Antinuclear groups appeal to Japanese prime minister for indefinite postponement of spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant
Mar. 20, 2016
by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer
Prior to the Nuclear Security Summit, set to open in Washington D.C. on March 31, four citizens’ groups, including the non-profit organization known as the Citizens’ Nuclear Information Center, announced on March 28 that they sent a letter of petition to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to appeal for the indefinite postponement of the start of operations of the spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Rokkasho, Aomori Prefecture.
The letter refers to the fact that, at the previous Nuclear Security Summit in 2014, the participating nations all agreed on the goal of minimizing their stockpiles of plutonium and other nuclear materials which could be used to make nuclear weapons. The antinuclear groups have pointed out that the start of the Rokkasho plant will increase Japan’s stockpile of plutonium, which has already grown to approximately 48 tons, and have asked the government not to begin operations at the plant. A total of 183 signatures collected from researchers and A-bomb survivors from Japan and abroad were attached to the letter.
At a press conference held in the Diet on March 28, the four groups said, “The nuclear materials that Japan has amassed so far have now become a national security risk. Stopping the separation of plutonium will strengthen nuclear security.” The four groups are also planning to submit the same statement to the meeting of foreign ministers in Hiroshima next month.
(Originally published on March 29, 2016)
Prior to the Nuclear Security Summit, set to open in Washington D.C. on March 31, four citizens’ groups, including the non-profit organization known as the Citizens’ Nuclear Information Center, announced on March 28 that they sent a letter of petition to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to appeal for the indefinite postponement of the start of operations of the spent nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Rokkasho, Aomori Prefecture.
The letter refers to the fact that, at the previous Nuclear Security Summit in 2014, the participating nations all agreed on the goal of minimizing their stockpiles of plutonium and other nuclear materials which could be used to make nuclear weapons. The antinuclear groups have pointed out that the start of the Rokkasho plant will increase Japan’s stockpile of plutonium, which has already grown to approximately 48 tons, and have asked the government not to begin operations at the plant. A total of 183 signatures collected from researchers and A-bomb survivors from Japan and abroad were attached to the letter.
At a press conference held in the Diet on March 28, the four groups said, “The nuclear materials that Japan has amassed so far have now become a national security risk. Stopping the separation of plutonium will strengthen nuclear security.” The four groups are also planning to submit the same statement to the meeting of foreign ministers in Hiroshima next month.
(Originally published on March 29, 2016)
