JAPAN: Anti-nuclear campaigners march through the streets of Tokyo on the anniversary of the giant earthquake and tsunami that triggered meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant

Record ID: 466126

  • Title: JAPAN: Anti-nuclear campaigners march through the streets of Tokyo on the anniversary of the giant earthquake and tsunami that triggered meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant
  • Date: 12th March 2012
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (MARCH 11, 2012) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS MARCHING THROUGH THE STREETS OF TOKYO MUSICIANS BEATING DRUMS IN PROTEST PARADE MORE OF PROTESTERS MARCHING THROUGH THE STREETS OF TOKYO PHOTO OF PEOPLE IN RADIATION SUITS CHECKING CHILDREN WITH GEIGER COUNTERS VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING THROUGH THE STREETS OF TOKYO TWO PROTESTERS EXCHANGING PINS PINS READING IN ENGLISH "NO NUKES, MORE HEARTS" (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) MICHIKO TANAKA, 31-YEARS-OLD, MUSICIAN SAYING: "I believe that it is our responsibility to think about the future of today's children, and because of my personal experience (as a monthly volunteer in northern Japan), I have been participating in a number of rallies and protests." BANNER OF RIGHT WING PROTESTERS PROTESTING AGAINST ANTI-NUCLEAR MOVEMENT RIGHT WING PROTESTER'S TRUCKS WITH LOUDSPEAKERS RIGHT WING PROTESTERS MARCHING THROUGH THE STREETS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE HOLDING CANDLES WHILE HOLDING HANDS AROUND PARLIAMENT BUILDING LIT CANDLES PROTESTERS HOLDING CANDLES
  • Embargoed: 27th March 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan, Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Disasters,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8OHFR8XLBXA4R2QGRBWSMFWVZ
  • Story Text: Anti-nuclear protesters marched through the streets of Tokyo on Sunday (March 11), one year after an earthquake and tsunami triggered a series of meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
    Thousands of protesters turned out for demonstrations across the capital following a moment of silence in Hibiya Park, with the parade rally moving through the streets of the government buildings in central Tokyo.
    The minute of silence was at 1446 local time (0546 GMT), the moment the magnitude 9.0 quake struck off the country's north eastern coast.
    Just two of Japan's 54 nuclear reactors are still in operation, and they are expected to close for routine maintenance by the end of April, raising the prospect that the country could be without nuclear power during the peak summer season.
    The continued use of nuclear power in Japan following the slew of problems following the 3.11 earthquake and tsunami is increasing concern for many Japanese people including Michiko Tanaka, an active volunteer who travels to northern Japan monthly to work with children.
    "I believe that it is our responsibility to think about the future of today's children, and because of my personal experience (as a monthly volunteer in northern Japan), I have been participating in a number of rallies and protests," Tanaka said.
    However, not all Japanese citizens are happy with the peaceful protests that anti-nuclear activists have been holding regularly nationwide.
    Right wingers drove through the rally parade rude blaring aggressive announcements including, "Leave the country!", "Don't use electricity if you feel like that!" and "We need nuclear power to arm ourselves against North Korea".
    A magnitude 9.0 earthquake unleashed a wall of water that hit Japan's northeast coast, killing nearly 16,000 and leaving nearly 3,300 unaccounted for. The country is still grappling with the human, economic and political costs.
    The tsunami also wrecked the Fukushima nuclear plant owned by Tepco, where reactor meltdowns triggered the world's worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl.
    Authorities have imposed a 20-km (12 mile) no-go zone around the plant and tens of thousands of neighbouring residents may never be allowed back.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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