Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Japan: Massive anti Nuclear Power demonstration


Hundreds of thousands of people rallied at a Tokyo park demanding Japan abandon nuclear power.

Led by Nobel-winning novelist Kenzaburo Oe, pop star Ryuichi Sakamoto and artist Yoshitomo Nara, the protesters expressed outrage over a report that blamed the Fukushima disaster on Japan's culture of "reflexive obedience" and held no individuals responsible.

The rally at sprawling Yoyogi Park was the latest and is among the biggest - drawing 200,000 people, according to organisers - in a series of huge protests.

"We want to leave a world without nuclear power for our children," said Takeshi Shinoda, a hospital worker wearing a "No Nukes" T-shirt and marching with his three-year-old son.

The movement's leaders say they have collected 7.4 million signatures on a petition demanding nuclear power be phased out.

Japan's 50 working reactors had been offline until last month, when Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda decided to restart one at Ohi in central Japan.

A second reactor there is slated to go online later this week.

But anti-nuclear protesters are not convinced, saying that Japan has done fine without atomic energy for more than a year.

They also said they were offended by a parliamentary investigation that blamed Japanese culture for the Fukushima disaster.

One said blaming the culture was a cop-out, adding that individuals - including the president of Fukushima Dai-Ichi owner Tepco - should be held responsible.

Addressing the rally, Mr Sakamoto said it was ridiculous to risk people's lives for electricity.

"Life is more important than money," he said. "Keeping silent after Fukushima is barbaric."

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