Campaign Against Navy Vessel Gains Ground

I was stationed in Yokosuka, Japan while on board the USS Midway. Japan does not allow nuclear ships in its ports. The U.S. Government must of ask the Japanese Government to approve of the USS Kitty Hawks replacement.

By ERIC TALMADGE Associated Press Writer

YOKOSUKA, Japan (AP) -- Masahiko Goto simply does not want a nuclear power plant in his backyard. He says it is dangerous and unnecessary, and over the past year he's collected 324,000 signatures of others who feel the same way. He's also pushed the U.S. Navy into a corner.

Goto is spearheading a high-profile movement to squelch the planned replacement of the USS Kitty Hawk with a more up-to-date nuclear-powered vessel. The Kitty Hawk is the oldest active duty ship in the Navy and the only U.S. aircraft carrier permanently deployed abroad.

For the moment, Goto's campaign appears to be winning.

FILE** The USS Kitty Hawk arrives at its home port in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, in this May 6, 2003 photo. A campaign opposition a plan to replace the Kitty Hawk, the oldest active duty ship in the Navy and the only U.S. aircraft carrier permanently deployed abroad,with a more up-to-date, nuclear-powered vessel has hit a sympathetic note with the Japanese public and collected the signatures of 324,000 people. (AP Photo/File, Koji Sasahara)



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