September 29, 2012
Statement of Solidarity
With the people of Koodankulam in their historic struggle


From far away Japan, we wish to express our heartfelt respect for the struggle to stop operation of the Koodankulam nuclear power plant, which you have been carrying on for these years under unimaginable difficulties. And we feel anger in our hearts that the Indian government has responded to your just struggle by covering up information, ignoring the voices of the people, and finally intervening with violence.

We in Japan, who even though we experienced the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki allowed 54 nuclear power plants to be built in our small country, are now faced with the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident and must ask ourselves why we didn’t stop this from happening before it was too late.

The full truth about the Fukushima power plant accident is even now not clarified. And it will take several decades at least for the accident to be brought under control. Every day some 3,000 workers are exposed to high levels of radiation as they work to try to prevent a further catastrophe at the Fukushima plant. In the areas in Fukushima and elsewhere that have been contaminated with radiation, there is not only endless contamination, but one complicated problem after another arises, and it is the people who suffer from the disputes over them that solve nothing. There is no doubt however about the fact that children and young people have been exposed to nuclear radiation, and that a natural environment that can be faced without considering radiation exposure no longer exists.

Right now the Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant continues to emit radioactive material. We are truly sorry that that is having an irrevocable effect, not only on Japan, but on the people and environment of the whole world.

The struggle of the people of Koodankulam has given us strength. You have taught us that it is important for each person who becomes aware to stand up, join up with others, speak out with courage, and put one’s body on the line to stop the violence.

On September 25th, three Japanese delegates who visited India in solidarity with people in Koodankulam, were refused permission to land in India at Chennai airport. It seems that the Indian government as well as Japanese government is afraid that individuals who take positions that support life and seek nuclear free world meet each other and strengthen their solidarity beyond the border.
We live in different places, have different languages and face different problems, but we share the same hope. We want to walk with you to achieve a world in which life is not threatened by radiation.

No Nukes Asia Forum Japan




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