Japan Tipping Point Crucial Choices in the PostFukushima World Mark Pendergrast eBook
Download As PDF : Japan Tipping Point Crucial Choices in the PostFukushima World Mark Pendergrast eBook 
Japan's Tipping Point is a small book on a huge topic. In the post-Fukushima era, Japan is the "canary in the coal mine" for the rest of the world. Can Japan radically shift its energy policy, become greener, more self-sufficient, and avoid catastrophic impacts on the climate? Mark Pendergrast arrived in Japan exactly two months after the Fukushima meltdown. This book is his eye-opening account of his trip and his alarming conclusions.
Japan is at a crucial tipping point. A developed country that must import all of its fossil fuel, it can no longer rely on nuclear power, following the massive earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster of March 11, 2011. Critically acclaimed nonfiction writer Mark Pendergrast went to Japan to investigate Japan's renewable energy, Eco-Model Cities, food policy, recycling, and energy conservation, expecting to find innovative, cutting edge programs.
He discovered that he had been naive. The Japanese boast of their eco-services for eco-products in eco-cities. Yet they rely primarily on imported fossil fuel and nuclear power, live in energy-wasteful homes, and import 60% of their food. That may be changing in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Maybe. But as Pendergrast documents, Japan lags far behind Europe, the United States, and even (in some respects) China in terms of renewable energy efforts. And Japan is mired in bureaucracy, political in-fighting, indecision, puffery, public apathy, and cultural attitudes that make rapid change difficult.
Yet Japan is also one of the most beautiful countries in the world, with friendly, resilient people who can, when motivated, pull together to accomplish incredible things.
As an island nation, Japan offers a microcosmic look at the problems facing the rest of the globe. And as Japan tips, so may the world.
Mark Pendergrast, the author of books such as For God, Country and Coca-Cola, Uncommon Grounds, and Inside the Outbreaks, entertains as he enlightens. As he wrote in Japan's Tipping Point "The rest of this account might seem a strange combination of critical analysis, travelogue, absurdist non-fiction, and call to action. It might be called 'Mark’s Adventures in Japanland Or, Apocalyptic Visions in a Noodle Shop.'"
Japan Tipping Point Crucial Choices in the PostFukushima World Mark Pendergrast eBook
"Japanese trains run to the minute, and the country's businesses pride themselves on energy-efficiency. The Japanese boast of their eco-services for eco-products in eco-cities. Yet they rely primarily on imported fossil fuel and nuclear power, live in energy-wasteful homes, and import 60% of their food. That may be changing in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Maybe. Japan is at a crucial tipping point. As an island nation, it offers a microcosmic look at the problems facing the rest of the globe. And as Japan tips, so may the world." Mark Pendergrast, Tipping Point (Kindle Locations 65-69).On May 5, 2012 Japan shut down the last of its 50 nuclear reactors after the Fukashima disaster.
Japan, like the rest of the world is at a tipping point: it can go renewable or continue on its fossil/nuclear path. Pendergrast traveled through post-Fukashima Japan to survey a wide range of small-scale renewable energy projects. Tipping Point is unflinching in looking at the political and economic obstacles facing each of these projects. As I read the book, I could not help thinking that Pendergrast had found and reported on dozens of real reasons for hope. Although none of the renewable energy projects was in itself a single 'magic bullet' to solve Japan's energy crisis, when combined they may offer a profound opportunity. If Japan chooses to go renewable, each of these small projects shows a proven way to implement a workable solution within the Japanese culture and political system.
Tipping Point is a important book about a subject of critical importance to the entire industrialized world. As I read it I couldn't help but think that Japan and the world was fortunate to have a gifted reporter like Pendergrast on the scene to report on these options, and assemble them into one, short readable book. Coincidentally, all the solutions that Pendergrast describes are equally valid in other industrial nations.
I found the book surprisingly optimistic because it shows what can work, and what has worked. The question now is, will Japan accept this challenge? Will we?
