Thousands of people protest against nuclear power, security legislation in Tokyo

[yuiyoshida]

Demonstrators march in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward on Sept. 23, 2015, to protest against nuclear power and the security legislation. (Mainichi)

A large protest rally against nuclear power and controversial security-related legislation, which recently passed the Diet, was held at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward on Sept. 23, with participants promoting a campaign to kick out lawmakers, who voted yes to the security bills and supported the reactivation of nuclear plants.

The assembly, organized by a citizens group working toward zero nuclear power in Japan following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis, is believed to be the largest protest event since the controversial bills were passed into law amid strong opposition. The organizer said some 25,000 people gathered to protest against policies employed by the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Following the assembly, protesters marched down the streets of the Harajuku and Omotesando districts crowded with shoppers enjoying the last day of a five-day holiday.

For the first time in its protest rallies, the anti-nuclear power group held opposition to the security legislation as the theme for the Sept. 23 event, where renowned writers, lawyers and those voluntarily evacuating from their homes due to concerns over radiation from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant made speeches.

"It takes courage to voice one's opinion while revealing their names and faces," said Jinshiro Motoyama, a member of the youth group "Students Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy-s Ryukyu" who is a fourth-year student at International Christian University in Tokyo.

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150924p2a00m0na007000c.html

[newfie11]

1. Rightly so

The horrors in Japan and Russia SHOULD be a warning. Wake up world.