THE Anglican Church in Japan (Nippon Sei Ko Kai) has called on
the country to abandon nuclear power and invest in alternative
energy sources.
After what it calls "sincere reflection", in the wake of last
year's tsunami and the Fukushima power-plant disaster, the Church
has said in a statement that it believes that nuclear-power
generation is fraught with "serious problems".
"No one can deny that the existence of nuclear power plants in a
country like Japan, which is subject to frequent earthquakes, is
very likely to be the cause of serious crises in the future," the
statement says.
"There is no denying that, even without accidents, nuclear power
is a real threat to people's lives, in that it imposes sacrifices
on socially weakened people throughout the process, from the mining
of uranium to the disposal of radioactive waste. It also runs
counter to the teachings of Jesus Christ, as it cannot be sustained
without people's sacrifices."
The statement concludes: "In solidarity with other denominations
and faiths, we call for an immediate abolition of nuclear power
plants, and a conversion of Japan's energy policy toward the
development of alternative sources of energy.
"We are determined to change our own lifestyle from the old one,
in which we have pursued only convenience and comfort. We will
share pains and difficulties with those who suffer, and pray for a
world where we learn from, love, and support one another."