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Japan: Damaged Nuclear Plant Released More Radioactive Material than Previously Estimated; Thousands Call for Nuclear Moratorium

HeadlineApr 25, 2011

Newly released data from the Japanese government indicates radioactive material was leaking into the atmosphere from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant Number 1 Unit in far greater quantities than previously estimated. The Daily Yomiuri newspaper reports the level of radiation on April 5 was six times higher than initially reported. In other news from Japan, 25,000 Japanese soldiers are being sent into the disaster zone to scour for the bodies of nearly 12,000 people missing and presumed dead. The estimated death toll from the tsunami and earthquake is 26,000. On Sunday, thousands of people rallied in Tokyo to call for the closure of all nuclear power plants in Japan.

Filmmaker Mayuko Sadasue: “The people of my generation were blessed in that although we knew nuclear power was dangerous, we never had to deal with it and only received the benefits. Our generation ignored the dangers, and I really feel that that needs to be prevented in the future.”

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