Europe Solidaire Sans Frontières
Tokyo
June-11 One-Million No-Nuke Action: Tokyo
Let’s not allow another nuclear disaster! Let’s move ahead toward a denuclearized society!
Tokyo, June 12 (Kakehashi) – On June 11, the rally of “June-11 One-Million No-Nuke Action: Tokyo—Let’s not allow another nuclear disaster! Let’s move ahead toward a denuclearized society” was held at the Tokyo Shiba Park, under the sponsorship of the Gensuikin (Japan Congress against A- and H-Bombs), No-to-Plutonium Tokyo, Citizens’ Nuclear Information Center (CNIC), Nihon Shouhisha Renmei (Consumers Union of Japan: CUJ), Fujin Minshu Club (Women’s Democratic Club), Tanpoposya No Nuke Plaza Tokyo, and Fukushima Rohkyuu-Genpatsu wo Kangaeru-kai (Fukushima Group to Deliberate on the Decrepit Nuke Plants). It rained heavily in the morning, but it turned to a light rain at the start of the rally, and it eventually became fine summer weather at the beginning of the demonstration.
The rally was held as a part of the nationwide June-11 mobilization for denuclearization, and 6,000 people gathered at the rally. A group of 40 people came from Kohriyama city of Fukushima Pref., located about 200 kilometers north of Tokyo, by bus, and they put up their “No Nuke” banners. Veterans of the Shibakoudai Zengaku-Kyoutou (All Campus Joint Struggle Committee of Shibaura Institute of Technology, 1968-70), Nichidai Zenkyoutou (All Campus Joint Struggle Committee of Japan University, 1968-70) and Meidai Doyou-kai (Saturday Circle of Meiji University), Ushitora Brigade of a metrpolitan volunteer relief group, lots of other citizens’ groups, and the young and aged attended the rally.
Representing the ad hoc committee for the June-11 No-Nuke Tokyo rally, Yasunari Fujimoto, secretary general of the Gensuikin, gave his opening address to the rally, and the rally’s moderator reported that there were numerous no-nuke actions and events at 108 places all over Japan and in 11 foreign countries.
Then, Hideyuki Ban of the CNIC gave a speech on the current situation of the Fukushima plant, and he concluded his report, saying: “The government and business firms attempt to maintain the nuclear power generation. 37 nuke reactors are now suspended, and our pressing task is to force the currently operating reactors to suspend all together.”
Takeshi Sakagami of the Fukushima Group to Deliberate on the Decrepit Nuke Plants, which is campaining against the Ministry of Education and Technology, opposing the 20-milisievert limit of radiation exposure for children, took the rostrum. He introduced his 40 fellows members, who came from Kohriyama city together with him, to the rally, and said, “The Ministry of Education and Technology told us that it would aim at the 1 milisievert limit. But it does not take account of the problems of internal exposure or exposure outside of school premises! Professor Toshi’ichi Yamashita of Nagasaki University is propagating as an official adviser that it should be safe up to 100 milisievert! We must press for his dismissal, and we have started our petition campaign against him on the Internet web.”
85-year-old Souetsu Abe of the Onagawa Genpatsu Hantai Dohmei (Onagawa League Against the Nuclear Plant, Miyagi prefecture) took the platform, and his message was read to the rally: “Having been demobilized in 1945, I visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the disasters were terribly awful. So-called ’peaceful use of nuclear power’ is just impossible. I have opposed the LDP-government policy of nuclear power generation, and promoted the anti-nuke campaigns and activities throughout Japan. Now, confronted with the ongoing nuclear disaster of Fukushima, I am going to take the LDP, Komei and electric utilities to court.”
Atsuko Ogasawara, a plaintiff of the suit for injunction against construction of the Ohma nuclear plant (Aomori prefecture), addressed to the rally: “It was supposed that the construction works of the Ohma nuke plant was to begin in 2005. But my mother had her land in the middle of the planned construction site, and she refused to relinquish her plot. Consequently, the site was forced to make 200-meter shift, and the construction began in 2008, but fuel rods are not yet inserted at the plant. The nuke plant is planned to begin its trial operation in 2013, but we will not allow the operation.”
