JAPAN: Anti-nuclear protesters take to the streets of Tokyo

Record ID: 1526599

  • Title: JAPAN: Anti-nuclear protesters take to the streets of Tokyo
  • Date: 24th April 2011
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (APRIL 23, 2011) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS DEMONSTRATING IN PUBLIC SQUARE MAN SPEAKING ON MICROPHONE MAN HOLDING BANNER READING: "WARNING. NO NUKES" MORE OF PROTESTERS DEMONSTRATING (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 21-YEAR-OLD MUSICIAN AND PROTESTER, NATSUKA SASAKI, SAYING: "I think I'm partly responsible for the nuclear crisis in Fukushima for not actively voicing against nuclear power. So I came here today thinking that if I keep quiet again, I'll continue to be responsible for future disaster." VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING TOWARD TOKYO ELECTRONIC POWER CO. (TEPCO) HEADQUARTERS PROTESTERS DEMONSTRATING IN FRONT OF TEPCO HEADQUARTERS MORE OF PROTESTERS POLICE GUARDING PROTESTERS POLICE TALKING TO PROTESTERS PROTESTER QUARRELING WITH POLICE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 22-YEAR-OLD PART-TIME WORKER AND PROTESTER, TAKUHIDE MURAYAMA, SAYING: "The radiation from the crippled nuclear plants hampers the rebuilding efforts of the people in northern Japan, so I want TEPCO to stop the radiation by doing anything they can do - maybe just pouring concrete on top of the plants." MORE OF PROTESTERS
  • Embargoed: 8th May 2011 23:58
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAB4TW5QDIQ5JFCHBWK4AZU2HCD
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Around 30 anti-nuclear protesters rallied outside the offices of the operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, Tokyo Electronic Power Co. (TEPCO), in the capital on Saturday (April 23).
    Holding banner reading "No Nukes", they demonstrated at a public square in Shimbashi business district.
    21-year-old protester Natuska Sasaki, who joined the rally after seeing it advertised on the internet said she felt partly responsible for the crisis.
    "I think I'm partly responsible to the nuclear crisis in Fukushima for not actively voicing against nuclear power, so I came here today thinking that if I keep quiet again, I'll continue to be responsible for future disaster," she said.
    Protesters marched and demonstrated outside the Tokyo TEPCO headquarters.
    The devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan, smashed the nuclear power plant causing it to leak radiation, a situation the plant's operator says could take all year to bring under control.
    Engineers at the plant, pumped radioactive water into the Pacific, a move that worried Japan's neighbours about the spread of contamination.
    Tens of thousands of residents left the 20-km (12-mile) evacuation zone, with Japan saying this week it would ban anyone entering the area around the plant.
    One protester wanted TEPCO to take whatever action was necessary to stop radiation emissions.
    "The radiation from the crippled nuclear plants hampers the rebuilding efforts of the people in northern Japan, so I want TEPCO to stop the radiation by doing anything they can do - maybe just pouring concrete on top of the plants," 22-year-old protester Takuhide Murayama said.
    TEPCO wants a "cold shutdown" of the plant, 240 km (150 miles) from the capital, within six to nine months, a timeline experts say will be tough to meet.
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