Japan

16,000 Demonstrators Rally Against Restarting Japan Nuke Plant

September 24, 2014 France24, www.france24.com Resist! Anti-Nuclear, Energy, Environment, Japan, Protest

Some 16,000 people rallied Tuesday in the Japanese capital against the government's plan to restart nuclear reactors, more than three years after the Fukushima disaster, Jiji Press said. It was one of the largest anti-nuclear demonstrations since the nuclear watchdog on September 10 approved plans to restart two reactors at the Sendai plant in southern Japan. "Three and a half years has passed since the nuclear accident, but self-examination has yet to be made," Nobel literature laureate Kenzaburo Oe told the Tokyo rally, according to public broadcaster NHK. "(The government) is going ahead with the plan to resume operation at the Sendai plant without compiling sufficient anti-disaster plans," Oe said. After the rally demonstrators marched through the capital, carrying banners reading: "We don't need nuclear plants".

Fukushima Crisis Continues, Was Worse Than First Reported

September 3, 2014 William Boardman, www.readersupportednews.org Educate! Fukushima, Japan, Nuclear Waste

obody in the world knows how to dispose of radioactive waste safely and permanently. That's a given. The Japanese central government is presumably aware that anything it does with still the unmeasured but vast amount of radioactive waste from Fukushima's six nuclear power generators will be temporary. Leaving it in place is not an option. So Tokyo announced on August 29 that the Fukushima waste would be stored for 30 years in Fukushima prefect, in an "interim facility" to be built probably in nearby Okuma or Futaba (now evacuated). "We've screened and confirmed safety and regional promotion measures as offered by the state," Fukushima prefect governor Yuhei Sato said when announcing the decision. The temporary plan was proposed by the environment minister in late 2013, an offer few thought the Fukushima officials could refuse. The negotiated terms of the plan include a government lease of about 4,000 acres (16 square km) from some 2,000 landowners around the Fukushima site. No leases have yet been signed. The terms also include government subsidies to the prefect of $2.9 billion (301 billion yen) over thirty years, as well as a personal visit with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo for Governor Yuhei.

US Practicing For Military Conflicts With China, WW II Like Invasion?

August 1, 2014 Conn Hallinan, www.original.antiwar.com Educate! China, Foreign Policy, Japan, US, Wars and Militarism

The past six months have seen an incredible ratcheting up of tensions in the East and South China Seas, where the world’s three largest economies – China, the United States, and Japan – are caught up in an increasingly tangled web of territorial disputes, competing alliances, and historical grievances. In February, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry assured Japan that the Americans would defend Japan in case of a military confrontation between Tokyo and Beijing. That same month, U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert said the Philippines could count on American support if there were a clash with China in the South China Sea. In early May, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces practiced “retaking” islands of the Amami Group near Okinawa in a not-so-subtle challenge to China over the ownership of the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. That same week, U.S. and Philippine forces held joint war games, while President Barack Obama promised “ironclad” support against “aggressive” neighbors interested in “changing the status quo” in Asia. Since then, the competing claims have only escalated. In mid-May, China challenged Japanese ownership of Okinawa, stating it did “not belong to Japan,” challenging Tokyo and indirectly calling into question the presence of huge U.S. bases on the island.

Civil Rights Champion Yuri Kochiyama Dies

June 7, 2014 Portside, www.portside.org Educate! Activism, Civil Rights, History, Japan, Socialism

Japanese-American activist and Malcolm X Ally, Yuri Kochiyama, has died at the age of 93. She spent two years in an internment camp and helped win reparations for Japanese-Americans. She was with Malcolm X when he was assassinated. She inspired generations. Tributes from 18 Million Rising and the Asian American Studies Center at UCLA; links to some of her writings and interviews. In the wake of her passing, 18MR is honoring Yuri by gathering stories about the ways she impacted individuals, our communities, and the movement. Tell us how you will remember her. BOLD I'll always remember Yuri as a compelling, inspiring leader who urged me to be my best radical self. I was a just a young, angry 20-year old student activist when I first met her - and I thought I knew everything there was to know about racism and injustice. Yuri listened to me at a time when I felt no one else would. Instead of lecturing me about my youthful foolhardiness, she affirmed my experience and agitated me to think bigger, be braver, and act more boldly. Nearly two decades years later, Yuri Kochiyama's words still guide me.

