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| December 20, 2011 |
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| Nuclear Power Generation, No! - 10 Million Signature Campaign |
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A campaign to collect 10 million signatures against nuclear power generation will end on February 25 next year. A two-month period is left before the deadline. A success depends on our efforts to be made during the rest of period. The campaign calls for people to agree to suspension of operation at all the 54 nuclear sites across the country, which means to question keenly the very basis of nuclear energy industry. Simultaneously our efforts work decisively whether anti-nuclear movements will go successfully or not.
LET'S LEAD 10 MILLION SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN TO SHUTTING DOWN ALL 54 REACTORS
Let's Continue Campaign!
The Sayonara Gempatsu (=Good-bye, nuclear power generation) 10 Million Signatures campaign was unleashed June 15, 2010, when a press conference was held in which three well-known commentator, journalist and writer participated: Mr. Uchihashi Katsuto, Mr. Kamata Satoshi and Ms Sawachi Hisae.
After seeing the disastrous consequences at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant of Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), nine people in total, including the three, proposed a signature collection campaign to listen to people's voices and called for a rally in Tokyo.
The mass rally was held at the Meiji Park, Tokyo, September 19, attracting over 60 thousand participants, a bigger number than expected. Citizens joined the event with favorite banners and made powerful objections. The program was rich in content and the park was overcrowded with participants.
After the September rally, smaller events and lecture meetings are held at various places in the country. In the Kasumigaseki area of the capital where many ministry buildings are concentrated, protest actions are waged. Around the building of the Ministry of Economy, Industry and International Trade civic groups staged a human chain demonstration. They keep waging a protest sit-in, putting tents at the entrance.
Dialogue and Human Relations
Participating in protest rallies and actions on the street, we have to attain the target of 10 million signatures. The deadline is set on February 25 and a mass rally is scheduled on March 24 to mark accomplishment of collection.
The New Socialist Party responded to the civic groups' calls for anti-nuclear campaign. We have launched actions since July when the national congress was held. Collected signatures have been sent to the party's headquarters office.
Methods vary from one region to another. Signatures are collected at the railway stations and on the street. Party members visit at private homes asking for cooperation. Many kinds of efforts are made. One member has set a target of 1500 signatures personally and he is reaching the goal.
Dialogues are produced. The more actively we work, the more gains we have. We have newcomers for mass movements.
The collection of individual's signature is not limited to an expression of will against nuclear power generation. It produces dialogues to build up human relations. Political parties which support the constitution and civic groups work together, sharing a common stance against nuclear power development. They jointly hold rallies and organize exchange programs.
Next Task to Achieve
At the beginning of the campaign many people rushed to sign their names, but these days the rhythm is slower. As time passes since March 11, the 'nuclear village' responds with stronger rollback actions.
The Noda government, which succeeds the Kan administration which proclaimed an anti-nuclear stance, has approved agreements for nuclear development cooperation with four nations during the last extraordinary session of Diet. It enhances export of nuclear business. At the same time the government uses mass media intentionally for manipulation: saying that it seeks a way to break through dependence on nuclear power, it diffuses a concept of the best mixture of electric power generation which contains nuclear energy.
Collecting 10 million signatures, if it completes successfully, will lead to activating other mass movements. That will bring a chance for people's struggles.
Let's make efforts to fulfill the target of 10 million signatures. Let's meet people on the year-end and New Year holidays and talk with them.
The NSP has published a booklet 'Politics and Economy for Anti-Nuclear Power Generation'. Let's use it as a reference to attain the goal.
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