World Conference against Atomic & Hydrogen Bombs opens in Fukushima
Aug. 2, 2013
by Jumpei Fujimura, Staff Writer
The World Conference of the Japan Congress Against A- and H-Bombs (Gensuikin) and other organizations opened on July 28 in Fukushima. The participants adopted a statement expressing resolve to stop the nation’s nuclear power plants from restarting operations and press the central government to shift its energy policy toward eliminating the use of nuclear energy. After the gathering in Fukushima, the setting of the conference will move to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, then close on August 9.
This is the third annual conference held in Fukushima since the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 (Daiichi) nuclear power plant in 2011. The conference participants called for denuclearizing the nation’s energy sources as well as eliminating nuclear weapons and supporting A-bomb survivors. According to the organizers, the number of those attending the gathering at the Fukushima Prefectural Education Hall was 1,200, up 150 from last year.
Koichi Kawano, the chairman of Gensuikin and head of the executive committee for the conference, criticized the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for seeking to restart the nuclear plants and exporting nuclear technology. “The survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are still suffering,” Mr. Kawano said. “The government must specify how the victims of the Fukushima will be compensated.”
Haruko Moritaki, co-chair of the Hiroshima-based citizens’ group Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, also delivered a speech. She called on the victims of the nuclear accident to work in cooperation with one other. She stated, “The military and commercial uses of nuclear energy are, at root, the same. Let’s return to our focus on the damage and call for a halt to the use of atomic energy in any form.”
Takashi Igarashi, the assistant secretary general of the Fukushima Prefectural Peace Forum, spoke for local residents in reporting on current conditions in the region. “In spite of the crippling damage that was inflicted, the electric power companies are pushing for safety reviews in order to bring their nuclear power stations back online,” Mr. Igarashi said. “This is outrageous.”
After the conference, the participants marched about 2 kilometers through downtown Fukushima. The gathering in Hiroshima will take place from August 4 to 6, with the World Conference scheduled for August 5.
The Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikyo) and other organizations will open its international conference on August 3 in Hiroshima.
by Jumpei Fujimura, Staff Writer
On July 28, Koichi Kawano, chairman of the Japan Congress Against A- and H-Bombs (Gensuikin) expressed a critical view of the National Council for Peace and Against Nuclear Weapons (Kakkin), which approves of the peaceful use of nuclear energy while calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons. At Gensuikin’s World Conference, held in Fukushima, Mr. Kawano stated, “We will push ahead with our efforts to eliminate nuclear energy, firmly believing in this cause.”
Mr. Kawano said a deep rift has developed between the two organizations. These two organizations and the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC) have jointly organized peace conferences in Hiroshima and Nagasaki since 2005, 60 years after the bombing. However, the conference will not be held this year. After referring to this fact, Mr. Kawano continued, “There is no good use or bad use of nuclear energy.” His remark was met with applause.
While Gensuikin calls for abandoning nuclear power, Kakkin, with trade unions of electric power companies and manufacturers among its members, supports the peaceful use of nuclear energy. These two organizations had formed a united front to advance the abolition of nuclear weapons, but their differences in policy, with regard to nuclear energy, became clear after the accident at the nuclear plant in Fukushima.
The Peace Conference will be sponsored by the JTUC and will be held in Hiroshima on August 5.
(Originally published on July 29, 2013)
The World Conference of the Japan Congress Against A- and H-Bombs (Gensuikin) and other organizations opened on July 28 in Fukushima. The participants adopted a statement expressing resolve to stop the nation’s nuclear power plants from restarting operations and press the central government to shift its energy policy toward eliminating the use of nuclear energy. After the gathering in Fukushima, the setting of the conference will move to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, then close on August 9.
This is the third annual conference held in Fukushima since the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 (Daiichi) nuclear power plant in 2011. The conference participants called for denuclearizing the nation’s energy sources as well as eliminating nuclear weapons and supporting A-bomb survivors. According to the organizers, the number of those attending the gathering at the Fukushima Prefectural Education Hall was 1,200, up 150 from last year.
Koichi Kawano, the chairman of Gensuikin and head of the executive committee for the conference, criticized the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for seeking to restart the nuclear plants and exporting nuclear technology. “The survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are still suffering,” Mr. Kawano said. “The government must specify how the victims of the Fukushima will be compensated.”
Haruko Moritaki, co-chair of the Hiroshima-based citizens’ group Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, also delivered a speech. She called on the victims of the nuclear accident to work in cooperation with one other. She stated, “The military and commercial uses of nuclear energy are, at root, the same. Let’s return to our focus on the damage and call for a halt to the use of atomic energy in any form.”
Takashi Igarashi, the assistant secretary general of the Fukushima Prefectural Peace Forum, spoke for local residents in reporting on current conditions in the region. “In spite of the crippling damage that was inflicted, the electric power companies are pushing for safety reviews in order to bring their nuclear power stations back online,” Mr. Igarashi said. “This is outrageous.”
After the conference, the participants marched about 2 kilometers through downtown Fukushima. The gathering in Hiroshima will take place from August 4 to 6, with the World Conference scheduled for August 5.
The Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikyo) and other organizations will open its international conference on August 3 in Hiroshima.
Chairman of Geisuikin: Deep rift exists between Gensuikin and Kakkin
by Jumpei Fujimura, Staff Writer
On July 28, Koichi Kawano, chairman of the Japan Congress Against A- and H-Bombs (Gensuikin) expressed a critical view of the National Council for Peace and Against Nuclear Weapons (Kakkin), which approves of the peaceful use of nuclear energy while calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons. At Gensuikin’s World Conference, held in Fukushima, Mr. Kawano stated, “We will push ahead with our efforts to eliminate nuclear energy, firmly believing in this cause.”
Mr. Kawano said a deep rift has developed between the two organizations. These two organizations and the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC) have jointly organized peace conferences in Hiroshima and Nagasaki since 2005, 60 years after the bombing. However, the conference will not be held this year. After referring to this fact, Mr. Kawano continued, “There is no good use or bad use of nuclear energy.” His remark was met with applause.
While Gensuikin calls for abandoning nuclear power, Kakkin, with trade unions of electric power companies and manufacturers among its members, supports the peaceful use of nuclear energy. These two organizations had formed a united front to advance the abolition of nuclear weapons, but their differences in policy, with regard to nuclear energy, became clear after the accident at the nuclear plant in Fukushima.
The Peace Conference will be sponsored by the JTUC and will be held in Hiroshima on August 5.
(Originally published on July 29, 2013)
