Japanese citizens’ lawsuit halts restart of Ohi reactors
May 22, 2014 Nearly 200 Japanese citizens living within 150 miles of the Kansai Electric‘s Ohi nuclear power reactors near Osaka, Japan have won a rare legal battle and court ruling to halt the restart of the two earthquake fault-situated units.
"Plaintiffs have rarely won. This is right in the middle of the restart process ... it could have very well have repercussions," said Aileen Mioko Smith, executive director of Green Action, which earlier this month had a lawsuit to close the Ohi reactors rejected by a court in Osaka.
The Fukui Prefecture Court ruled that “[T]he defendants (Kansai Electric) argue to the effect that operating nuclear power plants contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions and is beneficial from an environmental aspect, but the contamination to the environment once a severe accident does occur is devastating. In light of the fact that the Fukushima accident is the most serious pollution case in the history of our country, it is outrageously off the mark to ground the continued operation of nuclear power plants in environmental considerations.”
"Even if not operating nuclear power plants may result in massive trade deficit, the wealth of nation exists as long as citizens can live lives that are deeply rooted in sound land. Not being able to bring back such a reality is the loss of the wealth of nation" Judge Hideaki Higuchi is reported to say.
Kansai Electric said that it will appeal the court ruling. Japan remains at "zero nuclear" with all 48 of its remaining nuclear power plants in cold shutdown.