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Shaye Skiff, kskiff@foe.org
Pikachu Protest Against Japanese LNG Expansion to Take Place During Prime Minister Kishida’s White House Visit, Wednesday, April 10
#SayonaraFossilFuels
On April 10-11, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will meet with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington, DC, address Congress, and join a trilateral meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.. This visit comes on the heels of the Biden Administration’s decision to pause pending LNG export approvals to non-free trade countries after intense pressure from frontline communities. Many don’t realize that Japan is one of the largest financiers of U.S. LNG export projects and is working to derail clean energy transitions across Asia and globally.
Japanese financing of LNG projects has a legacy of environmental and human harm, especially along the US Gulf Coast. Japanese private banks (MUFG, Mizuho, SMBC) are the top three financiers for LNG export terminals in the US, and the US is the largest exporter of LNG in the world. Though Biden’s LNG pause was a positive step, the continued exploitation of vulnerable communities for LNG projects is alarming. Japan is also one of the largest public financiers of gas projects in the Gulf and throughout the world, most recently approving billions in public finance for gas projects in Australia, Vietnam and Mexico. Protesters will call attention to Japan’s role in promoting dirty energy in the US and abroad, and urge Kishida and Biden to say #SayonaraFossilFuels
WHAT: Pikachu Protest of Japan’s LNG projects during Japanese Prime Minister
Kishida’s visit to the White House. People will be in large inflatable Pikachu suits holding a large cut out of Kishida’s face, and banners and signs that say “Japan Stop Poisoning US Communities” and “Sayonara Fossil Fuels.”
WHEN: Wednesday, April 10th – 9:30 AM
WHERE: Lafayette Square, White House
WHO: The event is organized by Oil Change International, Friends of the Earth US, and Texas Campaign for the Environment
PHOTOS will be available HERE immediately following the event.