2,000 protest against nuclear power in Yokohama

sad to say : Good effort but no effect.

good start. using environment as excuse to force nuclear radiation down peoples throats no longer sells. the longer term damage to peoples health and environment is evident after fukushima. one would even be foolish to say that nuclear is cheap! look at netherlands...it has only one nuclear reactor but is highly industrialized, less polluted and getting most of its energy from wind, sun and thermal. you cannot deceive all the people all the time. there are many alternative sources of energy for japan's sustainable growth. the problem is and as Indra Gandhi said,it may not be enough to quench the greed of all

The choice is either nuclear power, or burning stuff. OR get used to darkness. Japan's needs are too great to be met by so-called 'sustainable' sources.

Power to the People. ( ^o^ )/

you get an A for effort but not much will change.

Japan is wasting so much of it's geothermal energy, if you know anything about Japan, having all of these volcanoes, well, they do release lots of hot gas, hot water, this is where all of these ONSEN, the hotsprings pop up all over Japan, and plenty of these are being protected in Japanese national parks instead of TAPPING into them!! The stupid thing is, Japan is a world LEADER in this geothermal technology!! Yes, they go to Mexico, Indonesia etc..and TAP into those geothermal veins and?? Create energy!! Time for Japan to open up it's national parks and GET ON THE GEOTHERMAL energy making bandwagon ASAP!!

@some14some. You are wrong. The first day alone 5000 people attended. What people received was honest information. Nothing second hand. Progress continues today. If you were here for 3/11 you should visit Yokohama Pacifico today. It is a great opportunity to see for yourself first hand.

Check it out.: Website is npfree.jp

Solar PV, Battery storage, there are options that are NOT STUPID like nuke

2 THINGS.... NETHERLANDS... only has about 17 million people compared to Japan's 127 million... and GEOTHERMAL?.... will not cut it either... Gotta go nuclear.. Sun, wind ain't going to get it done.

There is clean, safe nuclear energy that is 4 times as plentiful as uranium. Easier to handle, requires no water nearby for cooling and the plants require a fraction of the size to build. it's called Thorium. The reason it wasn't developed before is because Plutonium couldn't be extracted for the weapons industry. Google Kirk Thorensen former NASA physicist and Thorium advocate. The Chinese are quietly forging ahead with its development with 5 thorium reactors coming on line in a few years. Why quietly? Because they're going to sell us the technology because we're too stupid to have seized the opportunity when we had it.

Why was this not on the TV news yesterday? Ordinary Japanese people across the nation won't even know about this - just about the university entrance exams that took up most of the 'news' last night!! This place is just a step ahead of China and N. Korea (:

Media Blackout on the protesters Uh. That's to bad.

One of the main issues that "green" power can't provide enough power for japan needs

Wind and Solar will always need a second storage option to provide power when the sun doesn't shine or the wind doesn't blow also geothermal power has been known to cause earthquakes (just what we need )

Also solar PV panels aren't that green as they create a lot of really toxic by-products

What japan needs is a better power network a " national grid" like the US or UK, get rid of the 50/60Hz divide so they can do more with less power stations

Retire the old Mark 1 type reactors and provide proper over-site for the rest and not the old boys network we have now

Fund research into Thorium reactors and other power or power saving tech

Thorium is the easier, though expensive option. I am willing to pay my share. But its not so much that Japan needs nukes or its no power, its that without nukes, Japan cannot meet its goals on reducing CO2. Japan needs fewer nuke plants even if they do use thorium.and can survive with fewer and its been proven.

What would really be nice is a battery for each house. That would eliminate an enormous amount of waste and further reduce the need for power plants. Currently many power plants are redundant at all but peak usage times. But the rechargeable house battery is pie in the sky until its actually invented, long lasting, and affordable.

Sorry, I should have posted; Google Kirk Sorensen NASA physicist for information on Thorium.

And no, Thorium is plentiful and cheaper to power up. Please do your research before making comments that it is more expensive because it is pure fallacy and misleading. Development costs are the only stumbling block here but the Chinese will sell us back the Thorium nuclear technology in a few years ...

There's absolutely no reason to ever use anything dangerous to create electricity.

Only 2000 people? They've got to do better than that!

