Open Dialogue on Nuclear Issues
For two consecutive editions of the Open Dialogue Forum on Nuclear Issues, we invited Osamu Tochiyama, a proponent of nuclear energy, and Hiroaki Koide, a nuclear energy skeptic, and asked them three key questions selected from the several sent by members of the general public. The questions addressed the “handling of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel,” “the method for determining which locality will take on the risks of doing so,” and “what the future of energy in Japan should look like.” On the basis of these questions, the experts engaged in a debate in which they also discussed the weaknesses of their respective positions. Rather than merely listen to the experts’ opinions, we asked specialists and citizens in the audience to identify elements of the opposing side’s view with which they could agree. When the floor was opened for questions during the general discussion, in which the audience participated, many hands shot up, and this enthusiasm persisted until the end. In closing, each expert commented regarding the type of discussions necessary when considering the disposal of high-level radioactive waste, thus reminding people of the importance of places for communication that seek engaged discussions involving proponents of nuclear power, opponents of nuclear power, experts, and citizens.
2014年02月28日公開 | Our experience
