Press Release
April 12, 2010

National Gathering and Protest Against Restart of Monju Fast Breeder Reactor

Japan's Monju Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor in Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture has been closed down since a sodium leak and fire in December 1995. Monju's owner, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, wanted to restart the reactor by March 31 (the end of the 2009 fiscal year), but that schedule has slipped. The central government has given the go ahead to restart the reactor. Now only the approval of Fukui Prefecture remains.

On April 18, citizens from Fukui Prefecture and throughout Japan will converge on the beach in front of Monju to protest the planned restart. Plutonium-powered, sodium-cooled Monju is a disaster on safety and nuclear proliferation grounds. Restarting it after 14 years is an irresponsible and unnecessary risk.

Details
Date: April 18, 2010 (Sunday)
Time: Assemble at 1pm, Demonstration from 1:30 - 3:30
Place: Shiraki Kaigan
Program: Reports on the current status of Monju, appeals from citizens, march to the gate of Monju.

Sponsors
Close Monju! National Gathering Coordinating Committee
Fukui Prefecture Citizens Against Nuclear Power
Japan Congress Against A- and H-Bombs (Gensuikin)
Citizens' Nuclear Information Center
Stop The Monju
National Network Against Nuclear Energy

Contacts
Gensuikin: 03-5289-8224
Citizens' Nuclear Information Center: 03-3357-3800
Fukui Center for Peace, Environment and Human Rights: 0776-21-5321 (Japanese only)

Resources About Monju
1. Appeal by Japanese scientist against the restart of Monju (March 11, 2010)

2. Article: Restarting Monju - Like Playing Russian Roulette

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