Mass demonstrations against nuke power held in Tokyo

PanARMENIAN.Net - Protesters in Tokyo held mass demonstrations Saturday, June 11, against the use of nuclear power, as Japanese marked the three-month anniversary of the powerful earthquake and tsunami that killed tens of thousands and triggered one of the world's worst nuclear disasters, AP reported.

The magnitude-9 earthquake that hit off Japan's northeast coast March 11 caused a massive tsunami that devastated the coastline.

Government reports released earlier in the week said the damage and leakage was worse than previously thought, with nuclear fuel in three reactors likely melting and collecting in the bottom of the cores, and some seeping into the inner containment vessels.

Hundreds of plant workers are still scrambling to bring the crippled Fukushima reactors to a "cold shutdown" by early next year and end the crisis. The accident has forced more than 80,000 residents to evacuate from their homes around the plant.

On Saturday, several hundred people gathered in a muddy field at a park in central Tokyo next to the city's iconic Tokyo Tower, shouting anti-nuclear slogans and carrying colorful banners with phrases such as "Immediately stop all use of nuclear power and shut down the plants."

Protests were also held in other parts of the city.

Three months after the disasters, which killed about 23,000 people, 90,000 are still living in temporary shelters such as school gyms and community centers. Some families have been moved into temporary housing, but supplies are short and sufficient housing is not expected to be completed for several more months.