Thursday, June 28, 2012

Friday Protests Against Ooi Restart, 6PM June 29, 2012 in Tokyo and Osaka


It's Friday in Japan, and that means Ooi restart protests are on again in Tokyo and Osaka. The same time, the same places in Tokyo (at PM's Official Residence) and Osaka (KEPCO's headquarters).

From people at ".@TwitNoNukes":

Date: Friday, June 29, 2012
Time: from 6PM
Places:

  • Prime Minister's Official Residence [東京都千代田区永田町2丁目3−1 2-3-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, google map]

  • Kansai Electric Power Company headquarters [大阪市北区中之島3丁目6番16号 3-6-16 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka City, google map]

Please refrain from carrying political signs not related to "anti-nuclear".
Please follow the general guidance from the organizers.


This Friday, someone (I think it is Yasumi Iwakami's outfit) is flying a helicopter to capture the scene from the air. Not just for dramatic effect but also for refuting people who have tried their best to snicker at the number claimed by organizers (total 45,000) and downplay the significance of the protests. They will analyze the visual images from the helicopter and estimate the crowd size, I hear.

For those of you who go, be safe. "Agents provocateurs" may be there, claiming to be anti-protest and pro-nuke right wing, talking trash, like this one last week.

6 comments:

Johntaro said...

I heard basically the same story about the helicopter only that it's being chartered by author Takashi Hirose along with the Jonan Bank and other sponsors. On board the helicopter I understand will also be flying famed anti-nuclear activist and actor, Taro Yamamoto. I wonder if seeing this helicopter will shame some of the big Japanese media outlets into sending one of their own helicopters to cover the protest (it should).

Anonymous said...

THIS IS IT! NOW IS THE TIME! TIME TO......WAKE UP!!
ONE MILLION PEOPLE IN PEACEFUL PROTEST! YOU CAN DO IT JAPAN! No nuclear power. Yes to a future of natural energy with clean water, farms, food and families. YOU CAN DO IT! NO NUCLEAR JAPAN FOREVER!!

Scott said...

I'm glad this is becoming a weekly thing. The more people gather to protest in large groups the better chance the media will have to report on it.

John said...

What?! Why are protestors censoring free political speech? At the demonstration in Fukuoka, I carried a sign written in Japanese linking nuclear power plants with nuclear weapons, the JSDF, and the economy. Many asked me what the links are, so I had the opportunity to explain the context of nuclear power. We need to build solidarity among various groups and show how issues are related. Censoring free political speech is disgusting. I 100% support today's protests but I 100% oppose any censorship of free political speech. It seems clear as has been suggested on this blog that the Ooi restart was a cover for raising the consumption tax (a regressive tax). We should definitely say no to both. No restart and no regressive taxes. Shame on the organizers. I am disgusted.

arevamirpal::laprimavera said...

John, I think your sign would be welcome at the Tokyo protest. They just don't want totally unrelated signs like "Occupy Senkaku Island" from ultra right wing or any signs that advertises particular organizations like labor unions or political parties who try to hijack the movement. I don't think it has to do with political censorship.

Beppe said...

NHK started reporting that the demonstrations are carried out by domestic and FOREIGN environmental groups; if I recall correctly this was in relation to the demonstration outside Tepco shareholders assembly.
I would not be surprised if some media will start suggesting that the demonstrations, which they can't ignore any more, are driven by a minority of crazy environmentalists and foreigners.

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