Japan shuts last reactor, protests go on.
- 12 years ago
Thousands of protesters march through Tokyo, calling on the Japanese government to permanently shutter its nuclear energy programme.
The demonstration comes as the country prepares to shut down its last active nuclear reactor.
Protesters say they don't want the programme, restarted because they are fearful of another near-catastrophic meltdown, much like the one triggered by last year's devastating tsunami and earthquake.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOSHIHIRO INOUE, 54, ORGANIZER OF PROTEST SAYING:
"We want to show our resolve here to stop all nuclear plants and not restart them."
Before last year's disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, Japan got 30 percent of its power from splitting the atom.
Over the weekend, though, workers began to shut down the country's final active reactor, located at this plant in the Hokkaido prefecture.
Most of the facilities were shuttered for maintenance, and have not been restarted in the wake of Fukushima meltdown.
Andrew Raven, Reuters
The demonstration comes as the country prepares to shut down its last active nuclear reactor.
Protesters say they don't want the programme, restarted because they are fearful of another near-catastrophic meltdown, much like the one triggered by last year's devastating tsunami and earthquake.
(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOSHIHIRO INOUE, 54, ORGANIZER OF PROTEST SAYING:
"We want to show our resolve here to stop all nuclear plants and not restart them."
Before last year's disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, Japan got 30 percent of its power from splitting the atom.
Over the weekend, though, workers began to shut down the country's final active reactor, located at this plant in the Hokkaido prefecture.
Most of the facilities were shuttered for maintenance, and have not been restarted in the wake of Fukushima meltdown.
Andrew Raven, Reuters