Nuclear industry pays communities bribe money to accept the construction of nuclear power plants. One small Japanese island was able to resist until now. But not for long.
(JAPAN TODAY) A small island off the coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture has for years refused to have anything to do with nuclear money, and has firmly opposed plans to build nuclear power stations in the area. But all that may be about to change.
Iwai island lies out to sea opposite the site where the Kaminoseki nuclear power plant is expected to be built, and home to around 500 people. What makes this island markedly different from mainland Yamaguchi Prefecture is the determination with which the islanders have fought off “nuclear money” for over 31 years in an attempt to preserve a safe, clean environment.
While the prefecture’s local government has been accepting nuclear money for many years and pushing for the completion of the Kaminoseki power plant, a staggering 90% of Iwai islanders are against plans for the power plant being built so close to where they live.
Being a small island, the locals rely on the fishing industry to keep the economy alive. Even so, of the eight fishermen’s cooperative groups within Yamaguchi Prefecture, Iwai island is the only union that continues to refuse aid from the nuclear power industry.
Mr Shimizu, who organizes the committee for Iwai islanders against the construction of the Kaminoseki plant, said: “The Yamaguchi Prefecture fishermen’s cooperative is putting pressure on the island to accept nuclear money by means of threats and lies. They came to the island and pushed through the decision for us to accept the money even though we are strongly against the idea. If something goes wrong, you can’t buy a clean sea with nuclear money.”
Reacting against the prefecture’s overbearing behavior, 31 of the 53 group members on the island signed a petition against the acceptance of the money. However, the Yamaguchi Prefecture’s fishermen’s union is believed to have ignored this completely and has even started to consider how the compensation money will be distributed among local fishermen.
Read more - http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/island-that-has-refused-nuclear-money-for-31-years-pushed-into-compromising-situation
http://www.japanfocus.org/-Martin-Dusinberre/3805
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