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Former Japanese Prime Ministers forget their differences – join in opposing nuclear power

Two former Japanese prime ministers take anti-nuclear stance to stage at rock festival http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-30/two-former-japanese-prime-ministers-take-anti-nuclear-stance-to/5777958  30 Sep 2014,

“We must create a country where nuclear power generation is zero. Let’s develop our country without nuclear power,” shouted charismatic former leader Junichiro Koizumi from the festival stage, hosted by renowned musician Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Mr Koizumi told reporters that an “unexpected event could happen anytime” at nuclear power plants in Japan, touching on the recent volcanic eruption of Mt Ontake in central Japan which occurred without warning and killed dozens of climbers.

In Japan, earthquakes, tsunami and volcanic eruptions could occur in various locations. It’s a country not allowed to have nuclear power plants,” he said.

Morihiro Hosokawa, another former prime minister, said he felt hope in his anti-nuclear campaigning as he saw the eyes of youths at the festival “twinkling”.

The prime minister at the time of the 2011 earthquake and Fukushima meltdown, Naoto Kan, also attended an anti-nuclear protest on Sunday, rallying against the imminent restart of two reactors at the Sendai nuclear plant.

Mr Kan became an anti-nuclear activist upon stepping down as prime minister in September 2011.

The government of Shinzo Abe is pushing for the resumption of reactors that clear new safety requirements introduced in the wake of the Fukushima accident.

October 1, 2014 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, opposition to nuclear