Japanese appeal US nuclear power ...
 

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hq2AqrYT2m1lNwKwq38TtPih9ilAD90T8EN00

Japanese file appeal against US aircraft carrier
By YURI KAGEYAMA – 4 days ago

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese seeking to block a nuclear-powered U.S. warship from being permanently based in Japan took their lawsuit to a higher court Monday.

The latest move by the 248 plaintiffs follows the May 12 rejection by a district court of their lawsuit demanding a halt to harbor work to accommodate the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is scheduled to be based at Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, starting August.

The carrier, which is relieving the retiring diesel-powered USS Kitty Hawk, will be the first U.S. Navy nuclear-powered vessel to be permanently based in Japan.

The appeal filed with the Tokyo High Court on Monday points to a May 22 fire aboard the warship as adding to the anxiety people have about nuclear power aboard the military vessel, according to documents from the plaintiffs' attorneys.

In their initial lawsuit, the plaintiffs argued that the harbor work to accommodate the ship would spread pollution, kill fish and damage the livelihood of fishermen. They said the warship could also leak radiation if there was an accident.

The USS George Washington's expected arrival has set off protests among many residents in the area.

Many in Japan, the only country to be attacked by nuclear weapons, are sensitive about any military use of nuclear technology. Some Japanese, especially the older generation, are outspoken pacifists and nervousness about the U.S. military presence in Japan is widespread.

The deployment of the USS George Washington is part of a security alliance that Japan has with the U.S., now its close ally.

Nuclear-powered warships have visited Japanese ports hundreds of times since 1964 and the U.S. government insists they are safe.

The move is part of the U.S. military's effort to modernize its forces in Asia, a region of potential flash points with North Korea and China.

The safety concerns about the USS George Washington were rekindled by this month's blaze, which the Navy said left one sailor with minor burns and 23 others with heat stress.

The Navy is investigating the cause of the fire, which it says started near an auxiliary boiler room and never threatened the safety of the ship's nuclear reactor.

The appeal from the Japanese plaintiffs is demanding a more thorough disclosure of information about the fire. It says the city was not notified about the blaze until more than a day later, and says a blaze starting near a boiler room raised serious safety questions.

I can understand the plight of the small commercial fishermen.

Just think of the poor whales this carrier will displace.

Were they complaining about the diesel smoke of the Kitty Hawk? What about potential oil spills from it's diesel tanks?

They should feel lucky that we are there allowing them to spend very little on the Imperial Japanese Navy -- yes they changed the name from "Japanese Defense Force Fleet" a couple years ago...

I'd tell them "fine, we'll be happy to leave" and then do it. Leave the whole country and take everything we brought with us. Tear up the runways we built. Don't leave one stone upon another. Leave no sign we were there. Just grassy fields and natural coastlines.

Maybe we should.

We did that with that little off-island that the Navy was using for a target in bomber-training...

Now, that little Island-country wants the US back and will gladly let the Navy bomb the bejesus out of that little pile of disconnected earth, but the Navy has already shut down the base and moved out...and, as a result, their economy is in the tank...worse than anything we're experiencing here stateside...

Yep...let's pull out of Japan...a few more short-sighted, feel-good decisions like that and then maybe some folks will start to realize that not everything done during war was entirely self-serving...and that everything that springs from technology is entirely EVIL...

But, then again...some folks will never learn... :rolleyes:

No we shouldn't pull out of Japan, they are still usefull to counterbalance China. We paid for the bases we have in Japan with much blood, so they should be happy we are spending a ton of money to keep the Chinese from going at them.

Why? If they are going to give us grief, let the Chinese roast them over a fire or let them come begging for our help UNDER OUR TERMS. If not, we don't really need each other.

Nah this lawsuit is nothing I heard about it months ago. Its going to get thrown out.


People protest just because, how much you want to bet that other nuclear ships have been using that port for years?

I agree... The main purpose of this fleet is to contain China and keep them out of #1 Taiwan #2 Japan #3 South Korea

If we pulled out, where would we put the GW? Taiwan? (can't 'cause we have no relations with them) Open up Subic Bay again? (hard since the volcano covered it)...

The US Navy has had nuclear powered ships visit Yokosuka without incident. since 1994.


Kitty Hawk. Departing.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...tty_Hawk08.jpg

Absent treaties or other agreements between nations, shouldn't nations should be able to exercise their right to determine use of their land?

Or, are American military interests the "trump card?"

Of course they should be able to determine who stays and who goes. In this case, I don't think they are saying that we need to go. I think they are getting worried about a nuclear reactor going off.

In any case, I think we can go. If they don't need us, fine. If so, they can come back to us and we can decide what we can do and what we should do at that time.

Its not a problem, a small group is creating a problem.

Japan needs us in more way then one, we all buy Japanese goods. and they need us! namely the military. specially after the North Korea built their ICBM that can reach Japan, and then successfully tested the Nuke the play to put on top of it.

If WWIII ever were to break out, Japan is on the front line, if not one of the first countries to fall. they have to love us!