Anti-nuclear protestors took to the streets of Berlin on Saturday to voice their anger over the government's decision to extend the lifespan of Germany's atomic reactors. Organizers say around 100,000 people took part.
At least 38,000 people marched through the streets of Berlin to voice their anger over the government's decision to keep nuclear reactors in use beyond a deadline set by the previous government.
The demonstration was organized by various environmental and anti-nuclear groups, with high-ranking politicians from opposition parties also taking part.
People formed a human chain around Germany's parliament building, the Reichstag, and the chancellery, while using whistles and hooters to stage a "nuclear alarm." There was also a rally at Berlin's central railway station.
Organizers say around 100,000 people took part in the demonstrations, far more than expected. The police say, there were at least 37,000 protestors.
The previous government decided in 2000 to shut down all nuclear plants by 2021, but the current governing coalition of Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union and the Free Democratic Party now wants to extend that deadline by 10 or 15 years as a stop-gap measure until renewable energy sources are more developed.
The opposition parties as well as environmental and some renewable energy groups accuse the government of pandering to the big energy providers.
"The government's decision to extend the lifespans of nuclear reactors is a dirty deal and it favors companies like RWE, E.On, EnBW and Vattenfall," Juergen Trittin, the head of the Greens in parliament and former environment minister, said at the rally.
Please see the attach news in Prothom –Alo, 20.September 20010
__._,_.___
