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<p>"After the disaster, all 54 of Japan's nuclear reactors were shut down. <em>Reuters</em> <a href="https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKCN1VX01M">reported</a>
 Wednesday that "about 40 percent of the pre-Fukushima fleet is being 
decommissioned" and only six reactors are currently operating. Amid 
drawn out<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/12/27/japanese-prosecutors-demand-5-years-prison-executives-facing-trial-fukushima-nuclear"> legal battles </a>over the impacts of the meltdown, campaigners have ramped up opposition to nuclear power generation in the country.</p>
<p>However, some Japanese politicians, including the current prime 
minister, have argued that nuclear energy is necessary to meet national 
climate goals. Japan's new trade and industry minister, Isshu Sugawara, 
criticized Koizumi's call to shutter the country's reactors. "There are 
risks and fears about nuclear power," Sugawara said. "But 'zero-nukes' 
is, at the moment and in the future, not realistic."</p>

</div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/09/12/japans-new-environmental-minister-calls-closing-down-all-nuclear-reactors-prevent?fbclid=IwAR2bcEdK_csfIxt-LwPSq7J1vgV4qaEMY7d8kDr-Ma49ix6ZkraRRHbKa2k">https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/09/12/japans-new-environmental-minister-calls-closing-down-all-nuclear-reactors-prevent?fbclid=IwAR2bcEdK_csfIxt-LwPSq7J1vgV4qaEMY7d8kDr-Ma49ix6ZkraRRHbKa2k</a></div></div>