A campaign for local referendums on nuclear power has attracted strong interest from citizens opposed to nuclear energy, although some anti-nuclear groups are keeping their distance.
A campaign for local referendums on nuclear power has attracted strong interest from citizens opposed to nuclear energy, although some anti-nuclear groups are keeping their distance.
A citizens group, Minna de Kimeyo Genpatsu Kokumin Tohyo, started the petition drive for local referendums in Tokyo and Osaka on Dec. 10.
"Until now, I have allowed my life to depend on energy generated by nuclear power plants," said a company employee, 39, who came with his son, 1, and signed the petition in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward.
"If we leave it only to a small group of people waging opposition to nuclear power, we are simply leaving this key issue in the hands of those people. I support the idea of all the people discussing this issue."
Another company employee, 38, said, "I want to express my opposition to nuclear power generation through a vote, not through a demonstration, which too often is festive in nature."
A part-time worker, 59, said, "I have been opposed to nuclear power generation since the Chernobyl disaster. I hope a local referendum will build momentum for anti-nuclear movements."
While many members of the group support cutting dependence on nuclear power plants, its goal is for citizens to express their opinions through a vote regardless of whether they are for or against nuclear power generation.
But the campaign has failed to unite various anti-nuclear movements as some groups have not taken part.
Daichi wo Mamoru Kai, which delivers organically grown food to about 100,000 households, has refrained from cooperating with the campaign although it said in April it will work toward Japan without nuclear power plants.
"A referendum requires lengthy preparations," said a member of the group. "We concluded there is not sufficient momentum to produce a movement on a political level for reducing our dependence on nuclear power generation."
Pal System Consumers Cooperative Union Tokyo, with about 400,000 members, will give priority to a signature-collection campaign it has been conducting with other groups. Its aim is to achieve a policy change toward lessening the nation's dependence on nuclear power generation.
The group is concerned that members will be confused if they are asked to take part in more than one similar signature-collection campaign.
Makoto Yamada, a representative of Minna de Kimeyo Genpatsu Kokumin Tohyo and head of a nationwide network of pediatricians to protect children from radiation, expressed hope that the group's campaign will lead to more in-depth discussions on nuclear power generation and growing moves toward less dependence on nuclear power plants.
"The situation will become worse if (the anti-nuclear camp) loses the proposed referendums," Yamada said he was told by one individual.
As for his own thoughts on the subject, Yamada said, "We want to talk to everyone as much as time allows so that they understand our stance."
The group takes issue with the fact that the central government, electric power companies and local governments that host nuclear power plants alone can decide the future of nuclear power generation.
It needs to collect 214,236 signatures to call on the Tokyo metropolitan government to hold a local referendum.
The group hopes to eventually hold a national referendum on nuclear power generation.
(This article was written by Kosuke So and Naoko Kawamura.)