Fukushima residents say resounding "no" to nuclear energy
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Protesters hold placards and shout slogans as they take part in a rally in front of Japan's parliament, to demonstrate against the use of nuclear power following the 2011 Fukushima atomic crisis, in Tokyo on July 29, 2012. Get out of nuclear power and do it fast, angry Fukushima residents told Japanese government officials on Wednesday at a public hearing on energy policy held in an area ravaged by a nuclear disaster that has whipped up opposition to atomic power. -- PHOTO: AFP
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An anti-nuclear protester holds a lit candle against a line of police officers, as the protesters stage a rally outside the parliament complex in Tokyo on Sunday, July 29, 2012. Thousands of the protesters rallied to demand the government abandon nuclear power after the accident last year in Fukushima. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this Sunday, July 29, 2012 file photo, anti-nuclear protesters stage a rally outside Japan's parliament complex in Tokyo as thousands of the protesters demanded the government abandon nuclear power after the accident last year in Fukushima. -- PHOTO: AP
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Protesters holding lit candle join the anti-nuclear rally outside the parliament house in Tokyo on Sunday, July 29, 2012. Thousands of the protesters rallied to demand the government abandon nuclear power after the accident last year in northern Fukushima. -- PHOTO: AP
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A protester, along with her child joins the anti-nuclear march near the Japan's parliament complex in Tokyo on Sunday, July 29, 2012. Thousands of the protesters rallied to demand the government abandon nuclear power after the accident last year in northern Fukushima. -- PHOTO: AP
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A protester holds a placard which reads "No to the restart of the nuclear reactors and Prime Minister Noda", as the protesters march near the Japan's parliament complex in Tokyo on Sunday, July 29, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
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Protesters holding candle during the anti-nuclear rally outside the parliament house in Tokyo, on Sunday, July 29, 2012. Thousands of the protesters rallied to demand the government abandon nuclear power after the accident last year in northern Fukushima. -- PHOTO: AP
Protesters hold placards and shout slogans as they take part in a rally in front of Japan's parliament, to demonstrate against the use of nuclear power following the 2011 Fukushima atomic crisis, in Tokyo on July 29, 2012. Get out of nuclear power and do it fast, angry Fukushima residents told Japanese government officials on Wednesday at a public hearing on energy policy held in an area ravaged by a nuclear disaster that has whipped up opposition to atomic power. -- PHOTO: AFP
An anti-nuclear protester holds a lit candle against a line of police officers, as the protesters stage a rally outside the parliament complex in Tokyo on Sunday, July 29, 2012. Thousands of the protesters rallied to demand the government abandon nuclear power after the accident last year in Fukushima. -- PHOTO: AP
In this Sunday, July 29, 2012 file photo, anti-nuclear protesters stage a rally outside Japan's parliament complex in Tokyo as thousands of the protesters demanded the government abandon nuclear power after the accident last year in Fukushima. -- PHOTO: AP
Protesters holding lit candle join the anti-nuclear rally outside the parliament house in Tokyo on Sunday, July 29, 2012. Thousands of the protesters rallied to demand the government abandon nuclear power after the accident last year in northern Fukushima. -- PHOTO: AP
A protester, along with her child joins the anti-nuclear march near the Japan's parliament complex in Tokyo on Sunday, July 29, 2012. Thousands of the protesters rallied to demand the government abandon nuclear power after the accident last year in northern Fukushima. -- PHOTO: AP
A protester holds a placard which reads "No to the restart of the nuclear reactors and Prime Minister Noda", as the protesters march near the Japan's parliament complex in Tokyo on Sunday, July 29, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
Protesters holding candle during the anti-nuclear rally outside the parliament house in Tokyo, on Sunday, July 29, 2012. Thousands of the protesters rallied to demand the government abandon nuclear power after the accident last year in northern Fukushima. -- PHOTO: AP
(REUTERS) - Get out of nuclear power and do it fast, angry Fukushima residents told Japanese government officials on Wednesday at a public hearing on energy policy held in an area ravaged by a nuclear disaster that has whipped up opposition to atomic power.
The Fukushima hearing, the ninth out of 11 planned nationwide, sought to gather views on nuclear power's role in the nation's energy mix as the government struggles to cover a power shortfall by that threatens economic growth.
Meltdowns at the Tokyo Power owned Fukushima nuclear plant after an earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011 led the government to shut all nuclear plants until recently, forced more than 160,0000 people to flee and raised fears of radiation exposure.
"I want all the reactors in Japan shut immediately and scrapped," a grey-haired woman, who introduced herself as a farmer living 65km from the Fukushima plant, said at the public hearing in the prefecture capital.
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