A bit late now, but here is information on the event, from the Japan Times:

"The Global Conference for a Nuclear Power Free World takes place at the Pacifico Yokohama Conference Center on Jan. 14 (1 p.m. till 8:30 p.m.) and Jan. 15 (10 a.m. till 7:30 p.m.). The venue is near Minato Mirai Station on the Minato Mirai Line and is a 12-minute walk from Sakuragicho Station on the JR Keihin Tohoku Line. A two-day ticket costs ¥4,500 (¥3,900 in advance) and allows participation in all programs. Limited-access tickets cost ¥2,000-¥2,500. For more information, visit http://npfree.jp/english.html"

Please do your research before making comments that it is more expensive because it is pure fallacy and misleading. Development costs are the only stumbling block here

It may be cheaper in the long wrong. Maybe. But lets nnot place too much stock in predictions. If you want a more accurate statement about the price, then I will say that initial costs for making thorium reactors at this time are higher than other older technologies. Retrofitting current reactors to use thorium will mean extra cost in the short run.

I tend to believe the predictions about cheaper long run use of thorium, after all the R and D costs. But it hardly changes the fact that investors, owners and even the public will balk at initial costs. That being a fact, I don't know of anyone hawking thorium based on cost. Its the safety that is the selling point, and there will be initial costs and I think we should all be steeled for those costs in the interest of safety. After Fukushima, what fool would not be?

Hopefully, this starts "People's Power" so that the will of the people gets precedence over economic and political influences. May the groundswell gain momentum and support from all over the world!!!!

More power to the samurai!!!!

NATIONAL MEDIA BLACKOUT on these protesters, huh.

WHATEVER happens, Japan is showing the world the results of using nuclear power. "Safe, clean, reliable". I hope there are many more protests. I also hope I will know about them in time to GO to them, instead of being reduced to simply replying on JT about a report about the event. Anyone else feel the same?

Not enough!

I wonder why with all the hazards of Nuke Power Plants, JGov still relied on Nuke Power. They said it's cheap, clean and reliable? Now with the compensation for the victims and Fukushima Ken rehabilitation zooming sky high, where is that cheap, clean, and reliable statement. TEPCO cannot even pay the needed compensations and rehabilitation. Even forcing JGov to help them raise the needed money. START constructing the equipments for the re-usable energy sources. It might be quite difficult but in the long run, the best source of clean and cheap energy.

"re-usable energy sources"

Wind? Solar? Nowhere near enough. Drill, baby, drill! There's enough awl for at least 50 years!

@Familienprobleme.....

Thorium is radioactive and can be stored in bones. Because of these facts it has the ability to cause bone cancer many years after the exposure has taken place

Breathing in thorium may increase the chances of development of lung diseases and lung and pancreas cancer many years after people have been exposed. Thorium has the ability to change genetic materials. People that are injected with thorium for special X-rays may develop liver disease.

@JoePineApples Are you aware that Japan is currently running on only 5 reactors. Japan's needs and Japan's wants are totally different beasts.

As for a media blackout, that would be inaccurate. Coverage of this conference was on late night tv. Information and data collected at this conference will be used in documentaries, educational materials, etc etc.

@Franchesca You refer to the people that created, supported and attended the event as "Protesters"? You should have been there. Some of the best minds in the industry and their respective fields, the most creative and passionate people were there. Using that word "Protesters" draws on negative images of violence and social disruption. No, this was quite the opposite. If you missed this then you missed out on first hand information and intellectual dialogue. You missed the real deal.

The opportunity to hear from the Former Governer of Fukushima Sato Eisaku was PRICELESS. He told us straight up what happened and how TEPCO rolls. He explained point blank why change isn't happening and the framework that Japan's Nuclear Industry has in place. It's pretty DEEP....just as I've always said about the Deep Pockets behind everything. You know as bloggers we often suspect and speculate so many things due to lack of information. For me this was CONFIRMATION. TEPCO is corrupt.

Talk about dropping the dime on someone next to a microphone.

If you weren't there then you missed the new feeling of hope and optimism. You missed the dialogue of what can be and what we are doing. At the same time, if you weren't there, you missed the truth. Testimony, images, data, evidence of what really went down.