News Flash: Fukushima Is Still A Disaster

June 5, 2014 Harvey Wasserman, www.truthdig.com Educate! Fukushima, Japan, Nuclear Energy, Radiation

The corporate media silence on Fukushima has been deafening even though the melted-down nuclear power plant’s seaborne radiation is now washing up on American beaches. Ever more radioactive water continues to pour into the Pacific. At least three extremely volatile fuel assemblies are stuck high in the air at Unit 4. Three years after the March 11, 2011, disaster, nobody knows exactly where the melted cores from Units 1, 2 and 3 might be. Amid a dicey cleanup infiltrated by organized crime, still more massive radiation releases are a real possibility at any time. Radioactive groundwater washing through the complex is enough of a problem that Fukushima Daiichi owner Tepco has just won approval for a highly controversial ice wall to be constructed around the crippled reactor site. No wall of this scale and type has ever been built, and this one might not be ready for two years. Widespread skepticism has erupted surrounding its potential impact on the stability of the site and on the huge amounts of energy necessary to sustain it. Critics also doubt it would effectively guard the site from flooding and worry it could cause even more damage should power fail.

U.S. Drone Missions In Japan To Monitor Chinese, N. Korean Activities

May 12, 2014 Tsuyoshi Takasawa and Katsufumi Mano , www.the-japan-news.com Educate! China, Drones, Japan, North Korea

Full-scale large military drone operations will start shortly in Japan and its nearby airspace to monitor Chinese military activities and North Korea’s nuclear and missile development. The U.S. Air Force plans to deploy two Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles to its Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture late this month and the Air Self-Defense Force plans to procure three UAVs of the same type in fiscal 2015 and later. However, experts warn that regulations on their flights must be put in place because Japan’s current aviation laws lack clear stipulations on large drones. A Global Hawk is a 40-meter-wide, 14.5-meter-long unmanned plane manufactured by Northrop Grumman, a U.S. aerospace and defense company. The drone has been deployed by the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the units to be deployed to Misawa Air Base will be operated from the ground in Misawa until it reaches a certain height after takeoff. The drone will then be controlled via satellite by Beale Air Force Base staff in California, according to sources. The unarmed UAV will fly at an altitude of 60,000 feet or 18,000 meters for up to 30 hours, and will survey military facilities on the ground and vessels in open waters with sophisticated sensors and radar.

Japan Ordered To Stop Hunting Whales

April 1, 2014 Lark Turner, www.bustle.com Resist! Animal Rights, Japan, Ocean

Japan’s secretive practice of hunting whales near Antarctica has to stop, the UN ordered today. For decades, Japanese whaling ships have set out in pursuit of hundreds of whales to sell for their blubber and meat. The practice has become so controversial that recently they’ve been leaving in the dead of night. Worse, the whalers are heavily funded and protected by the Japanese government, and many suspect the Japanese Coast Guard protects the ships. Remember the controversial show Whale Wars, which followed the conservationist pirates aboard the Sea Shepherd? Yeah — those are the whalers those guys were chasing. Australia brought the case against Japan to the International Court of Justice, the United Nations’ highest court. The justices decided, by a vote of 12-4, that Japan could not legally hunt and kill minke whales or issue permits to hunt and kill humpback and Fin whales.

