JAPAN: Thousands of demonstrators in Tokyo protest nuclear power on the eve of the March 11th earthquake and tsunami two year anniversary

Record ID: 213916

  • Title: JAPAN: Thousands of demonstrators in Tokyo protest nuclear power on the eve of the March 11th earthquake and tsunami two year anniversary
  • Date: 10th March 2013
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (MARCH 10, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ANTI-NUCLEAR DEMONSTRATORS SETTING OFF AT THE START OF THE MARCH BANNERS OF PARTICIPATING GROUPS IN ANTI-NUCLEAR DEMONSTRATION WOMEN IN FAMILY SECTION OF ANTI-NUCLEAR MARCH SMILING T-SHIRT READING IN ENGLISH "NO NUKES NO" FAMILY SECTION OF ANTI-NUCLEAR MARCH SETTING OFF FROM START POINT SIGN IN ENGLISH READING "STOP RADIOACTIVITY" DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING ANTI-NUCLEAR MESSAGES WRITTEN ON UMBRELLAS AND SIGNS VARIOUS OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING DOWN TREE-LINED AVENUE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 65-YEAR-OLD COMPANY MANAGER KOUICHI SAHARA SAYING: "Well, when the half-life period is tens of thousands of years, to still be using this is unbelievable to me. I never imagined that there would be an accident, but I always did think it was not a great idea to be using that method of generating electricity." SIGN IN ENGLISH READING "IDLE NO MORE" MAN SIGNING PETITION TO END NUCLEAR POWER PIN WHEEL TUCKED INTO MAN'S HEADBAND (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) FUKUSHIMA NATIVE 36-YEAR-OLD KAZUKO NIHEI SAYING: "Nuclear energy accidents are dangerous and now with the proof that there has been an effect on the bodies of our children, but they tell us you have a home so you can go home. I want the rest of the world to recognize and know more the dangers of Fukushima." SIGN IN JAPANESE READING "TOKYO ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY" TOKYO ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY (TEPCO) SECURITY GUARD TEPCO SECURITY GUARDS AND POLICE OFFICERS IN FRONT OF TEPCO TOKYO HEADQUARTERS BANNERS OF DEMONSTRATORS IN FRONT OF TEPCO TOKYO HEADQUARTERS DEMONSTRATORS IN FRONT OF TEPCO TOKYO HEADQUARTERS SIGN IN JAPANESE READING "ZERO NUCLEAR ENERGY" (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 42-YEAR-OLD AGRICULTURE SALES MANAGER MITSUHIRO WATANABE SAYING: "Take nuclear energy completely off-line and I want the government to make a complete change over to natural energy sources for the nation." SIGN IN JAPANESE READING "NO NUKES" CAMERAMAN FILMING SPEAKER ON TRUCK IN FRONT OF TEPCO TOKYO HEADQUARTERS DEMONSTRATORS LISTENING TO SPEAKER ON TRUCK IN FRONT OF TEPCO TOKYO HEADQUARTERS TEPCO TOKYO HEADQUARTERS ANTENNA ON TOP OF TEPCO TOKYO HEADQUARTERS
  • Embargoed: 25th March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Disasters,Politics,Energy
  • Reuters ID: LVAKMTCMSZ2ZI3O3JL6AALMUPHF
  • Story Text: Thousands gathered in Tokyo on Sunday (March 10), on the eve of the two year anniversary of the March 11th earthquake and tsunami disaster, to protest nuclear power.
    Setting off from Hibiya park in the government administration district of the nation's capital, children, teenagers, young adults and the elderly marched together against the government's continued use of nuclear power.
    While the devastating events of March 11th were the catalyst for many to take a stand against the power source, some participants stated they were weary of the complications of disposal and containment that come with nuclear power even before the incident in Fukushima.

    "Well, when the half-life period is tens of thousands of years, to still be using this is unbelievable to me. I never imagined that there would be an accident, but I always did think it was not a great idea to be using that method of generating electricity," 65-year-old Kouichi Sahara said.
    The March 11, 2011 quake and tsunami killed nearly 19,000 people and smashed Tokyo Electric Power Co's Fukushima plant, triggering meltdowns, spewing radiation and forcing some 160,000 people to flee their homes, many never to return.
    For one displaced Fukushima native, the dangers of nuclear energy are clear.
    Thirty-six-year-old Kazuko Nihei was forced to evacuate Fukushima city on March 18th, 7 days after the huge earthquake and tsunami triggered the world's worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986 at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi plant.
    She resides in the Tokyo area with her two children and mother, but her father remains in Fukushima.

    "Nuclear energy accidents are dangerous and now with the proof that there has been an effect on the bodies of our children, but they tell us you have a home so you can go home. I want the rest of the world to recognize and know more the dangers of Fukushima," Nihei told Reuters.
    As thousands marched through the city with banners chanting "we don't need nuclear power", several hundred gathered in front of the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to protest against the organisation held responsible for the nuclear incident.
    Nuclear energy supplied nearly 30 percent of Japan's electricity needs before the Fukushima disasters and proponents argue it is vital to provide a stable electricity supply, keep down utility rates and prevent Japanese manufacturers from fleeing overseas in ever greater numbers, taking jobs with them.
    However, demonstrator Mitsuhiro Watanabe who comes from a family of farmers in Fukushima wants to see a complete switch over to natural energy.

    "Take nuclear energy completely off-line and I want the government to make a complete change over to natural energy sources for the nation," Watanabe said.
    Although a recent survey showed some 70 percent of Japanese want to phase out nuclear power eventually, an equal number back their new, pro-nuclear prime minister, Shinzo Abe, who wants to restart off-line reactors if they meet new safety standards as he pushes policies aimed at reviving a long-stagnant economy.
    Abe's government plans to review from scratch his DPJ predecessor's plan to exit nuclear power while boosting renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind power, and wants to restart off-line reactors that are certified safe under standards now being drafted by a new Nuclear Regulatory Agency.
    All but two of Japan's 50 reactors remain switched off after the disaster and no more are expected to be restarted until after July, when the new regulator is due to finalise tougher safety requirements more in line with international norms.
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