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Japan Tipping Point Crucial Choices in the PostFukushima World Mark Pendergrast eBook Reviews
I just finished reading "Japan's Tipping Point" by Mark Pendergrast which is now available as either a paperback or as an ebook! He won an Abe Fellowship for Journalists, an annual grant given to selected writers who then spend six weeks in Japan! He arrived two months after the 3/11 Fukushima Nuclear Disaster, visiting their Eco-Model Cities and interviewed many of Japan's Eco "Leaders" both in Government and in the private sector.
===>One thing I learned is that Japan's utilities own their electrical GRID and therefore are the only ones that can "approve" of any forms of energy accessing it! If Japan is to "kick" their Nuclear reactor habit, the Utilities will have to OK that decision, which means a reduction in both Control and Market share for them!
snip
"I discovered, however, that the real power in Japan lies with bureaucrats who have strong ties to big business. They outlast the politicians. The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) is the most powerful bureaucracy, with a large budget at its disposal."
==> Another thing I learned is that Northern Japan has a different form of alternating current than Southern Japan so that Energy cannot be easily shared Nationwide! This is yet another roadblock to low cost energy that the Utilities promote to protect their market share in Japan!
snip
"Each of the regional utilities jealously guards its borders, so that there is limited cooperation between them. Transmission lines are not large enough to allow power to flow easily between regions. Worse still, the northeastern half of Japan uses a 50 hertz frequency, while the southwest operates at 60 hertz, making it impossible to share power between them without huge transformers."
This to me, is the real "Tipping Point", since without an "up to date" modern (Think SMART) grid, energy cannot flow to where it is needed, when it is needed and at a fair price from where it is generated! Imagine installing new solar panels and the Energy produced is not allowed to be added to the grid because the Utility wants to only sell it's own energy!
It has been several weeks since I've read Mark Pendergrast's book Tipping Point. I hope I can remember all of my thoughts while reading. This narrative spans a 6-week journey among major Japanese cities by the author in transit. He visits picturesque older habitats as well as harsher newer cities.
He emphasizes the several methods of energy conservation, generally underused, available to the Japanese. He also addresses the nuclear station meltdown following the tsunami several years ago.
This is a very worthwhile book. It is not a page-tuner. But a reporter's first-hand account ought not be. And it is an account of a nation with advanced technogies (some of which have gone wrong).
"Japanese trains run to the minute, and the country's businesses pride themselves on energy-efficiency. The Japanese boast of their eco-services for eco-products in eco-cities. Yet they rely primarily on imported fossil fuel and nuclear power, live in energy-wasteful homes, and import 60% of their food. That may be changing in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Maybe. Japan is at a crucial tipping point. As an island nation, it offers a microcosmic look at the problems facing the rest of the globe. And as Japan tips, so may the world." Mark Pendergrast, Tipping Point ( Locations 65-69).
On May 5, 2012 Japan shut down the last of its 50 nuclear reactors after the Fukashima disaster.
Japan, like the rest of the world is at a tipping point it can go renewable or continue on its fossil/nuclear path. Pendergrast traveled through post-Fukashima Japan to survey a wide range of small-scale renewable energy projects. Tipping Point is unflinching in looking at the political and economic obstacles facing each of these projects. As I read the book, I could not help thinking that Pendergrast had found and reported on dozens of real reasons for hope. Although none of the renewable energy projects was in itself a single 'magic bullet' to solve Japan's energy crisis, when combined they may offer a profound opportunity. If Japan chooses to go renewable, each of these small projects shows a proven way to implement a workable solution within the Japanese culture and political system.
Tipping Point is a important book about a subject of critical importance to the entire industrialized world. As I read it I couldn't help but think that Japan and the world was fortunate to have a gifted reporter like Pendergrast on the scene to report on these options, and assemble them into one, short readable book. Coincidentally, all the solutions that Pendergrast describes are equally valid in other industrial nations.
I found the book surprisingly optimistic because it shows what can work, and what has worked. The question now is, will Japan accept this challenge? Will we?
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