US Moves Japanese Military Base Rather Than Close It

December 29, 2013 Jacob Chamberlain, www.commondreams.org Resist! Japan, Wars and Militarism

The U.S. military base in Okinawa, which has been surrounded in scandal in its decades of existence, will finally be closed after years of mass protest, officials announced Friday. However, instead of ridding the small island of the U.S. military's presence, the base will be replaced by a different location on the east coast of the island in the city of Nago to the ire of thousands of Okinawa residents who took to the streets Friday in protest. Following the announcement, thousands of protesters surrounded local government offices, holding signs reading: "Never bend." According to a government spokeswomen, roughly 1,000 protesters stormed the lobby of the building and staged a sit-in. “Okinawa residents cannot tolerate the base relocation within the prefecture,” said protester Akira Oshiro, 53. Hiroshi Ashitomi, a 67-year-old anti-base activist said: “As an Okinawa resident, I am ashamed of choosing such a governor," referring to Nakaima who has until now criticized the presence of the U.S. military on the island. "He should step down.”

Japan’s Abe Visits Shrine Of War Criminals, Seeds Fury

December 28, 2013 Pu Zhjendong, Cai Hong and Zhang Yuwei, www.usa.chinadaily.com.cn Resist! China, Japan, South Korea, Wars and Militarism

Outrage from Asian neighbors and world powers continued to grow on Friday over Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to a controversial shrine. Observers described the visit to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, made on Thursday, as a dangerous attempt to redefine Japan's militaristic wartime history. The shrine honors 14 of Japan's World War II Class A war criminals among the country's war dead. Abe's decision prompted the United States to reconsider its level of support for its Asian ally, while Russia and the European Union also voiced concerns. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying reiterated Beijing's indignation, attacking Japan's justification for the visit as "feeble and futile" and urging it to take responsibility in maintaining regional stability. "What we have seen in the past year from Abe's words and conduct is only hypocrisy, arrogance and self-contradiction, as he tried to deny World War II aggression, a military build-up and a challenge to the post-war world order," Hua said.

Peace Movement Should Focus On China

December 26, 2013 Nile Bowie, www.rt.com Educate! China, Japan, Myanmar, The Philippines, TPP, Vietnam, Wars and Militarism

Whether the US Agenda is War on an Arms Race, the US Peace Movement Should be Concerned. While the Middle East teeters on the brink of another prolonged conflict that would engender some form of US involvement, the Obama’s administration’s shift away from the region and toward East Asia is easier said than done. Though the “Pivot to Asia” policy of the Obama administration may not be stealing all the headlines, US military presence around the South China Sea and the Straits of Malacca is quietly building up, giving rise to increased American muscle in Southeast Asia. Obama announced the pivot policy during a visit to Australia in 2011, declaring a fully equipped 2,500-strong Marine task force operating from Darwin by 2016. The pivot to Asia is anything but an empty catchphrase, as the US Air Force is beginning to bolster its presence in bases in Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines, with plans to move 60 percent of US warships to the region by 2020. It’s no secret that these developments are the Pentagon’s response to China’s ever-increasing military and economic clout, and Uncle Sam is boldly sending the message that he’s coming to town. Washington’s objective is to build a Cold War-style security ring around China by deepening military partnerships with American allies in Southeast Asia, while broadening its capacity to police vital trade and energy chokepoints.

Biden’s Japan Visit Protested By Thousands Opposing TPP

December 4, 2013 Staff, www.dailyeconomic.com Resist! Japan, TPP

Washington has spearheaded negotiations, describing the TPP as creating “gold standards” for the 21st century economy by taking into account fast-changing sectors such as intellectual property. But there is significant resistance in some participating countries, and outside observers are sceptical that such a diverse field can reach accord before the New Year. Opposition is fierce in Japan, where cossetted industries such as agriculture and auto-making fear they have much to lose if steep barriers to participation are lowered. Around 3,000 demonstrators, mostly farmers, rallied at a Tokyo park against the pact, which they say would deal a terminal blow to Japan’s largely geriatric farming community. Participants wearing hairbands with the slogan: “Take a firm stand on TPP,” marched through streets near the prime minister’s office, where Biden and Abe were to hold talks.

