“Fresh Currents: Japan’s Flow from a Nuclear Past to a Renewable Future”

From the good people over at Kyoto Journal an appeal to support the next issue, "Fresh Currents" by donating thru the indiegogo.com website:

http://www.indiegogo.com/freshcurrents

More than a year after the triple meltdown at Fukushima, Japan and the rest of the world continue to grapple with the short- and long-term consequences. The myth that nuclear power can deliver us from the long-term evils of fossil fuels has been shattered. Renewable energy, long dismissed as impractical, is being given serious reconsideration. Japan can and must take advantage of this opportunity to rethink and refocus its energy strategies.

 

In Kyoto, birthplace of the Kyoto Protocol, a dedicated group of reporters, writers, artists, editors, and photographers associated with Kyoto Journal (www.kyotojournal.org) is taking a fresh look at proven and innovative alternative technologies such as solar, wind, geothermal, mini-hydro, and biomass as well as the even greater number that are being actively researched, but are insufficiently recognized and under-funded.

With your help, our goal is to produce a investigative publication,“Fresh Currents: Japan’s Flow from a Nuclear Past to a Renewable Future,” first in English, with the possibility of having it subsequently published in Japanese, which we will do our best to get into the hands of key policymakers, local government officials, community leaders, educators, and media outlets. Print and PDF versions will also be made available to the general public.

Why is this so important? Japan’s entrenched pro-nuclear lobby is desperate to reinstitute “business as usual,” as it has after far too many previous accidents. The nuclear industry’s dismal safety record, reflecting both amazing arrogance and catastrophic negligence, shows that safer, sustainable alternatives must be found and developed.

This is a critical moment, with a strong citizens’ movement underway demanding a national referendum on nuclear power. Even Japan’s current Minister for the Economy, Trade and Industry admits that it’s time to phase out nuclear generation of electricity. Our “Fresh Currents” project has vital potential to identify viable renewable energy mix options. We believe that it can make a significant contribution to the debate on the future of energy production – not only in Japan, but worldwide.

*A previous KJ special issue, Biodiversity, presenting compelling perspectives on biological diversity, contributed constructively to debate at the COP10 Conference in Nagoya in 2010. We handed out 1,000 complimentary copies to delegates and media, in person. KJ also established a presence at the original Kyoto Protocol negotiations in 1997.

What will your contribution do?

Our team is already hard at work on this project, but we need help. Kyoto Journal editors and contributors are all working on “Fresh Currents” as volunteers, but we urgently need funds to enable:

• Research and documentation, including travel expenses

• Translation of vital source materials

• Printing of complimentary copies

• Website management

Long experience has taught us how to operate on a shoestring, so our budget is modest. All donations will be gratefully received, and applied to maximum effect.

We need to raise $9,500 by July 10th, 2012. Please help us to make a real difference, with multiple benefits for tomorrow’s world and future generations!