Future of Nuclear Power

During the Second World War Germany and Japan were responsible for many atrocities. At the end of the war, many of their military commanders were convicted of war crimes. The culture of life columnist of the Peace Weekly reminds us how their countries responded to these accusations.

Germany did many times formally apologize for the crimes of the Nazi era. Whether they were truly sorry for what happened, or thought they were the acts of a few Germans and apologized to help themselves join the nations of Europe and help their economic recovery, we will never know but the fact is that the government acknowledged guilt and has even up to the  present time given compensation.

Japan was different. They have not honestly acknowledged their crimes, or earnestly asked for forgiveness, nor adequately given compensation, says the columnist. And they continue to advance their military power.

This difference between the two former axis powers can also be seen in the atomic field.  After the war, Japan worked to develop their atomic energy. It has progressed to where it now only trails the US, Russia, England and France in the use of atomic energy. Japan has 57 nuclear plants, is building 3, and plans 11 more. At present, 30 percent of the electrical needs of the country is produced by nuclear energy.

Germany, after the war, also began to develop her economy around nuclear energy. However, after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in Russia, doubts arose among many Germans concerning the safety of their own nuclear energy facilities.  In 1998 the Green Party, in alliance with the Democratic Party, decided to end the country's reliance on nuclear power. They determined not to build anymore nuclear plants, and the existing plants, when needing repairs, would be shut down. The country that was the leader in the world of nuclear power willingly gave it up.

As a replacement, they have decided to develop sun power, wind and bio-renewable-energy sources. With the change of government, there was a period of hesitancy, but with the disaster in Japan, they have made the year 2022 the year to cease using all nuclear power. And their citizens are willing to make the sacrifice by cutting back on the use of electrical energy and are willing to pay more taxes to see a future reality of non-nuclear energy sources.

The columnist would like to see Korea follow suit. Korea is listed as the fifth biggest user of nuclear energy and has plans to build two more nuclear plants. She hopes that Korea will follow Germany in developing renewable sources of energy, working with sun, wind and bio to prepare a better tomorrow for future generations.