A citizens group will circulate a petition beginning Dec. 10 for local referendums on nuclear power generation, with the goal of obtaining 300,000 signatures in Tokyo and 60,000 in Osaka.
A citizens group will circulate a petition beginning Dec. 10 for local referendums on nuclear power generation, with the goal of obtaining 300,000 signatures in Tokyo and 60,000 in Osaka.Citizens can call on their local governments to establish an ordinance for holding a referendum if they collect valid signatures of one-50th the number of registered voters in two months.The group, "Minna de Kimeyo Genpatsu Kokumin Tohyo," needs 214,236 signatures in Tokyo. But the goal was set higher because up to 30 percent of signatures may be deemed invalid if past examples are a guide.The group believes local residents, not the government or electric power companies, must decide on the issue of nuclear power generation through referendums.In addition to the group's representatives, only people commissioned by the group and registered with the local governments can collect signatures.The group has enlisted 8,500 such commissioners in Tokyo and 1,800 in Osaka as of Dec. 7.