changing nuclear power policy / Citizens’ Nuclear Information Japan


3. New Report

Research on the Status of and the Strategy for Generating Green Jobs in Civil Society in Korea

From July 2010 to February 2011, the Energy and Climate Policy Institute for Just Transition (ECPI), as sponsored by the Work Together Foundation, researched on the current status and characteristics of green jobs in civil society, and the tasks for their improved generation.

The results of the study identified several specific situations and characteristics of green jobs in civil society. First, the number of green jobs in Korean civil society has increased steadily. The green jobs created by public-interest businesses for social enterprises, livelihood cooperatives (or consumer cooperatives), self-support communities, and environmental NGOs number at least 5,223. Second, there are big gaps between green jobs in terms of quality. Social economic structures such as consumer cooperatives have large scales and high wages. The house repair self-support community, however, has relatively low wages. Third, the increase in the number of green jobs due to the growth of consumer cooperatives’ sales income is relatively low. Fourth, technology-intensive green jobs have been created. Social jobs (work for social enterprises or social economies) generally require only a low level of -skills, but recently, jobs that are both high-skilled and technically skilled have been created in several social economy organizations. Fifth, green jobs in civil society have been empowered by the growth of environmental movements and the reinforcement of environmental systems.

In this situation, some tasks must be undertaken to improve the creation and expansion of green jobs in civil society in Korea.
First, green transition in the government policy for green job creation should be strengthened. Second, education and technical training programs should be designed and reinforced (especially in the house energy efficiency sector). Third, support for technical skills and securing of capital are needed (especially in the recycling and renewable energy sectors). Fourth, local government support must be expanded. Fifth, above all, the quality of green jobs must be improved. Sixth, green transition should be reinforced in the socioeconomic sphere.

4. Act on.

 1. Researching program
  : Case study on renewable energy system in local area and governance.
  : A study on how to improve climate change response and advance related laws and administration system in the Republic of Korea through an analysis of energy laws and regulations in the UK.
 
 2. Action
  : Anti-nuclear protesting with other Korea civil societies
  : Preparing ‘Climate Justice Group in Korea’ launching workshop.

 
   
 




 
     Energy and Climate Policy Institute
    [04207] 2nd FL, 14-15, Mapo-daero 14ga-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea
    Tel. 82-2-6404-8440 _ Fax. 82-2-6402-8439 _ E-mail. mail@ecpi.or.kr _ Website. http://ecpi.or.kr