Ten to 15 marchers plan to walk from the old and dangerous Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Forked River in Ocean County to the equally old and dangerous Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant in Vernon, Vt., March 2-21. They will be joined by additional marchers along the way who will walk segments of the approximately 278-mile route.

Nearly a year after the nuclear disaster at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Facility, the truth is that the situation is far from under control. The catastrophe has already retreated into the distant past as far as most Americans are concerned. After all, it happened in Japan, not here.

But it can happen here.

Oyster Creek and Hope Creek are exact copies of the Fukushima nukes that melted down.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is requiring all nuclear plants to review their ability to withstand a Fukushima-type event.

Dangerous levels of radioactivity are still being found hundreds of miles from the site of the disaster. Almost 90,000 people living near the nukes have been forced to leave their homes with little hope of returning. In addition to the incalculable health costs and psychological trauma, the decades-long process of cleanup and decontamination of almost 1,000 square miles of land may cost as much as $250 billion – with limited prospects for success.

The Japanese government estimates that the total amount of radioactivity released into the atmosphere was approximately one-tenth as much as was released during the Chernobyl disaster. Significant amounts of radioactive material have also been released into ground and ocean waters.

Measurements taken by the Japanese government 30 to 50 kilometers from the plant showed radioactive cesium levels high enough to cause concern, leading the government to ban the sale of food grown in the area. Tokyo officials temporarily recommended that tap water should not be used to prepare food for infants.

From Wikipedia: "A few of the plant's workers were severely injured or killed by the disaster conditions resulting from the earthquake. There were no immediate deaths due to direct radiation exposures, but at least six workers have exceeded lifetime legal limits for radiation and more than 300 have received significant radiation doses.  Future cancer deaths due to accumulated radiation exposures in the population living near Fukushima have been estimated to be between 100 and 1,000. Fear of ionizing radiation could have long-term psychological effects on a large portion of the population in the contaminated areas. On 16 December 2011, Japanese authorities declared the plant to be stable, although it would take decades to decontaminate the surrounding areas and to decommission the plant altogether."

Organizers say the march is a prayer for the suffering of the Japanese people as a result of their government’s reckless nuclear policies. It is also a plea for the people of New Jersey, New York and New England to recognize the grave dangers that nuclear energy poses to our lives, our property, and all life on our Mother Earth.

Nuclear energy is neither safe nor clean. The threat of a nuclear accident at one of our own aging nuclear facilities is all too real, and the consequences would be unimaginably catastrophic.

They will march together in love and solidarity for a nuclear-free future. A more just, sustainable and compassionate world built on respect for all living beings and for the earth that sustains us is possible, now more than ever. Please join the march to help make it a reality.

The organizers are looking for local contacts in the area of Point Pleasant Beach and West Long Branch to take on the task of local organizing, and specifically finding the walkers places to stay for the nights of March 4 and 5.

"Basically we will be something like 10-15 walkers,” organizers said. “We entrust ourselves to the local community along the way, often sleeping in churches or meetinghouses or private homes. We also like to hold potluck dinners each night with the local community to share a meal and talk a little about why we are walking. If you had any thoughts about possible contacts in those areas it would be most welcome."

Local planned events include a gathering on the eve of the march Friday, March 2 in Forked River. On the first leg of the march Saturday, March 3 walkers will go from the  Oyster Creek power plant in Forked River to Toms River; Sunday will take them from Toms River to Point Pleasant Beach; and Monday they will walk to West Long Branch.

The walk was initiated by Nipponzan Myohoji, Grafton Peace Pagoda. For information call (518) 658-9301. Before the walk contact Christian Collins at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (718) 850-1094 (home) or (413) 320-2856 (cell). During the walk contact Jules Orkin at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (201) 566-8403.

Norm Cohen is executive director of the Coalition for Peace and Justice and a coordinator for the UNPLUG Salem Campaign. Learn more at www.coalitionforpeaceandjustice.org and www.unplugsalem.org. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (609) 335-8176. Comment at www.shorenewstoday.com.