PHILIPPINES: Environmental group Greenpeace opens an exhibition in Manila featuring photographs on the aftermath of Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster, with campaigners warning against the use of nuclear power

Record ID: 215969

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: Environmental group Greenpeace opens an exhibition in Manila featuring photographs on the aftermath of Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster, with campaigners warning against the use of nuclear power
  • Date: 6th March 2012
  • Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (MARCH 5, 2012) (REUTERS) QUEZON CITY MAYOR HERBERT BAUTISTA CUTTING RIBBON IN EXHIBIT PEOPLE LOOKING AT EXHIBIT PHOTOS SHOWING AN ABANDONED VILLAGE WITH NAME OF EXHIBITION READING: "SHADOWLANDS" VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LOOKING AT PHOTOS PHOTO SHOWING STREET IN TSUSHIMA VILLAGE GREENPEACE CLIMATE AND ENERGY CAMPAIGNER FRANCIS DELA CRUZ SHOWING PHOTOGRAPH
  • Embargoed: 21st March 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Philippines, Philippines
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: Disasters,Environment,Health
  • Reuters ID: LVA7NT8DQ9K1GUGZ3VQ3VFCTKOAS
  • Story Text: Environmental group Greenpeace opened an exhibition in Manila on Monday (March 5), featuring photos chronicling the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
    The photographs in the "Shadowlands" exhibit were taken by a Dutch photographer, Robert Koth, who went to the Fukushima province in Japan last year and took photographs of people coping with the disaster.
    Japan suffered a major setback after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake in March 11 last year triggered a devastating tsunami in the northern Fukushima province and caused a partial meltdown of its nuclear plant.
    Many of the photographs showed empty landscapes, abandoned villages and residents living in fear of nuclear contamination near the Fukushima plant in Japan.
    Since the beginning of the crisis on March 11 2011, Greenpeace said its radiation specialists have documented impact of radiation contamination on the environment, food and seafood around Fukushima.
    Greenpeace said it is urging the Japanese government to not restart any nuclear plants and for a global phase out of inherently dangerous nuclear reactors.
    Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista expressed his support for the tsunami and nuclear-hit victims of Fukushima province as both countries shared the same risks from being located in the Pacific Ring of Fire.
    "We're an island. We're 7100 islands, so the possibilities of tsunamis are high. We're part of the Pacific Belt, where earthquake and volcanic eruptions are common. We have the same risks," he said.
    Some volunteers working at the exhibition wore black robes and masks with the nuclear warning sign painted on, to warn against a revival of nuclear plants in Manila.
    Greenpeace Climate and Energy campaigner Francis Dela Cruz said ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian) should be focusing on relying less on nuclear power, and more on renewable energy.
    "The ASEAN should be heading towards the uptake of renewable energy, the use of more energy-efficiency measures because, one, we do not have the wherewithal to address nuclear risks, and two it is simply the better way. Why expose your communities to nuclear radiation if there's a better way wherein you use energy efficiency and renewable energy," he said.
    At least five other members of the 10-nation ASEAN are studying nuclear power as an option to meet demand for energy in the fast-growing region of 600 million people.
    Proponents say atomic energy is unavoidable for the region, and the prohibitive cost of alternatives will help to drive the sector.
    Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore are among some 35 countries considering going down the nuclear path, likely doubling the number of operational reactors in the next few decades, according to Lloyds Register.
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