Affirmative Model Constructive Speech for Inaho Cup 2014
Resolution：The Japanese government should abolish nuclear power plants.
We of the Ko-Eiken affirmative side strongly believe that the Japanese government should abolish nuclear power plants. We have two advantages!!
Advantage 1: The threat to the citizen will disappear.
A. Present Situation
Today, some countries in the world including Japan depend on nuclear power plants for power generation even though the world has experienced some serious disasters such as Three Mile Island in 1976, and Chernobyl in 1986. In fact, when the accident in the Fukushima 1st Nuclear Power Plant happened, the people were forced to evacuate and were prevented from entering their area due to the leaking radioactivity. Moreover, the tourist industry, agricultural industry and fishery industry were damaged financially because of exaggerating rumors. According to Ogawa Ryota, the Associate Professor of Fukushima University,
[Quote] the agricultural industry in Fukushima was financially damaged by ￥100 billion (1000億) in May 2012. [Unquote] It is true that nuclear power plants have some advantages, but you have to consider that the existence of them may threaten the people all over Japan.
B. Effect
After adopting our plan, all the nuclear power plants in Japan will be abolished. The citizen will be released from the threat of nuclear power plants and they will try to do with what they have. You will live in the safe and beautiful country.
C. Importance
If the threat of nuclear disaster is removed, it will enable you to live a safer life. Since Japan is the country where you have frequent natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons, the possibility of having such an accident as in Fukushima cannot be denied.
According to NHK, 130,000 people are still living in the evacuation areas temporarily. Furthermore, bad rumors remain as we saw in the recent controversial case over the comic “Oishimbo.” However, if you abolish nuclear power plants, the people around power plants will be able to lead their lives without fear. According to a survey by Asahi Shimbun, March 2014,
[Quote] 59% of the respondents answered that they were against the resuming the operation of nuclear power plants. 86% of the respondents answered that they were afraid of having other accidents at different nuclear power plants. [Unquote] So, now you have to make efforts to live peaceful life without nuclear power plants. We should cooperate with each other to make our country better.
Advantage 2: The cost will be reduced.
A. Present Situation
In 2011, we had a huge earthquake in the Tohoku region, and that compelled nuclear power plants to stop their operation. However, according to Yahoo News Business, in December 2010
[Quote] before the earthquake occurred, nuclear power generation occupied 32% of the total electricity supplies. The reason why Japan too much depends on nuclear power generation is that they don’t emit CO2, and the uranium costs less and is more stable than fossil fuels. According to the Kansai Electric Power Corporation, the cost needed to generate 1kWh is over \30 by solar and fossil fuel electricity generation, \10.7 by natural gas generation, and \8.9 by nuclear power generation. However, the problem is that nuclear power plants cost much more to maintain and to dispose of the radioactive waste. You can’t ignore this point. According to NUMO (Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan), three trillion yen (30兆) will be needed to dispose of high level radioactive wastes in 2021.
B. Effect
After adopting our plan, the entire budget over nuclear power plants will be saved and instead, we can spend that money on other energy to make our country safer.
C. Importance
If the cost is reduced, it will enable Japan to improve the power generation system in Japan. Since Japan had depended on nuclear power generation before 2011 Great Earthquake, Japan now needs to use other means of power generation. According to Hoshino Satoshi, a professor of Chuo University,
[Quote] Germany decided to close all their nuclear power plants by 2022, and made a plan to raise the rate of electricity supply by renewable energy to 50% by 2030, and to 80% by 2050.[Unquote] Besides this, Tsubogo Minoru, a professor of Waseda University argues that “Just like the case of Germany, one of the choices that Japan needs to make for the shift of energy policy is to abolish nuclear power plants. Also, saving energy and promoting renewable energy is important for the shift of the energy policy.” So, this is a good opportunity for the future of Japan. As a result, the reduction of the cost for electric power generation will change Japanese society for the better. When should we start this? That’s now.
For these reasons, we strongly believe that the Japanese government should abolish nuclear power plants. Thank you for listening!!
Negative Model Constructive Speech
Thank you chairperson. We, of the negative side, strongly believe that Japan should not abolish nuclear power plants.
Disadvantage 1 High dependency on the overseas resources.
A. Present Situation
Now the fossil fuel-powered generation accounts for 80% of all the supply of electricity in Japan. However, they are becoming too old to operate and failing to supply stable and enough electricity now and also in the future. We need more stable security of electricity as base-load energy in Japan.
Japan depends on overseas energy resources and is vulnerable to energy supply problem abroad, so Japan has made constant efforts to secure domestic energy resources by mainly promoting nuclear energy. As a result, Japan’s energy self-sufficiency rate, including nuclear power, in 2010 has improved to 19.9%. However, in 2014, self-sufficiency rate is dropped to 6.0%. About 14% has been dropped since 2010. Now Japan has become more dependent on energy resources abroad, and has become more vulnerable to the foreign affairs. Global competition for natural resources is becoming more fierce as the demand of energy supply increases in China or India. And also the economic changes, regional conflicts, are influencing the changes of resource price. For example, the oil price goes up and goes down steeply, which affect Japanese economy as well as our budget of daily life.
B. Effect
If the plan is adopted, high dependency on the overseas resources will damage Japan.
C. Importance
Japanese economy and our life will be severely affected by the changing prices of the overseas resources. Without nuclear power plants, self-sufficiency rate of energy will not go up and Japan has to be heavily dependent on the overseas energy in the future. In the long-term, Japan will suffer from the involvement of global natural resources competition, which will cause the loss of the independence of energy and financial damage to our lives.
DA2 Basic energy will be lost forever.
A. Present Situation
Japan has only 6% of self-sufficiency rate of energy. So the government issues the energy plan, organizing the following three important points. 1) Safety 2)Energy Security 3)Economic Efficiency. People tend to fear what they don’t have to fear. Fukushima accident is still giving fear to people in Japan. The cause of the accident is the unprecedented earthquake once in 1000 years. So That is not inherently caused by the defects of the plant or human errors. And also it is “under control.” The present situation has been getting better and better than before.
On safety, The ten NPPs are now under close scrutiny with the severest criteria in the world for checking the safety of NPPs.
On Energy Security is the stable supply of energy. Some fossil fuel powered plants are too old and can’t operate in order. They are running a risk of failing to supply the electricity on the stable basis.
Sendai NPP in Kyusyu is waiting for the permission to come October and scheduled to restart if it meets strict standards of safety.
On Economic Efficiency, NPPs will provide the general public and companies much cheaper energy to be in better cycle of economy.
B. Effect
If the plan is adopted, the basic energy will be lost forever.
C. Importance
There is no need to adopt the plan, and once NPPs are abolished, Japan will lose energy security, and economic efficiency. Environmentally, financially, and economically friendly energy will be lost.