Protests as nuclear reactor is restarted

A PROTEST has taken place at the gate of a Japanese nuclear power plant as it was restarted yesterday – the first such facility to go back online since the country shut down all of its reactors for safety checks following the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
By The Newsroom
Published 2nd Jul 2012, 07:00 BST

Ohi nuclear plant’s reactor No 3 returned to operation despite a deep division in public opinion.

Last month, prime minister Yoshihiko Noda ordered the restarts of reactors No 3 and nearby No 4, saying people’s living standards could not be maintained without nuclear energy.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Many citizens are against a return to nuclear power because of safety fears following the Fukushima accident.

Crowds of tens of thousands of people have gathered on Friday evenings around Noda’s official residence, chanting, “Saikado hantai”, or “No to nuclear restarts”.

Protests drawing such numbers are extremely rare in Japan, often known for orderly conformity.

Although initially ignored by mainstream local media, demonstrations across the country have grown as word spread through social media.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

All 50 of Japan’s working reactors were gradually turned off in the wake of last year’s massive earthquake and tsunami, which sent the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant into multiple meltdowns.

But worries about a power crunch over the hot summer months have been growing. Oil imports are soaring. Officials have warned about blackouts in some regions.

Protesters like Taisuke Kohno, a 41-year-old musician among the 200 people trying to blockade the Ohi plant, are not so sure. He said protesters were facing off against riot police and planned to stay there day and night.