The Rokkasho Nuclear Waste Reprocessing Plant, located along the coast in Rokkasho Village, Aomori Prefecture, Japan, is about to become fully operational in February 2008. A single day's radiation discharge is estimated to be the equivalent of what is produced at a typical nuclear power plant during an entire year.  The publicly announced  plan for the discharge is to release it into the atmosphere and into the ocean about three kilometers offshore, threatening the safety of the food supply, people’s lives and the lives of future generations.

Currently, electricity from nuclear energy plays a large role in the lives of Japanese citizens. About one-third of the electricity produced in Japan comes from nuclear power plants. However, people are becoming conscience of the dangers and risks posed by the presence and proliferation of nuclear power plants in an earthquake-prone country such as Japan.  The Rokkasho Plant has reported radioactive chemical leaks in recent years which already pose a threat to the locals and surrounding communities (but the news never really reached the masses) and it wasn’t even fully operational.

At the Rokkasho Plant, spent nuclear fuel collected from 55 existing Japanese power plants in the country is reprocessed for the purpose of extracting usable plutonium but leaving the unwanted  “nuclear waste”. Plutonium in general is known as one of the most radioactive elements found on the earth.  To this date, despite all inquiries and oppositions, Rokkasho plant (moreover no-one) has yet to set a policy for the legitimate use of plutonium produced hereat.

Surfrider Foundation Japan is seeking a response from their government regarding unanswered questions including:  What would we do if this enormous nuclear waste reprocessing plant in Rokkasho discharges its toxic pollution into the lives Rokkasho’s inhabitants? What would we do if the pollution is more harmful to young children, to the environment and to our future than expected?

To this end, Surfrider Foundation has started a petition drive against the operation of Rokkasho Nuclear Waste Reprocessing Plant and against the possible discharge of radiation into the atmosphere and the ocean. We would be grateful for your support.