In a news conference in Tokyo, the Dalai Lama told his increasingly anti-nuclear hosts that nuclear power is an important solution for underdeveloped countries still grappling with basic energy poverty.
His talking points were almost identical to those of stateside nuclear advocates, including discussions of the risks of nuclear accidents compared to other everyday risks. The Wall Street Journal reports:
… [H]e warned that no amount of preparation can completely rule out danger. Riding a car, eating a meal, and even sitting in the very venue of the news conference always comes with a degree of risk: “There is still 1 percent (chance) of danger,” he said, shaking his body from side to side as if being rocked by an earthquake.
He also worried whether renewables like wind and solar can affordably scale to meet the challenges of energy transition.
