Japanese bishops renew call for abolition of nuclear plants

(August 03, 2012) The Catholic Bishops of Japan are appealing again for the abolition of nuclear plants in order to protect life and seek peace. Archbishop Leo Jun Ikenaga of Osaka, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan made the appeal in a message on the occasion of this year’s “Ten Days for Peace”, August 6 to 15, which the Japanese Church had adopted following Blessed John Paul II’s “Appeal for Peace” made in February 1981 at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, the Japanese city destroyed by a nuclear bomb in 1945. Archbishop Ikenaga said the ten days was a special period to think of our responsibilities to peace, to learn about peace and to work for peace. The prelate recalled that since the Great East Japan Earthquake and the tsunami of March 11, 2011, there has been a surge of commitment to cherish life and walk the path of peace among a large number of people. Following that natural disaster and the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant, the bishops of Japan had called for the abolition of nuclear plants. In order to protect life, which is so precious, and beautiful nature, we must not focus on economic growth by placing priority on profitability and efficiency, but decide at once to abolish nuclear plants,” the bishops said. Archbishop Ikenaga lamented that the causes of the Fukushima accident are still unclear and the prospect of its closure is dim, along with problems of handling radiation materials. Furthermore the Japanese government has decided to resume the operation of Oi Nuclear Power Plant.