Japanese Protest US Aircraft Carrier
Tags: Ntd NTDTV News Japanese Protest US nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier George Washington warship Yokosuka radiation sicknes
Length: 1:45
Description: ZHANG:
Three hundred protesters greeted the arrival of USS George Washington in Japan yesterday. It seems they fear a nuclear accident. Here's more.
STORY:
The United States has been trying to allay fears over the planned stationing of the aircraft carrier in Japan, the only country to have suffered nuclear attacks. But a fire on board the warship in May and news last month that water containing a small amount of radiation had leaked from a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine that had stopped in Japan have renewed oncerns. Opponents of the deployment said the ship poses nuclear threats to the country.
[Shingo Fukuyama, Secretary General, Forum for Peace]:
"A nuclear-power air-craft carrier is practically the same thing as a nuclear station. Its like having a nuclear power station on Tokyo bay right next to some heavily populated land. That is extremely dangerous. We are totally against that."
Local residents at Yokosuka, where the ship has docked, voiced their concerns.
[Reiko Kakei, Local Resident]: Female
"I can't help thinking of radiation sickness, I don't like it. I just don't like it."
For others this meant a good time to get a quick buck from the visitors.
[Kyoko Sasaki, Local Resident]:
"For the residents of Yokosuka though, the ship means customers who will spend money in town."
[Yasuyoshi Sugimura, Local Resident]:
"Only a handful of people are making a lot of noise. Locals, we aren't making a fuss. We're used to it."
At the dock the atmosphere was far from hostile while family and friends, mostly Americans, waited for the sailors to arrive. Many carried home-made banners and balloons. Cheering crowds and a brass band welcomed the arrival of the vessel which will replace one of the oldest active ships in the U.S. Navy, the USS Kitty Hawk.
Author: NTDTV
Source: YouTube
