Anti-Government Protests Continue in Tokyo

Japanese protesters march through the streets of Tokyo demanding the government take responsibility for the accident that caused radiation to leak into the sea.

Anti-nuclear demonstrations have become common here since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami severely damaged nuclear reactors in northern Japan.

But one former lawmaker says this time is different as calls are growing for the prime minister to resign.

[Nobuaki Futami, Former Member, Lower House of Parliament]:
„The purpose of this demonstration is to get Prime Minister (Naoto) Kan to take responsibility for what has happened. There have been anti-nuclear demos all over the country, but this is the first time we are seeking the Prime Minister to take responsibility.“

Kan now has only 30 percent public approval and needs opposition support to pass recovery-spending bills.

Meanwhile, the Tokyo Electric Power Company released video showing efforts to fix reactor number four at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant 240 km northeast of Tokyo.

This vessel is taking water samples from the cooling pool, where engineers have been pumping fresh water to keep fuel rods from overheating.

Engineers are also running tests to determine if spent fuel rods are emitting radiation at reactor number 2.

Nuclear safety officials said the volume of radioactive water on site may indicate a new plan is needed.

With 28-thousand dead or missing and $300 billion in damage, Japan is struggling to cope with the world’s most costly natural disaster.

Foto: NTD