Uh-oh, looks like Shiga will have another big debate, probably bigger than the shinkansen station in Ritto.

On Sept. 20, 2006, the mayor of Yogo-cho town again told the town assembly that he wants to accept highly radioactive nuclear waste for final disposal in Yogo. He said that it was important for Japan to find such a place.

The large amount of money the town would receive for studies conducted for the disposal site would greatly help the cash-strapped town which forecasts a lot of red ink in the coming years.

Shiga Governor Kada Yukiko is opposed to the plan, saying that a nuclear waste dump near Lake Biwa which supplies water to 14 million people in the Kinki region would cause too much anxiety among the population.

Even if they go ahead with the plan, it will take over 20 years to conduct studies and build the disposal site. That’s the year 2030. How old will you be by then? I’ll be a bald ojisan for sure.

After the nuclear waste is processed, it has to be put in cold storage for 30 to 50 years. Then it has to be buried in stable ground at least 300 meters deep where the radiation should not affect humans. Right, that supposed to make us feel better.

Yogo is one of Shiga’s most beautiful and nature-oriented areas. It’s very disturbing to think that the area will also include the world’s most hazardous substances. The town will still require approval from the prefectural government to proceed all the way with the plan. I doubt that it will go through. But we have to do something about Yogo’s financial situation. Let’s try to bring more foreign tourists to Yogo. I know they would love it.