Posted on 03/20/2005 8:20:42 AM PST by Former Military Chick
A petition signed by more than 300,000 people protesting any deployment of a nuclear carrier to Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, after the USS Kitty Hawk is decommissioned in 2008 was submitted to the mayor of Yokosuka on Friday, according to the group that submitted the petition.
Leaders from the Citizens Coalition Concerning Home-Porting of a Nuclear-Powered Carrier to Yokosuka Naval Base handed the petition to Yokosuka Mayor Hideo Sawada at the city hall.
The petition urges Sawada to take further action to dissuade deployment of a nuclear carrier. It also urges him to press the central government to officially state its desire to have a non-nuclear carrier. It also calls on the mayor to stop construction on an extension of the Piedmont Pier, or Pier 12, that the group suspects will be used for a nuclear carrier, though the Navy has said construction began many years ago and is intended for the Kitty Hawk. Navy officials said they are aware of the petition.
“No decision has been made on the Kitty Hawk replacement issue,” said Cmdr. John Wallach, spokesman for Commander, Naval Forces Japan.
Sawada, who has said a non-nuclear carrier should replace the Kitty Hawk, said during the meeting with the coalition Friday that he will continue to press the Japanese government, said attorney Masahiko Goto.
The group started collecting signatures in April. The group had submitted a similar petition in the past, having collected 100,000 signatures in three years.
“The petition doesn’t suggest what should be done to the Security Treaty but concerns people’s daily lives such as food and environment,” Goto said. He points out that if there are any accidents in Yokosuka, it could affect people in the Kanto area, which includes Tokyo and Yokohama.
“There is a sense of urgency among people,” said Goto, referring to the reason they were able to collect more signatures than in their earlier campaign.
There have been a number of unconfirmed Japanese news reports suggesting the Navy is looking into decommissioning the non-nuclear USS John F. Kennedy to reduce the number of carriers and that there will be only nuclear carriers left to take over the mission after Kitty Hawk retires. The Kennedy is the only other conventionally powered carrier left in the Navy.
Beyond the silliness this really does tick me off.
Interesting that they are so concerned about a nuclear carrier in Yokosuka. They would be better served by protesting Japanese reactors. They are constantly having accidents at a couple of their civilian nuclear facilities.
I wonder how much they will want that carrier when China starts to threaten them?
Wow. almost 75% of the people are saying we should leave... that is a pretty re-sounding "Get the Hell out" vote.
Wonder what it would do to their economy if we did leave?
Or North Korea.
From what so many freepers have said, the Japanese are the SEONCD biggest defense spenders on the planet. They MUST be able to afford a nuke carrier or three of their very own, especially since they are such avid ship builders. All this spending in spite of the neutered-ness of their consitution.
Hmmm? This doesn't fit. Or perhaps the Japanese people aren't AWARE that they are the planet's SECOND biggest spender on military defense. I wonder.
Yep. Maybe we should just leave, let the local economy crash and send a nice letter the next time the North Koreans test a missile over Japan.
My bet is Kitty Hawk's replacement is a nuke, but it will be out of Guam.
"I wonder how much they will want that carrier when China starts to threaten them?"
There are many other sensible people in Japan that understand how important force projection is going to be in the upcoming military/diplomatic maneuvering in Asia.
Don't pay too much mind to the signatories.
I doubt that they got all of their signatures from Yokosuka City. The Japanese have been protesting US nuclear vessels for the last 40 years. I'm sure they got signatures from all over the country.
That one caught me completely off guard .... but if there must be one; the certainly got the name/party correct.
CCCHPNPCYNB. Hmm does that acronym mean something in Japanese? Or did the purpose of the acronym pass by Japanese culture?
Oh, so sorry.
Growing up in Tokyo, my folks kept us home on Mayday!
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