Russian nuclear suit

Russia says it is likely to sign a pact with Japan on nuclear power plant.

Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister of Russia, told the Japanese media in Moscow that he expected to sign the agreement during his visit to Japan this week.

The Russia-Japan deal on nuclear power plant would be one of the many agreements that the two countries would be signing during Putin’s visit to Japan.

It may be noted that Japan and Russia are at present in the final stages of discussions over an agreement to promote what has been described as “non-military use of nuclear power” – like for generation of electricity.

Japan’s Kyodo News has reported that the proposed pact between Russia and Japan on nuclear power plant will result in Tokyo entrusting Moscow with uranium enrichment and also allowing Japan to export technology to Russia.

But do we get any guarantees that the new technology is clean, sustainable and cost-effective? Or is this just a new friendship between the world leaders?

[via Yahoo!] Image by welshdan

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Aeon Co is a leading retailer in Japan. Kyocera Corp is a major solar cell manufacturer. The two have formed a business alliance for the marketing of solar cells.

“We have focused on door-to-door sales thus far. The alliance with Aeon will change our business model,” said Kyocera President. The company aims to boost its solar cell sales by making the most of Aeon’s retail outlets. Aeon sees some 10 million shoppers every year.

Meanwhile, Aeon President said, “We are aiming to enhance our reform business. In that process, solar cells will be a key product.”

Aeon and Kyocera hope to install solar cell modules on 10,000 existing houses by the end of fiscal 2011.

Shops will open at “Aeon Lake Town” (Saitama Prefecture, Japan) and “Aeon Mall Hinode” (Tokyo) in the fall of 2009.  Kansai will see them at at shopping malls in the spring of 2010.

Kyocera will conduct a caravan tour to promote sales that will visit shopping malls all over Japan. Aeon Credit Service Co Ltd will start offering “solar loans.” Aeon Delight Co Ltd, will run standing counters, sell solar cell modules and offer installation services as part of Aeon’s “Housing Reform” sections.

Aeon has solar cell modules installed at 122 of its shopping malls as of the end of fiscal 2008. Three-fourths of those bought solar cell modules from Kyocera.

Look for an increased penetration of solar cells in Japan because of cooperations such as this where companies can attract many customers who are potential buyers.

What could possibly be wrong with cherry blossom viewing? I mean the beauty is fleeting, appears for about a week, is enjoyed for 2-3 days at most. Friends bring something to eat, break out the brew and talk about life and all that has come our way, has passed us by, and is in store for us.

What could possibly be wrong with that?

How about, NOT CLEANING UP YOUR MESS!?

Cleanup in Yoyogi park after a night of cherry blossom viewing parties.

The best place to do the Cherry Blossom thing (hanami - hana = flower, mi = watch and is pronounced hah nah mee) is In Japan. Sadly, however, even some Japanese don’t get the concept of ‘pack it home.’ Here’s an image of what is left over at a park in Yoyogi, Japan after a day’s festivities of enjoying Cherry Blossoms.

I bet if the Cherry Blossoms knew how the environment was going to be abused, they would even come out.

Images courtesy of zachstern, paraflyer, xerones

Apparently Daimaru department store is all for global warming. The hotter it is the more they sell … swimming suits that is.

I suppose, in a pitch FOR global warming, Daimaru is selling swim suits in Japan 6 weeks EARLIER this year than normal. What’s up with that?

It seems to me that for good or for bad, everyone is trying to capitalize on the global warming trend hype in one way or another. Or, am I just being over sensitive?

Maybe there is nothing wrong with department stores putting their wares out earlier and earlier each year. Maybe that’s it. I mean, who could object to seeing Japanese girls in bathing suits more and more throughout the year, right?

But, seriously. Are companies taking advantage of the global warming trend news? What do you think?

Image by idua_Japan

Russia has a lot of nerve to say the least.

The Russian government wants financial and technological assistance from Japan to build a pipeline and LNG export terminal for the Sakhalin I oil and natural gas development project.

If I remember correctly, Japanese companies Mistui and Mitsubishi helped build Sakhalin I hoping to cash in only to have Moscow change the laws in Gazprom’s favor leaving M&M out in the cold – literally.

Now, Moscow realizes they have the technology to export the LNG and they want Japan’s help again to cover the $5 billion costs invoved in the project. For that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit Japan next month to beg for money.

Gas reserves at Sakhalin I are estimated at 485 billion cu. meters and Sakhalin II has 480 billion cu. meters.

Some 60% of Sakhalin II’s output is to be shipped to Japan to supply about 8% of the Japan’s needs … until Moscow changes the law again.

Fighting over the Earth’s natural resources! exploiting one another over the Earth’s natural resources!! Look no further than Russia!!!

Image courtesy of StephenMitchell

Japan’s supermodel Moe Oshikiri can be seen in this photo (center). Next to her is former major league baseball player Tsuyoshi Shinjo. The two, along with a whole bunch of other folk took part in a marathon (cough, cough) event at Tokyo Midtown on Monday morning.

