The aftermath of the March 11, 2011 disaster at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant is having a crucial impact on nuclear politics in Japan, with implications for greater popular involvement in other issues of national importance as well.

Pre-Fukushima, Japan's citizens generally have been content to leave policy- making to the bureaucracy and the politicians. Since then, damaging revelations of cover-up and incompetence surrounding the nuclear power industry and the government's role in it have moved increasing numbers of citizens to make their voice heard. The gradual shutdown of the nation's 54 nuclear reactors over the past year for "stress tests" was meant to be temporary, but mass demonstrations against reactivating the reactors have reached the point where a nuclear-free Japan now appears likely. This will mean a sharp increase in imports of fossil fuels in the short term, and huge investments in renewable energy over the longer term. And we'll all have to cut down on our power consumption. Truly a new chapter for Japan.

Meanwhile, as we reported to our regular readers in our ***Urgent Alert*** of April 21, the Fukushima No. 4 reactor is in a highly dangerous condition. Following our appeal to Sen. Ron Wyden (see this month's Habri Diary, April 29), a further "Urgent Request" for action to avoid a global catastrophe was sent on May 1 to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Prime Minister Noda, signed by 72 Japanese NGO's. For details, see http://fukushima.greenaction-japan.org/