June 3-5, 2012
The situation in Fukui Prefecture in regard to the restart of operations of Nos.3 and 4 reactors at the Oi nuclear power plant in Oi Town in the prefecture is a pressing issue.
On June 3, the day before the planned visit to Fukui by Hosono Goshi, state minister in charge of nuclear power policy, about 500 citizens gathered in a park in downtown Fukui City to exert pressure on Governor Nishikawa Issei to not give in to the minister’s demands.
Following the rally, participants marched in demonstration to the prefectural government office, chanting in chorus, “Don’t resume operations of the Oi reactors!” Japanese Communist Party candidate for the Lower House election, Kanemoto Yukie, also took part in the march.
The governor says he will decide whether or not to accept the reactivation of the Oi reactors while taking into consideration the verification results of experts and the position of the prefectural assembly and the Oi Town mayor.
On June 2, medical workers of the Fukui Democratic Medial Institutions (Min-iren, Fukui) joined in the sit-in action which has been taking place in front of the prefectural government office. JCP member of the Fukui prefectual assembly Sato Masao participated in the action holding an anti-restart banner.
Demonstrators criticized the Noda government for pushing ahead with the Oi restart of operations without having completed the Fukushima accident investigation, taking appropriate safety measures, or drawing up an emergency evacuation plan.
A former nuclear plant worker at the sit-in said, “All nuclear facilities are dangerous. I’m worried that Fukui could become another Fukushima. Reactivation of the Oi reactors will give momentum to the restart of other nuclear plants. I don’t want to allow that to happen.”
Citizens at the sit-in say the action will continue even after the minister goes back to Tokyo.
* * *
On the evening of June 4 at the prefectural government office, nuclear disaster minister Hosono met with Governor Nishikawa to seek his approval for the Oi restart. The governor gave the minister a positive response and said he will carry forward with procedures to gain local municipalities’ consent.
After discussing the issue with the governor, Hosono told reporters that he was able to explain the government’s policy and that he will wait for the prefecture’s decision.
On June 3, the day before the planned visit to Fukui by Hosono Goshi, state minister in charge of nuclear power policy, about 500 citizens gathered in a park in downtown Fukui City to exert pressure on Governor Nishikawa Issei to not give in to the minister’s demands.
Following the rally, participants marched in demonstration to the prefectural government office, chanting in chorus, “Don’t resume operations of the Oi reactors!” Japanese Communist Party candidate for the Lower House election, Kanemoto Yukie, also took part in the march.
The governor says he will decide whether or not to accept the reactivation of the Oi reactors while taking into consideration the verification results of experts and the position of the prefectural assembly and the Oi Town mayor.
On June 2, medical workers of the Fukui Democratic Medial Institutions (Min-iren, Fukui) joined in the sit-in action which has been taking place in front of the prefectural government office. JCP member of the Fukui prefectual assembly Sato Masao participated in the action holding an anti-restart banner.
Demonstrators criticized the Noda government for pushing ahead with the Oi restart of operations without having completed the Fukushima accident investigation, taking appropriate safety measures, or drawing up an emergency evacuation plan.
A former nuclear plant worker at the sit-in said, “All nuclear facilities are dangerous. I’m worried that Fukui could become another Fukushima. Reactivation of the Oi reactors will give momentum to the restart of other nuclear plants. I don’t want to allow that to happen.”
Citizens at the sit-in say the action will continue even after the minister goes back to Tokyo.
* * *
On the evening of June 4 at the prefectural government office, nuclear disaster minister Hosono met with Governor Nishikawa to seek his approval for the Oi restart. The governor gave the minister a positive response and said he will carry forward with procedures to gain local municipalities’ consent.
After discussing the issue with the governor, Hosono told reporters that he was able to explain the government’s policy and that he will wait for the prefecture’s decision.
