Remember Fukushima – No to Nuclear Power Mon 10th, Tue 11th & Sat 15th March 2014

Japanese and British citizens join together in London
to mark 3rd anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster

Japanese and UK citizens groups are jointly hosting a series of events in London to mark the third anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster during a week when many similar events are taking place throughout the world. See below for the events details.

Fukushima is an ongoing catastrophe. On 11th March 2011, a massive earthquake triggered the triple melt-down of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors. 160,000 people were forced to leave their homes. Many are still living in temporary accommodation with little compensation or support. They face a terrible choice between returning to their heavily contaminated homes and villages or abandoning them in order to stay away from contamination. Radiation has entered the biosphere, which directly affects the food chain. A high incidence rate of thyroid cancer has been identified in Fukushima children.

The stricken reactors continue to pour 400 tons a day of highly radioactive water into the Pacific, with no end in sight. Many parts of the reactor buildings are impossible for humans to enter, due to lethal doses of radioactivity. Already weakened, they are in danger of collapse in any further earthquake. This could cause the spent fuels pool to drain and the fuel rods to catch fire. In the worst case scenario, this would lead to the evacuation of half of Japan.

The vast majority of people in Japan now want nuclear power to be abolished. Despite the strength of anti-nuclear sentiment and the high risk of a further apocalypse, the Japanese government is planning to revive nuclear industry, by restarting several nuclear reactors in Japan and exporting nuclear technology to many countries including the UK.

Remember Fukushima! No to nuclear power! The events will send a clear message to governments and people throughout the world that our future must be sustainable.

Further information on the current state of the Fukushima Daiichi can be found here: ENE NEWS or Simply Info

Events details

Public Meeting
7-9pm, Monday 10th March
Committee Room 10, House of Commons
What lessons should we learn from Fukushima?
Expert speakers: Dr Paul Dorfman, Dr David Lowry, Dr Chantal Galhinger.
Citizen speakers: Rik (Kick Nuclear), Geoff Read (Strong Children Japan), nuclear evacuee.
There will be Q&A to and discussion after the speeches.

Candle-lit Vigil
6-8pm, Tuesday 11th March (3rd Fukushima anniversary)
Outside Japanese Embassy, 101 Piccadilly, near Green Park tube station
We will be thinking of people, families and communities affected by the triple disaster.
Programme includes: Fukushima evacuee’s experience, 2 minutes silence, speeches on effects of Fukushima on people and society, songs, Buddhist chanting and open-microphone.

March to the Parliament & Rally
12:30pm, Saturday 15th March Hyde Park Corner to Parliament
Meet: 12:30pm by Hyde Park Corner tube station, near the “Hyde Park” exit for 1pm start. March via Japanese Embassy and offices of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO – the operator of Fukushima Daiichi), Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square to Parliament.
Rally: 3:00–4:30pm at Old Palace Yard, opposite House of Lords.
Speakers include: fashion designer Katharine Hamnett, Samarendra Das from India’s anti-nuclear power campaign, Fukushima evacuees, campaigners from South West Against Nuclear, Nuclear Free Lakeland & Green Party, letter to Japanese government.
Programme also includes: music, singing, a human chain, a die-in and a minute silence, and open microphone.

Events are jointly organised by
Himawari JAN UK
Kick Nuclear
CND

For further information
In English, contact David Polden (London Region CND) on 0207-607 2302 or david.lrcnd@cnduk.org
In Japanese, contact through website

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