(LinkAsia: June 1, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
Over in Japan, the country is still grappling with the effects of last year's enormous earthquake and tsunami. The ensuing disaster at Fukushima-Daiichi shook many peoples' faith in nuclear power.

Now, a government advisory panel has articulated four options regarding the future of the nuclear power industry. These options range from completely abandoning nuclear power to allowing the market to decide how much to produce. Here's NHK with the details of the plan.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: May 29, 2012

Chie Yamagishi:
The de-reliance option is aimed at preventing another nuclear accident in Japan, where earthquakes occur frequently. It would also stop nuclear waste from building up. But Japan's utilities would have to increase electricity output by using thermal power generation for the time being, meaning carbon dioxide emission would rise. Japan would need to quickly switch to renewable energy sources for this option to succeed.

The second option is in line with the Noda administration's policy of decommissioning nuclear plants within 40 years of operation and holding off on building new ones. This plan delays the decision of whether to abolish atomic energy and through sufficient efforts have been made to promote renewable alternatives and improve nuclear safety. Some committee members criticize this proposal saying it lacks direction and postpones a critical decision.

The third option reflects the fact that Japan has limited natural resources and keeps nuclear power in the energy portfolio along with other sources. However, there are challenges. Safe power generation and the disposal of nuclear waste are just a couple of them. Japanese leaders also need to convince the general public that atomic energy is safe in the wake of the Fukushima-Daiichi accident.

The fourth option demands utility companies include the social costs of power generation in their pricing. Subsidies for nuclear plants would be abolished. Consumers would be able to decide what kind of energy they want based on their electricity bills. But opponents of this option say if government officials don't draw up Japan's energy policy and leave it up to the market, the country won't be able to secure a stable power supply.

Cabinet members will look at the proposals. The Noda administration is also promising to get input from the public. Some members of the committee are demanding the government listen sincerely to citizens.

Junko Edahiro, Environmental Journalist:
The government should think about how to reflect public discussion in its policy. It is also important to explain the options in a fair way and to set the stage for discussion.

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Yul Kwon:
Right now, all of Japan's 50 functional nuclear reactors are offline, which is making some officials nervous about power shortages this summer.

(LinkAsia: May 11, 2012)
Sydnie Kohara:
Now moving to Thailand, where last year's floods nearly wiped out the World Heritage site of Ayutthaya. The government has done very little to repair the damaged city, but NHK reports that local and international charities have stepped in to rebuild houses.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: May 8, 2012

Dhra Dhirakaosal, Reporter:
Insufficient government aid is causing flood victims like Chamlern Manojam to continue to live among the wreckage. Her house is unsanitary; most of her belongings are damaged and covered in grime. She has no source of income and is living on donations of food, water, and other necessities. Rust stains on the walls show that the home was submerged under two meters of water for months.

Chamlern Manojam, Flood Victim:
It's been a really big struggle. We lost everything. We couldn't save anything. We didn't know what to do.

Dhra Dhirakaosal, Reporter:
Last year's floods destroyed at least 170,000 homes in Thailand. Many residents watched the deluge wash away all their belongings, leaving behind a trail of devastation. But there is hope for Chamlern. She is one of the hundreds of people who are getting a new home for free, thanks to the efforts of charitable groups. The goal is to rebuild over 900 homes in eight provinces affected by the floods. So far, 106 have been completed.

I'm here at the construction site where the homes are being built for the flood victims, and each home is built at least two meters above the ground as a flood preventative measure. The walls are made of a special material called Beva boards. They're known for being water resistant and easy to install. Unlike traditional homes in the area, these houses have indoor plumbing, so residents have access to bathrooms in case of emergencies.

Experts fear another major flood will hit Thailand this year. Heavier than usual rain is forecast from May to October. NGOs are working around the clock to prevent a repeat of a natural disaster.

Chamnarn Wangtal, CEO, Habitat for Humanity, Thailand:
The strategy we're using to prepare is to compile a fund that can be used for first response. We are already gearing up just in case. One example is we plan to provide tents as temporary shelters.

Dhra Dhirakaosal, Reporter:
Chamlern feels grateful for her new house. Others who have yet to receive help continue to worry. The public is urging the government to implement preventative measures as soon as possible.

Sydnie Kohara:
The government is building dykes to protect Ayutthaya from future flooding. The residents support this move, but think that the government should do more to take care of people in the area who still lack that elevated housing that we just saw in the piece.

(LinkAsia: May 4, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
Over in Japan, power company officials are looking ahead to the summer, and they're already sweating. If this summer is anything like the record one from 2010, they say electricity shortages will be inevitable unless they can restart a number of nuclear reactors that have been shut down for maintenance this past year. NHK explains what's going on.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: May 1, 2012

Reporter:
They are currently 50 nuclear reactors in Japan. Over the last year, those that were still in service were taken offline for inspections one after another. The only one still in operation is Hokkaido Electric's Tomari plant, but it too will be shut down for regular inspection this coming Saturday. Japan's nine power companies have released their estimates for supply and demand this summer. They assume temperatures this year would reach the record highs of 2010. The estimates suggest Hokkaido, Kansai and Kyushu electric power companies will all face shortages. The situation is especially serious for Kansai Electric, which is the most dependent on nuclear power.

Kansai Electric Power Company Official:
A summer as hot as in 2010 will generate a power demand of 30.3 kilowatts, but we will be 16.3 percent short.

Reporter:
The analysts predicted corporations and consumers would contribute to efforts to save power, including the Cool Biz campaign. Demand could exceed supply if the summer turns out to be hotter than expected, resulting in blackouts. Utilities imposed planned blackouts last year to prevent such a situation. That forced many factories to curb production and had a significant impact on peoples' lives.

Yul Kwon:
Now in an effort to produce more energy, Japanese government officials are planning to restart two nuclear reactors at the Ohi plant in central Japan. But ever since last year's nuclear disaster in Fukushima-Daiichi, Japanese consumers have been concerned about nuclear safety, and so are local officials, who are pushing back on the national government's plan to restart the reactors.

Reporter:
Kiyoshi Yamada heads Tokyo's crisis management team. He met with Tetsui Yamamoto, a senior representative of the government's nuclear and industrial safety agency. Yamamoto explained that the government is dedicated to putting new safety standards in place following the accident at Fukushima-Daiichi. That explanation wasn't enough for Yamada.

Kiyoshi Yamada, Kyoto Official:
Your explanations are inconsistent with our demands.

Reporter:
Government officials decided last month that the Ohi reactors need to be restarted to provide sufficient power to the region during the summer. The reactors are now offline for regular checkups.