FoE Japan launches crowdfunding for post-Fukushima nuclear-free future

As the 13th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster approaches, international environmental NGO Friends of the Earth (FoE) Japan is seeking public support through crowdfunding. This crowdfunding aims to sustain their ongoing efforts toward a nuclear-free sustainable energy society and to address the ongoing challenges faced by those affected by the disaster.

Despite the passage of time, the Nuclear Emergency Declaration made on that fateful day remains in effect, with many still living in evacuation. FoE Japan has dedicated itself to advocating for the victims’ rights, revealing the true costs associated with nuclear energy, and fostering connections with anti-nuclear movements nationwide.

With dwindling public interest over the years, the NGO faces a financial shortfall, impacting its ability to continue operations, produce informative materials, and maintain public awareness. The crowdfunding campaign represents a crucial step in securing the necessary resources to carry on their vital work.

FoE Japan’s efforts include the “Fukushima Mieruka PROJECT,” launched in the 10th year following the disaster, aimed at making the consequences of the accident more visible and disseminating information on a global scale. This project, along with the “Fukushima Pokapoka Project” that has provided respite for over 5,200 parents and children from Fukushima, exemplifies the NGO’s commitment to both immediate and long-term support for the affected communities.

In light of recent policy shifts that signal a return to nuclear energy under the guise of decarbonization, FoE Japan has voiced strong opposition, citing the economic impracticality of nuclear power, its ineffectiveness in combating climate change, its instability as a power source, and the inadequacy of current evacuation plans to ensure public safety.

FoE Japan’s crowdfunding campaign is an invitation to join a larger movement advocating for a safe, equitable, and nuclear-free future, overcoming the significant challenges that remain in the wake of the Fukushima disaster.