Then, following the respective messages from the representatives of Consumers Union of Japan, Women’s Democratic Club and Tanpoposya No Nuke Plaza Tokyo, the no-nuke parade began, and it protested to the TEPCO in front of its head office. After the parade, the participants moved to Shinjuku and merged with the Shibuya paraders and the participants of the Shinjuku Central park rally. The heated atmosphere of the Shinjuku area was somewhat reminiscent of the late-1960s massive demonstrations.
Kakehashi
OSAKA
June-11 One-Million No-Nuke Action: Osaka
Osaka, June 12 (Kakehashi) ? The rally of “Let’s gather at Nakanoshima! Raise our ’No Nuke’ banners! Second Kansai* Action” was held at the Nakanoshima Kensaki Park of Osaka on June 11, and 4,000 people participated in the rally. It rained heavily in the early morning, but it became very much fine around noon. Following the first April-16 rally, the second rally was held under the sponsorship of 10 anti-nuke organizations and groups of Osaka, Kyoto, Shiga, Wakayama and Nara prefectures, including the Stop-the-Monju, Mihama-Osaka-Takahama Genpatsu ni hantaisuru Osaka no kai (Osaka Group Against Mihama-Osaka-Takahama Nuke Plants), and Wakasa Rentai-kohdoh Network (Wakasa Solidarity Network).
“Kansai” indicates a broader area, composed of Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyohgo, Nara and Wakayama prefectures.]
Ikejima of the Stop-the-Monju, representing the ad hoc committee for the Second Kansai Action, reported that the June-11 Kanasi action had been endorsed by 114 groups and oraganization in the Kasai area, that it got fraternal messages from Fukushuma prefecture, and that it was to make its representation to the Kansai Electric Power Co. in parallel with the rally.
Tetsuhiro Nakajima of the Wakasa Solidarity Network, dressed as a Buddhist monk, took the rostrum. There are 5 nuke plants and their 14 reactors along the coast of the Wakasa Bay, Fukui prefecture, facing the Japan Sea, and located 100 kilometers north of Osaka. He addressed to the rally: “Large-scale production, massive transportation, massive consumption, and massive disposal. Consequently, the inevitable destruction of nature, and its outstanding examples are the giant nuclear power plants. Are the government and the electric power companies going to bring about the second and third nuclear disasters? The Wakasa city assembly has unanimously adopted its resolution to demand the government to pursue the policy of denuclearization. 55 percent of the whole electricity consumed in the Kansai area is generated by the Wakasa-Bay nuke plants. Let’s protect the water of Biwa Lake, the great water reservoir of the Kansai area, which is located 30 kilometers south of the bay.”
A message of the Fukushima Network for Protection of Children from the Nuke Disaster was read at the rally, and it urged a thorough evacuation of children from the radiation-affected area.
The rally’s anti-nuke and denuclearization appeal was read and endorsed by the participants.
Finally, two parliamentary members of Takashi Miyamoto (Communist Party) and Ryouich Hattori (Social Democratic Party) gave their respective messages. Then, the demonstration began, and the anti-nuke participants paraded the Midohsuji Street for 6 kilometers.
Kakehashi
Kohriyama
June-11 No-to-Nuke Kohriyama Parade
Kohriyama, Fukushima pref., June 12 (Kakehashi) – On June 11, the rally of June-11 No-to-Nuke Kohriyama Parade was held as part of the nationwide June-11 mobilization for denuclearization at the west-exit square of the Kohriyama railway station, and about 350 people participated gathered.
Setsuko Kuroda, on behalf of the ad hoc committee for the June-11 action, appealed for decommissioning of all the nuke plants all over the world. Following several one-minute speeches by the participants, Kazuyoshi Sato, the representative of the Fukushima Denuclearization Network and municipal assemblyman of Iwaki city, Fukushima pref., and Yukiko Komazaki, former municipal assemblywomen of Kohriyama city, called for campaigns to press the government and the TEPCO to account thoroughly for the nuke disaster, and actions for denuclearized society.
Then, the rally adopted its resolution, demanding the measures to protect children from radiation, and opposing the promotional campaign for nuclear energy. After singing of “We Shall Overcome”, the street parade began. It was raining during the rally, but it became fine when the demonstration started. The paraders carried no-nuke banners and placard, and they had a lively band of saxophone and Japanese drum. The no-nuke parade got favorable responses from street onlookers.
Kakehashi
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