By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Tokyo : Thousands of Japanese took to the streets Sunday to protest against the country’s nuclear power industry after a devastating earthquake caused a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant.
The protesters, some accompanied by little children, were chanting “No to nuclear bombs! No more Fukushima”, the Kyodo agency said.
“I learnt about the demonstration through Twitter,” said a 43-year-old protester who had brought his children aged two and six. “I want to do everything possible to stop nuclear power industry, not for our sake but for the sake of our children.”
The powerful quake and a tsunami hit northeastern Japan March 11 causing nearly 15,000 deaths and disabling the cooling systems at Fukushima reactors. Radioactive elements were later found in the water, air and food products in some parts of Japan.
Early this week TEPCO, the operator of the nuclear plant, began dumping 11,500 litres of low-level radioactive water into the Pacific to empty reservoirs needed for high-level radioactive water. The company said it regretted the decision but this was the only option.