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| Releasing balloons from near NPS |
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Location of Nuclear Power Stations in Fukui
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The
Sayonara Genpatsu Fukui Network was established in July 2011, four
months after the occurrence of the Fukushima nuclear accident that
followed the March 11 earthquake.
This network was formed rather spontaneously — it originated from
informal gatherings of citizens who had witnessed the tremendous
nuclear accident and resolved to stop using nuclear power. In Fukui
Prefecture, where we live, there are 15 nuclear reactors (one of which
is being decommissioned), and the accident in Fukushima was not someone
else’s problem, but ours.
Fukui Prefecture is located near the middle of the Japanese Sea
coastline of Japan’s main island. The prefecture has a chain of
mountains which divides the prefecture into the northern Reihoku region
and southern Reinan region. In the Reihoku region, rice paddies spread
out across the plain and this is where Fukui City, the prefectural
capital, is located. The Reinan region is a narrow extension of land,
which has a long ria coastline (Wakasa Bay). The prefecture has a
population of about 800,000, of which 650,000 lives in Reihoku and
150,000 in Reinan. The narrow strip of land on the Reinan coastline is
home to the 15 nuclear reactors, and thus the area is called the "
Nuclear Ginza"
(named after Japan’s busiest shopping district). The area is also home
to the fast breeder reactor Monju, which uses liquid metal sodium as
coolant and plutonium as fuel, and is more dangerous than commercial
light water reactors.
The first reactor in Reinan started up in 1970, and people in the
region have cohabitated with nuclear reactors for more than 40 years.
An antinuclear movement appeared in the meantime, but many people today
are dependent on reactor-related work to earn a living, and it is
difficult to speak out against nuclear power. In Reihoku, in contrast,
people are unfamiliar with nuclear reactors, reactor operators’
leaflets promoting the safety of nuclear power are distributed to every
household regularly, and money from reactor operators is lavishly used
to organize various events, which suppresses opinions against nuclear
power.
The Fukushima nuclear accident occurred under such circumstances, and
we thought we should review the use of nuclear power. Our network was
organized on the initiative of Reihoku citizens sharing the same
thoughts. Most of our members have not been involved in the antinuclear
movement in the past. In September 2011, shortly after the
establishment of the network in the July following the Fukushima
accident, we organized a lecture about low-dose exposure. Starting from
this event, we have organized various events and actions, including
lectures, reactor restart protest gatherings and rallies, the
submission of statements and open questions to the prefectural
government, film screenings, questionnaire surveys to prefectual and
city assembly members to sample their ideas about stopping nuclear
power, discussions with assembly members, an antinuclear-power panel
exhibition, and the releasing of balloons from near nuclear power
station sites.
In solidarity with the Tokyo Friday action in front of the Prime
Minister office, we are organizing a gathering and rally to express our
objection to the possible restart of reactors every Friday evening in
front of the Fukui Prefectural Government Office. As of the end of
October 2014, we had organized the Friday gatherings 118 times. In
October, we organized a panel exhibition and lecture event, entitled
“Nuclear Accident and Evacuation — Learning from Fukushima.”
The Sayonara Genpatsu Fukui Network has organized actions beyond the
boundaries of Fukui Prefecture. To change Japan’s nuclear policy, we
believe that actions coordinated across the nation are essential, in
addition to local actions.
==
In May 2014, the Fukui District Court pronounced the Judgment on Claim
for Injunction on Operation of No. 3 and No. 4 Units at Ohi Nuclear
Power Plant, which stated that the power company must not operate the
reactors. The judgment not only cheered us up, but also gave hope and
courage to people who believe that all nuclear reactors should no
longer be used. The impressive outline of the judgment has been
translated into other languages (English, Chinese, Korean, Turkish, and
Vietnamese).
“Outline of Judgment on Claim for Injunction on Operation of No. 3 and
No. 4 Units at Ohi Nuclear Power Plant” (translated by Greenpeace)
http://adieunpp.com/download&lnk/ooi-urteil-engl-may212014.pdf