U.S. Looking For Trouble In China

November 28, 2013 Bruce Gagnon, www.space4peace.blogspot.com Educate! China, Japan, Wars and Militarism

The US likes to pick fights. That is what bullies do. In early 2001 George W. Bush sent a lumbering propeller driven US Air Force spy plane bumping up along China's coastline. China scrambled two jets and brought the US plane down onto Hainan Island. The Chinese held the crew for a while and then sent them home. China took the spy plane apart and kept the interesting technology. Eventually they packed the plane parts into crates and shipped it back to the US. Sometime later Lockheed Martin (who built the US spy plane) built a military reconnaissance system for China on Hainan Island so they could keep a better eye on their coastline. Talk about making money off both sides of the street. No Obama is getting into the act as well. Imagine just for a moment if China, or any other country, began moving 60% of their military forces within shooting range of the US Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Imagine if that same country was establishing military bases in Mexico or Canada. The US government would be freaking out. Then further imagine that same country flying spy plane and bombers up along our coast. The Pentagon would be screaming "provocation" like a junkyard dog. But when the US does it we are just defending "freedom of movement in international airspace or waterways". No need to worry at all.

Fukushima Protester Jailed For 21 Days Speaks Out

November 18, 2013 MsMilkytheclown1, www.youtube.com Resist! Energy, Fukushima, Japan, Nuclear Energy, Video

Prof. Masaki Shimoji was Jailed for 21 days because he was speaking out against the way the Japanese government is handling the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster - burning debris, hiding test results, etc. He speaks out at a town hall in Berkeley, CA. "We are alarmed at the lack of testing currently in place to meet the present-and-growing threat of Cesium 134 and 137 contamination in our food supply. The time is past-due for a comprehensive response to radiation present in our food supply from the Fukushima disaster. " Alexis Lynn Baden-Mayer, Political Director, Organic Consumers Association. Now revealed there's 80 damaged spent fuel assemblies leaking radioactive materials in Fukushima storage pools — Kyodo: Removal attempt at Unit 4 starts later today — Japan nuclear official 'nervous', as one slip could result in monumental chain reaction (AUDIO) CBS News: 'Immense mystery' as sea stars being wiped out along West Coast, could be gone for generations — Bewildering disease is spreading and "no idea what's causing it, or how to stop it" — Timelapse shows all legs lost in 7 hours (VIDEOS) 'Anonymous' protests at California TV station over lack of Fukushima coverage — Show Host: I wonder if media paid not to report on it — Senior Scientist: Phony stories made up by National Propaganda Radio (NPR) Yale: Chief Arvol Looking Horse at U.N. to speak about Fukushima crisis and threat to future of humanity — 2001 Quote: "Contamination of our food and land now affecting way we think... disease of the mind has set in World Leaders... faced with chaos, disasters, diseases... end of life as we know it"?

Fukushima Update: TEPCO & Japan Begin To Face Reality

November 16, 2013 Staff, www.PopularResistance.org Resist! Environment, Fukushima, Japan, Nuclear Energy

The Japanese corporation TEPCO is finally beginning to face reality. Removing the fuel rods from Fukushima will be a difficult and dangerous task. They had been saying -- no problem, routine, we've done this a thousand times before. Thankfully, they looked one more time and saw what we have been reporting -- this is a unique challenge, never been done before. The fuel rods are damaged and will be very dangerous to remove. They have to be removed because of the tremendous risk from an earthquake or tsunami. In the last month Fukushima has barely avoided catastrophe from both earthquakes, tsuanmi and a tidal wave. This is a very risky situation no matter what direction TEPCO goes. We are urging people to push to remove TEPCO and replace them with an international group of expert engineers, overseen by civilian experts and a transparent process. Join that effort here.

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