The event was part of mobile carrier KDDI au’s “Green Road Project.”

A real runner, Olympic marathon silver medalist Yuko Arimori, also attended the event. Altogether there were some 50 runners who participated.

KDDI (Japan’s International Telephone Company) launched the project through which au users can donate 1 yen for each 1 kilometer they walk or run, after downloading the company’s online service “au Smart Sports Run&Walk.”

The money raised will buy seeds of bitter gourd and morning glory to distribute for free at au shops. All of this is part of KDDI’s greening project. So far, KDDI says that 2.7 million yen ($30K) has been raised since the project’s launch in February.

I remember when I introduced the idea of walking/running for pledges some 20 years ago. All, I got were blank stares. We eventually raised $100K over the years which we sent off to southeast Asia.

Glad to see a major company in Japan is doing something similar.

Via: JapanToday

When the norm is NIMBY – Not In My Back Yard, there’s a town in Japan’s Fukushima, Prefecture, Naraha, that is willing to be the final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste.

There are some 10 nuclear reactors in Fukushima prefecture. The mayor of Naraha says the “town’s theme is coexistence with our nuclear plant. If safety can be guaranteed, and if our resident’s approve, we would like to host the site” (final disposal site).

How reasonable of them, no sarcasm intended.

A city willing to do their duty to reap the benefits of nuclear power as well as put itself forward for final disposal.

It will be the first time for a city with a nuclear power plant to host a final nuclear waste disposal facility. Imagine how much can be cut in transportation costs, eh?

Kudos to Naraha.

I can see Greenpeace now – wishing and hoping …la la la.

Source

Images by world-nuclear.org

Koala bears – those cute little fuzzy creatures, half squirrel, half bear, half something else from down under. Every zoo wants some, until now.

It costs more to feed six koalas at Osaka’s Tennoji Zoo than to feed the rest of the zoo’s animals put together. That comes to Y92million ($950,000) a year to feed them or $160,000 each per year = $450/day per animal. And the Tennoji Zoo spends Y85 million on all the other animals it cares for.

The fuzzy wuzzies feast on Eucalyptus trees which are cultivated in only seven locations in Japan. Hey! I have one in my front yard!

Koalas apparently only eat about 50 eucalyptus species, introduced to them by their mothers when they are still in their mother’s pouches.

It all boils down to how much zoo visitors are willing to shell out to see the little rascals and whether or not it adds up to the cost to feed and care for them.

After all, it’s always about the money. Isn’t it?

Images by FrankMaurer, jcolman, alumroot

With Tokyo expected to make buying surplus solar power at double the cost a requirement demand for solar panels is expected to climb in Japan.

Image by richardmasoner

Sharp Corp. and Kyocera Corp. are Japan’s biggest solar cell manufacturers. However, Chinese, Taiwanese and other foreign solar cell makers are getting ready to enter the market in Japan.

There is a 2nd International Photovoltaic Power Generation Expo happening in Tokyo this week.

1. Taiwan’s Sun Well Solar Corp. has thin-film solar cells. The company already sells two types of solar cells, one see-through, mainly in Germany and Spain.
2. Chinalight Solar Co. manufacturers and sells machinery hopes to start selling its solar cells in Japan through the machinery sales network.
3. Most Chinese and Taiwanese sell their solar goods in Europe. Now they take aim at Japan.
4. Some Japanese chemical companies are aiming to enter into the solar cell business.
5. Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. is working on an organic thin-film solar cell  with built-in solar cells.
6. Fujikura Ltd. is displaying pigment-sensitized solar cells at the expo.
7. Kyocera is displaying a  polysilicon module cell that maximizes the light-capturing area by placing the electrodes on its back.
8. Mitsubishi Electric Corp. is promoting a polysilicon solar cell that uses infrared rays.
9. Sharp’s is displaying a solar module that requires an installation space of just 13 sq. meters.

In the end, the customer and the Earth will win this competition, eh?

Source (sub req)

Tokyo will soon require domestic electricity companies to buy surplus solar power generated by households at about twice the current price.

The plan will come into effect as early as April the start of Japan’s new fiscal year. Tokyo wants to promote solar power as part of Japan’s efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

“Japan has already led solar power technology in the world. With the scheme, we would like to firmly secure the lead.”

Japan’s utility companies now voluntarily buy surplus electricity from domestic solar panels. A bill will go to parliament to make buying mandatory for power companies at double the current price. Homeowners will be able to recover the initial cost of installing photovoltaic cell systems quicker and more homes will be encouraged to install solar panels.

Japan has pledged a 10-fold increase in solar power use by 2020 from today’s level and offer solar power systems at half the current price within four years.

Japan is badly behind in meeting its own targets under the Kyoto Protocol. With this new scheme, they will start catching up, or else.

Image courtesy of lcrf