A message for Noda

Picture of the Day ( 15 )

A message for Noda
REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao

Anti-nuclear protesters hold a rally outside Prime Minster Yoshihiko Noda’s official residence in Tokyo on Wednesday.

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15 Comments

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  • -7

    Daijoboots

    I want, I want, me me me. You, can pay for my wants however.

  • 0

    semperfi

    It is wonderful to witness the outspoken protests around one of the most important issues of today. GO FOR IT, people!

  • 0

    zichi

    The Japanese are learning to protest and come the Nov. general election, we'll see many more.

  • 2

    taj

    Are these anti-nuclear power protesters getting disproportionate attention in the English lanaguage media?

    I ask this sincerely. And I ask this because, I've been seeing and hearing loud protests all summer. Marching peace-protestor, opposing Yasukuni. Pro-Yasukuni, right wingers (mostly in black vans, but in August, some marchers and some standing protestors, too.). Anti-Korean protestors (and earlier in the year, anti-foreign voting marchers). Anti-China Falung Gong members with hideous posters. Some random idiots from a "think tank" who oppose the current line of succession.

    And I haven't run across the anti-nuke crew at all. Do you need to go to Yoyogi Park? Or Hibiya on certain days? Is there a small but steady group in front of the PM's residence daily? Were the biggest anti nuke gatherings anything in size to compare to the recent Olympian parade in Ginza?

    Would be pleased to hear any data or information.

  • 2

    mysteriousneo

    These people only know how to design slogans and banners. The energy need of world is increasing day by day. Firstly they should understand that Japan is not rich in non-renewable energy resources like coal, petroleum, gas etc. Therefore they have to import it. And yes Japan can import them. But these resources are limited and will certainly end in future. Secondly use of these non-renewable resources cause pollution and increase the greenhouse gases, therefore is bad for environment in long term. Therefore the only options left are natural resources like hydro-energy, wind-energy, solar-energy, bio- diesel. The utilization of these natural resources is expensive and still yields is very low. Therefore the last option is the other green-energy called nuclear energy. This has the potential to fulfill the energy needs of the world and can be seen as a future prospect. I understand that incidents like Fukushima and Chernobyl are enough for people to criticize nuclear power. However these incidents are very rare and we should take a lesson from these incidents and should implement and promote the nuclear safety standards rather then doing protest or criticizing nuclear energy.

  • 1

    gaijinfo

    Creating policy based on the irrational fears of a largely scientific and economically illiterate public is never a good idea.

  • -2

    Schopenhauer

    I don't want these demonstrations will give any influence to the prime minister and the government. If these direct voices are listened, we don't need representatives in the diet.

  • -3

    Setsuna Henry

    Go, Protesters. Go for it.

  • 1

    marcelito

    Creating a policy based on false information and profits for the nuclear village at the potential expense of environment and people,s health ( both physical and mental) is never a good idea either . ..and before the pro nuclear crowd starts arguing that N reactor accidents are rare and few...fact is Fukushima happened, fact is Japan is prone to more earthquakes than almost any other country so it can happen again..fact is Fukushima accident polluted environment and caused suffering to tens of thousands of people ( not just physically but mentally also ) I have yet to come across a report of a solar / wind/ bio power plant accident with similar repercussions, therefore I know which one I,d prefer to take my chances with. One small detail finally - governments are supposed to serve the people's interests and reflect their opinions and wishes in public policy - with the current energy policy debate feedback public has shown it is overwhelmingly in favor of a N power dependency phase out- THAT should be the new energy policy. Until that happens I sincerely hope the protesters keep up the heat on the government.

  • 3

    taj

    And on the same day, that the Fukushima reactor accident happened, blazing oil refineries in Chiba produced massive plumes of toxic black smoke, a burning oil slick inundated Kesenuma, setting everything above the waterline ablaze. Yada yada. Oil and Coal are now replacing nuclear energy in Japan. It's not sustainable. It's not clean or safe.

    But something needs to fill the gap, while we pursue and develop solar fields capable of running the trains, geothermal turbines to run the factories, etc.

    (I may be biased as a person who's lost family and friends to oil exploration and has other family permanetly disabled in oil production. My family and friends also benefit heavily from high oil prices, which balances things out, if that makes a difference).

  • 2

    taj

    The "No Nukes" signs. Are they referring to both weapons and power generating reactors? (I tend to think of "nukes" as bombs. They many mean both. Or perhaps the people pictured are just being particularly environmentally friendly and re-using (rather than recycling)! A win, either way.

  • 1

    Utrack

    Re-Repost: Waste to Energy power plants instead of incinerators that wastes energy. Italy is the same way as Japan in assets are not being utilized in Italy 6.7% of waste goes to the waste to energy power plant, Denmark 65% of waste goes to the waste to energy power plant , France 42.3% of waste goes to the waste to energy power plant , Germany 40% of waste go to the waste to energy power plant , Sweden 55% of waste go to the waste to energy power plant. Japan only has 7 waste to enery power plants that may get 1% of the waste.

  • 0

    globalwatcher

    They are shouting at a wrong tree.

    Move to the Yomiuri Shimbun HQ and Korakuen Giant Stadium to protest.

    The Yomiuri Shimbun is a biggest financial contributor for Pro Nuke Energy Projects in Japan.

  • 0

    Utrack

    Oh Lord, I just checked the Industry Card for Japan's waste to energy power plants. Just to see if more have been added and YES 2 more were added. The crazy news is TEPCO is part owner of the Tokyo Waterfront Recycle Power Co. Ltd. along with Ebara Corp, ORIX, and Shimizu Corp. the other new waste to energy power plant is in Nobeoka City, Fukuoka. Good Job just 50 more waste to energy power plants would be really good and healthy for Japan.

  • 1

    globalwatcher

    Japanese are just learning how to protest in public. That's good as they are on the way to true democracy guaranteed by the Japanese Constitution (Free Assembly and Free Speech), and I want them to succeed.

    These protesters need to understand true financiers behind the government..

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