Japan Press Weekly

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2012 January 18 - 24 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

Over 110,000 signatures for decommissioning of Hamaoka NPP submitted

A wide range of citizen groups in Shizuoka Prefecture, including peace groups, trade unions, and other democratic organizations, on January 23 submitted to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) 115,226 signatures calling for the permanent shutdown and decommissioning of the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) located in Omaezaki City in the prefecture.

Forty-seven people from 13 groups presented the signatures to ministry officials through Japanese Communist Party Dietmembers Sasaki Kensho (LH) and Inoue Satoshi (UH).

The groups started collecting the signatures last May just after the operation of the Hamaoka NPP was suspended.

Since May of last year, citizen groups in support of petitions calling for the decommissioning of the NPP were set up in cities around the prefecture, including in Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, Kosai and Iwata.

Twenty-seven out of the total of 35 municipalities in Shizuoka adopted resolutions calling for closure or suspension of operations of the NPP or ensuring the safety of the facility.