San Franciscans Rally in Solidarity with Anti-Nuke Activists in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan has called for a nuclear power plant located near an earthquake fault-line in Hamaoka to suspend its operations. The operator of the plant, Chubu Electric Power Company, is refusing to follow the government's demand. Hamaoka is approximately 100 miles southwest of Tokyo.

Several thousand demonstrators marched through the streets of Tokyo on May 8 to call for the abolition of all nuclear power in Japan. Demonstrators praised Prime Minister Naoto Kan's call to shut down the reactor in Hamaoka. They said this marks the first time a prime minister has directly requested a nuclear facility be closed. Others called for the P.M. to go further, by insisting on a drastic shift in energy policy.

A shutdown at Hamaoka would run the risk of power disruptions in an area which is home to Toyota Motor Corporation and other manufacturers, but protesters said that safety should trump economic gain. In San Francisco, in addition to addressing safety concerns, demonstrators said that the US is continuing to push development of nuclear plants in Japan because it is profitable business for General Electric.

The Chubu Electric Power Company, which owns the Hamaoka nuclear plant, says it will not shut down the plant without more study and consideration by their board of directors.