Japan Press Weekly

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2011 June 8 - 14 [ENVIRONMENT]

Peace activists protest against unloading of radioactive waste from GW

Peace organizations on June 8 carried out a protest action against a transfer of low-level radioactive wastes from the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George Washington in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture.

A bilateral agreement on U.S. nuclear powered warships’ entry into Japanese ports known as the aide-memoir of 1964 states that no radioactively-contaminated materials will be discharged from nuclear powered warships in ports other than in the United States.

However, in violation of the agreement, the U.S. forces have taken out radioactive wastes produced by the regular maintenance and repair work on the George Washington for three consecutive years.

The nuclear-powered vessel received its regular maintenance from January to May at its homeport, the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base. Resultant nuclear wastes were shipped to the United States for disposal by a freighter that the U.S. Navy chartered.

Displaying a graphic illustration of the GW’s nuclear reactor, participants of the protest action in front of the Yokosuka-Chuo train station distributed to passersby leaflets warning about the dangers of the George Washington.

A woman who received the leaflet said, “I’m terrified enough by the presence of the GW. It’s unacceptable that the U.S. forces introduce into Japan radioactive wastes from the ship.”

Representatives of peace groups submitted to the Yokosuka base commander a statement protesting against the unloading of radioactive wastes. They also petitioned the Yokosuka City mayor to oppose to the entry of U.S. nuclear-powered warships into its port and to protest against the shipment of radioactive wastes.