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In San Francisco and Tokyo, Demonstrators Call for an End to Nuclear Energy
At the same time anti-nuke protesters rallied in front of the Japanese consulate in San Francisco, a major demonstration was held in Tokyo. In both cities protesters called for safety over economic concerns. One demonstrator in San Francisco, addressing the crowd in both Japanese and English, said that the US needs to stop pushing the development of nuclear plants in Japan. "In some ways," she said, "Japan is like a colony of the US."
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.
At least a thousand demonstrators marched through the streets of Tokyo on May 8 to call for the abolition of all nuclear power in Japan. (Crowd estimates will likely be higher than the initially reported 1,000 plus). 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.
At least a thousand demonstrators marched through the streets of Tokyo on May 8 to call for the abolition of all nuclear power in Japan. (Crowd estimates will likely be higher than the initially reported 1,000 plus). 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.
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Update on attendance in Tokyo
Mon, May 9, 2011 12:05AM
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