nuclear-news

Protestors denounce Japan’s nuclear watchdog agency

Japan Protesters Block Meeting on Restarting Nuclear Plants WSJ By MITSURU OBE, 18 Jan TOKYO—Protesters denouncing Japan’s nuclear watchdog agency as having a pro-nuclear bias, held up the initial approval of stress-test results for two idled reactors, as police were called in to break up the demonstration.

More than a dozen demonstrators, carrying anti-nuclear signs and shouting, “Shame on you,” disrupted what was to be a closed meeting of government agency representatives, nuclear experts and energy officials gathered to review test results. The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency was set to give its preliminary approval for the restart of the two plants ahead of the arrival next week of a mission from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The protesters called the meeting a sham, and said the majority of the panel members are known to have pro-nuclear views and are merely giving a rubber stamp to reactors.

More than 100 uniformed and plainclothes police officers were called in to end the action. The panel members were escorted out of the meeting room and resumed the session in a different ministry building, where they approved bringing the two plants back online.

The vote represents the first step in a process for restarting plants, which also must get the approval of other nuclear agencies, the Japanese cabinet and local communities……

January 19, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, opposition to nuclear