Become a supporter for TEPCO's plaintiffs?

July 2, 2014

Supporters sought for Fukushima nuclear crisis evacuee lawsuit vs. TEPCO

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140702p2a00m0na001000c.html 

Supporters are being sought to sit in on court proceedings for the "Sapporo lawsuit" brought against Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) by over 200 Fukushima nuclear crisis evacuees now living in Hokkaido.

The call for support is being issued by one of the plaintiffs, Takako Shishido, 41, who said that some of the courtroom's 80 seats occasionally go unclaimed.

"The act of sitting together with us defendants in order to fill the courtroom would be an incredibly supportive gesture for evacuees," commented Shishido, who now resides in Sapporo's Atsubetsu Ward.

The class action suit was first filed in June 2013 by 43 evacuees from 13 households, seeking damages from the national government and TEPCO in the amount of 16.5 million yen per person.

Oral arguments have been heard in the case four times so far. Although the courtroom was packed the first time, subsequent hearings have only been about 70 percent full. Since the hearings take place on weekday afternoons, economic constraints mean that it is difficult for the plaintiffs to take time off work to attend the sessions.

Shishido herself was a full-time employee while living in Fukushima Prefecture, but is now doing part-time work in Sapporo as a caregiver, while her husband is also employed part-time.

Consequently, their household income has shrunk.

Many women who evacuated with their children, meanwhile, have found themselves raising their children while trying to get by on an unstable income.

Shishido came up with the idea to seek courtroom supporters as a way to encourage people to keep paying attention to the nuclear disaster, while simultaneously offering encouragement to evacuees.

The court case itself offers plaintiffs the opportunity to share their motivations for evacuating, as well as their current living situations.

"The nuclear disaster has not yet been resolved," Shishido commented. "By coming to listen to the proceedings, I'd like people to consider the matter of what would happen if a nuclear accident occurred here in Hokkaido."

Those interested in becoming supporters will receive a schedule of courtroom hearings and outside study sessions via e-mail. For further information, send a message to ippohumidasu@gmail.com

July 02, 2014(Mainichi Japan)