Confab on nuclear energy begins

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

Confab on nuclear energy begins

TOKYO, April 26 (Kyodo) - A three-day conference on nuclear energy 
began Wednesday at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo's 
Yurakucho, amid growing concerns over the safety of nuclear energy, 
organizers said. 

The theme of the 33rd annual conference of the Japan Atomic 
Industrial Forum (JAIF) is ''Regaining Trust in Nuclear Energy -- Now 
and the Future.'' 

Issues to be discussed will include the Tokaimura nuclear disaster, 
safety in energy use and corporate realignment in the international 
nuclear industry, the organizers said. 

At a symposium to be held at Tokaimura's Tokai Culture Center on the 
last day, Tokaimura Mayor Tatsuya Murakami, Science and Technology 
Agency officials and nuclear power industry experts will speak mainly 
about the responses and measures implemented by nuclear power 
authorities nearly seven months after the accident. 

The nuclear accident at JCO Co.'s uranium fuel processing plant in 
the village of Tokaimura in Ibaraki Prefecture last Sept. 30 was 
Japan's worst nuclear accident. Three JCO employees poured too much 
uranium into a tank that was not designed to hold it, resulting in a 
nuclear fission chain reaction. 

One of the employees, Hisashi Ouchi, died in December as a result of 
excessive radiation exposure. 

At least 439 people, including 207 local residents, were exposed to 
various levels of radiation. 

Founded on March 1, 1956, the Tokyo-based JAIF Inc. is a 
nongovernmental organization aimed at promoting the peaceful use of 
nuclear energy. The 800-strong Forum includes electric power 
companies, manufacturers, government and private research and 
development institutes, and over 100 overseas affiliate members. 

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Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
Director, Technical				Extension 2306 				     	
ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Division		Fax:(714) 668-3149 	                   		    
ICN Biomedicals, Inc.				E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net 				                           
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Costa Mesa, CA 92626                                      

Personal Website:  http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/1205
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