Thousands protest against nuclear power in Japan

TOKYO, Sept 19 Tens of thousands of demonstrators rallied
in Tokyo on Monday calling for an end to nuclear energy in Japan after
the March 11 disaster that sparked the worst atomic crisis since Chernobyl.
About 60,000 people gathered for the anti-nuclear rally,
organisers said, one of the biggest since the earthquake and tsunami and the
following disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant.

"No more nuclear power plants! No more Fukushimas!" the
demonstrators chanted under scorching sunshine as they flocked to Meiji Park, in
the centre of the capital, ahead of the march.
The demonstration, organised by several anti-nuclear
groups, also saw residents evacuated from areas outside the Fukushima Daiichi plant
some 220 kilometres (136 miles) northeast of Tokyo take part.
Japan's new Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has pledged to
draw up a new energy policy focusing on renewable energy sources but stopped short
of ruling out the future use of nuclear power following the Fukushima
disaster.
Japan had previously aimed to use nuclear power to generate
around 50 percent of its energy needs by 2030 in a bid to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and enhance the energy independence of the resource-poor
archipelago.
But sentiment has shifted since the quake and tsunami
crippled the plant's cooling systems, sparking reactor meltdowns that spewed radiation
into the environment forcing tens of thousands to evacuate from a 20
kilometre radius.
Radiation fears have become part of daily life after cases
of contaminated water, beef, vegetables, tea and seafood due to the Fukushima
accident. The government has been at pains to stress the lack of an "immediate"
health risk.
Reactors that were halted for routine inspections have not
been restarted amid a public backlash against nuclear power, and currently only 11
of Japan's 54 reactors are online.
---AFP