Photos:  Fukushima disaster remembered at protest against nuclear power

Around 100 people gathered Saturday in Pritchard Park for the second environmental protest there in as many days.  Organized by Safe Alternatives for Future Energy (SAFE) in the Carolinas, the protest was timed to mark the anniversary of the disaster at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. 

Also at the forefront of the protest’s agenda was the proposed construction of nuclear reactors in Gaffney, SC, by Duke Energy.  Gaffney is 60 miles from Asheville, according to a SAFE press release. 

Mary Olson, spokeswoman for NIRS, said she believes that the catastrophic failure of the reactors at Fukushima “was no accident,” citing connections between the reactors and US corporations, specifically General Electric.  The protest included speeches by officials from SAFE Carolinas, as well an acappella performance of “Come Breathe with us Gaia” by the Sahara Peace Choir, and concluded with a march through downtown.

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7 thoughts on “Photos:  Fukushima disaster remembered at protest against nuclear power

    • Ned Ryan doyle

      Approximately 16,000 dies from the tsunami, with about 3,000 still missing is the official toll. Radiation kills slowly, relative to dosage. The first responders to the meltdown who received heavy doses will likely die with 1-2 years. Overall, from releases and lingering contamination,Japanese deaths and others ( ocean dispersion ) will likely reach 50,000 +, but will take many years for full effects of cancers and such to be realized. Fast death or slow death. But still death.

    • Kris Cunningham

      It depends on the source of the information. If you ask for direct deaths from the nuclear meltdown, you might find 4 people died at the plant. If you combine the tsunami, it’s at least 20,000. No one will no for sure until decades pass and the analysis of the radiations affect on the people in Japan from that day are acknowledged.

    • Ned Ryan doyle

      Press report posted on FB today with Arnie Gunderson estimates one million eventual fatalities. I’d suspect that’s closer to the high end, but not by much if what TEPCO hasd lied about already is a basis for extrapolation. Comparing tsunami deaths to radiation deaths is a foolish path to travel.

  1. man4earth

    Unfortunately many will die over the coming decades, that is how this type of exposure works, the biological effects of ionizing radiation are well known. Many more will suffer from debilitating illnesses and there will be likely be horrible birth defects. About 160,000 people have been displaced from their homes, many permanently. Precious agricultural land has been rendered useless for a very long time.
    The situation with the destroyed nuclear plants continues to be extremely dangerous with workers risking their lives every day and is decades away from being remedied.
    As for the tsunami vs. the nuke plant thing it would be nice if we could do something about tsunami’s.

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