Action June 11: No Nuclear Power
Tokyo, New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Taipei, Vancouver, Melbourne
“Japanese for Peace” is holding an event in Melbourne on the 11th of June marking 3 months since the start of Japan’s latest nuclear disaster.
On the 11th of March 2011, the massive Tohoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami killed more than 20,000 people, and they were followed by the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, which has already ruined more than 200,000 people’s lives. The Fukushima disaster has global consequences far beyond Japanese borders.
On the three month anniversary of this unprecedented disaster, Japanese people are calling to the people around the world to join them in a million-strong protest, “Action June 11: No Nuclear Power”.
Date: Saturday, 11th June 2011
Time: 11 am
Venue: In front of the GPO, Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne
BYO: Banners and signs
The Fukushima disaster, the effects of which are potentially much worse than those seen after Chernobyl, has prompted protest movements throughout the world, and re-evaluation of existing energy programs in many countries. Germany, Switzerland and Taiwan have already announced an end to, or scaling back of their nuclear power plants. Japan itself has made a massive turnabout to make a major commitment to renewable energy.
Australia is the largest supplier of uranium to Japan, accounting for approximately 30% of uranium used in Japan. Today radioactive substances, much of them originating here in Australia, contaminate the air, soil and water of Japan, and the surrounding ocean.
Australia is situated at the very beginning of the nuclear fuel supply chain, and we inadvertently supported the irresponsible operation of stupidly positioned nuclear power plants that eventually led to the Fukushima disaster.
Ms Yvonne Margarula, the elder of the Mirrar people whose land is mined for uranium, wrote to the UN Secretary General to express her sadness that ‘the radiation problems at Fukushima are, at least in part, fuelled by uranium derived from our traditional lands.”
In response to these words filled with a deep sense of moral responsibility, we will raise our voices in solidarity with people around the world in their efforts to create a nuclear-free society.
For further information, contact Japanese for Peace at:
www.jfp.org.au
info@jfp.org.au
or see the ‘Action June 11: No Nuclear Power’ website
or ring Kaz – 0413 849 984
This event is organised by Japanese for Peace in conjunction with Friends of the Earth, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons and Medical Association for Prevention of Wars.
In Germany, some 250,000 people took part in anti-nuclear protests on the eve of state elections in March, prompting their government to announce the complete withdrawal from further use of nuclear power by 2022 on 31 May 2011.
In May 2011, some 20,000 people turned out for Switzerland’s largest anti-nuclear power demonstration in 25 years. Days after the anti-nuclear rally, the Swiss Cabinet decided to ban the building of new nuclear power reactors and phase out nuclear power by 2034.
