Canoeists oppose sea-devastating plan to construct new base

About 250 local residents participated in a rally at the seashore of the Henoko district of Nago City in Okinawa in opposition to the government plan to relocate the U.S. Marines Futenma Air Station to the sea off Henoko.

On the emerald green sea offshore of Henoko, known as a habitat for an endangered species of dugong, 23 canoes formed the shape of the on-sea U.S. heliport by connecting themselves using a 2,500-meter rope, the same length as of the runway of the new base.

The participants also formed human letters spelling "NO BASE" on the coast.

Japanese Communist Party House of Representatives member Akamine Seiken attended the rally organized by the Council against the Construction of U.S. On-Sea Heliport and other residents' group. (end)