Japan Press Weekly

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2011 June 1 - 7 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

Joint action of pollution, N-accident victims

Pollution sufferers from throughout Japan on June 1 and 2 converged on Tokyo to take part in an annual action with the slogan, “Eliminate pollution! Protect the environment!”

Victims of the Fukushima nuclear crisis joined together in the event marking the 36th anniversary of its launching.

Participants also included patients of the water pollution-induced Minamata-disease, victims of air pollution in the metropolitan area, plaintiffs of U.S. Kadena AB noise-pollution lawsuit, and fishermen affected by the government reclamation project in Kyushu.

A total of 1,500 people took to the streets calling for the resolution of the issues concerning pollution-related damage, an overall relief to sufferers of the March 11 disaster and the resultant nuclear accident, and a drastic change in the government’s nuclear power energy policy. They also made representations to polluter companies, related-industrial organizations, and relevant agencies and ministries.

At the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan, a nuclear power promoter, they requested the industry to take proper steps to prevent radioactive contamination “as it will remain for more than 100 years from now on while Minamata-disease patients are still suffering after the official recognition of the disease 50 years ago.”

At the TEPCO headquarters, the victims were refused a meeting with TEPCO officials although they had requested it in advance. “It doesn’t make sense for TEPCO to refuse to meet the victims,” angered a former TEPCO employee who supported the plaintiffs in a Kawasaki air-pollution lawsuit against TEPCO.

A Fukushima farmer stated, “TEPCO should take responsibility for all damages caused by its nuclear power plant. We will continue to fight until the day we get our safe farmland back.”

In concluding the action, an organizing head in front of the Ministry of Environment said, “It was fruitful for us to work together with the March 11 disaster victims in this year’s action. The Minamata-disease and the Tokyo air-pollution lawsuits came to a settlement. But the pollution itself has not ended yet. Let’s further increase our movements in each community for a relief of all pollution victims!”