2012: Global Conference for a Nuclear Free World

GLOBAL CONFERENCE FOR A NUCLEAR FREE WORLD

On January 14-15, 2012, thousands of experts, activists, survivors and concerned citizens from Fukushima, Japan, and the world gathered in Yokohama, Japan to participate in the Global Conference for a Nuclear Power Free World. Together, they discussed proposals both to assist the survivors of the March 2011 nuclear disaster at Fukushima Daiichi Plant in their struggle for justice and to ensure that the world never has to suffer another nuclear tragedy.

Coordinated by an Organizing Committee comprised of six Japanese NGOs, including Citizens' Nuclear Information Center, FoE Japan, Green Action, Greenpeace Japan, the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies and Peace Boat, the event was supported by a great number of endorsing organizations and corporations, and supporting organizations.

The conference promoted active participation. In addition to the officially planned program, more than 100 groups held self-organized events, including around 20 organizations from Fukushima, and several international groups including from Australia, Germany, Sweden and Taiwan.

The event was attended by a total of 11,500 participants, including 100 international participants from over 30 countries. In addition, the conference was broadcast live over the internet, with an audience of approximately 100,000.

One of the major outcomes of the conference was the adoption of the "Yokohama Declaration for a Nuclear Power Free World" that calls for:

1) Protection of the rights of those affected by the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident;

2) Responsibility of the Japanese Government and the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO);

3) Minimization of residents' exposure to radiation;

4) A global road map for the phase out of the nuclear fuel cycle and the decommissioning of all nuclear power plants;

5) The permanent closure of those Japanese nuclear power plants currently shut-down;

6) The prohibition of export of nuclear power plants and components, especially to industrializing nations;

7) An emphasis on the role of local and municipal authorities;

and declares to develop a global network to support Fukushima.

Read the full text of the declaration in English here. Also available in Japanese, French, Italian, Arabic and Korean.  

A Special Mayors' Forum was also held at the conference, joined by eight current and former mayors, including two from Fukushima. Here, the decision was taken to form a network of mayors to work to break free from nuclear power. Preparations for the network are now continuing, and it will be officially launched at an event in Tokyo on April 28, 2012.

Moreover, the "Declaration by Three Hundred Eleven Representatives for A Nuclear Free East Asia" - named after the date of the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that led to the Fukushima disaster - was initiated at the conference. Signed by 311 notable public figures from Japan, Korea, China, East Asia and beyond, the document is a first step towards organizing a network in East Asia to break away from nuclear power and promote renewable energy in the region.

The 311 Declaration was officially announced on March 11, 2012 at an event marking the first anniversary entitled "Peace on Earth" in Tokyo.

Read the 311 Declaration here and view the list of signatories here.

The diverse proposals for action made by conference participants are being gathered on a web site entitled the "Forest of Action for a Nuclear Power Free World." These many proposals include a range of levels, from recommendations to governments to suggestions of what individuals can do, and this website provides a forum to develop concrete future actions.

Visit the Forest of Action for a Nuclear Power Free World here.

For more information about the Global Conference for a Nuclear Power Free World, download a short report of the conference here or visit the official website here.

Source: Global Article 9 Campaign to Abolish War, Newsletter #46, März 2012
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