Rick Kisa Jan. 15, 2012 - 07:58AM JST

look at netherlands...it has only one nuclear reactor but is highly industrialized, less polluted and getting most of its energy from wind, sun and thermal.

Rick, as of 2008 the Netherlands generated almost 9% of its power from renewable sources, though almost 75% of that was from burning biofuels. So the Netherlands gets 2.2% of its power from non-polluting sources.

In contrast it gets around 24% of its power from coal (very polluting) and just over 60% from gas (cleaner).

Reference: http://www.energy.eu/renewables/factsheets/2008_res_sheet_netherlands_en.pdf

you cannot deceive all the people all the time. there are many alternative sources of energy for japan's sustainable growth. the problem is and as Indra Gandhi said,it may not be enough to quench the greed of all

Sorry about the appended text from Rick at the bottom of my last post.

yokohamageezerJan. 15, 2012 - 10:01AM JST

Why was this not on the TV news yesterday? Ordinary Japanese people across the nation won't even know about this - just about the university entrance exams that took up most of the 'news' last night!! This place is just a step ahead of China and N. Korea (:

It was on NHK News last night.

For the people who are saying that this activity will bear no fruit:

I would say that this is a very good start, voicing out and supporting their concerns. After generations of blindly following orders, the Japanese are now learning to be pro-active on social issues that in one way or another, affect them in their daily lives.

2,000 may be a small crowd when compared to the ones watching hanabi taikai, but it's a start.

If you weren't there then you missed the new feeling of hope and optimism. You missed the dialogue of what can be and what we are doing. At the same time, if you weren't there, you missed the truth. Testimony, images, data, evidence of what really went down.

Net Ninja, I couldn't make it to any of this, but I'm really interested to know what was said. Any report, videos, due to come up online that you know of? This would be really good to spread the message. I would have loved to hear the Governor's angle, though we already know what fumbling, bumbling liars the bureacrats and ministers and spokespeople all are. You might think they're basically decently blokes, like Edano, but their job has been to lie and fudge, and that's exactly what they've done.

The government has been at pains to stress the lack of an “immediate” health risk.

All I can say to this is, I feel the government's pain. It must be very stressful for them indeed to keep saying this one with a straight face. Takes a thick skin, and a good dose of detachment from everyone around you.

Radiation fears have become part of daily life in Japan after cases of contaminated water, beef, vegetables, tea and seafood.

Erm no, not just "fears", radiation. Translators don't seem to understand the difference. Fears might not be good for your heart long term, but they're not a major health risk. Radiation on the other hand, can kill you short, medium or long-term, whether you're worried about it or not. This simple, scientific distinction is deliberately fudged in Japanese.

The government has been at pains to stress the lack of an “immediate” health risk. .

@as_the_crow_flies

[photos from the protest in Yokohama]

http://blog.goo.ne.jp/naha_2006/e/aa32f5e99af308adb973de67e29270cd

[Conference Program]

http://npfree.jp/english.html

@bajhista65:

Throrium reactors don't melt down. I was not suggesting that people play with the stuff.

These morons will go home and switch over their heaters and flat screen TV's to watch some stupid geinojin eat ramen all night, then have their children, which is our future, play with their PS3's! There is no alternative to nuclear energy unless we all go to stone age and/or stop reproducing. Would any of these morons agree to any of this? No. They can lead by example and go live in a forest, then we'll listen!

Interesting links Blair.

I see the conference organised the demo itself, so I guess there must have been a big turnout from the attendees.

Some of the programme panels look interesting, but "Information on Natural Medicine Radioprotection" sounds like snake-oil, "Let's Imagine a future like the good old days without nuclear power!" sounds naive, and I wonder if "Anyone can choose their own electricity in Sweden" mentions that Sweden produces 45% of its power from nuclear?

I love the fact that my factual posts of the 16th get a thumbs down from someone. Does the person responsible want to tell me their objections to NHK News and the Energy Sector in the Netherlands?

bah bajhista65. Your comments about Thorium being dangerous are downright fallacy. Where's your data? Sources? Worse, posting misinformation just makes this terrible situation harder to resolve. Save the misinformation and mischief for somewhere else.