Sunday May 27, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Greenpeace says it has detected radiation in fish sold in supermarkets

National Nov. 18, 2011 - 04:13AM JST ( 21 )

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

Order by Time Order by Popularity

21 Comments

-4

some14someNov. 18, 2011 - 07:15AM JST

Now japanese will call it "fishy" since it is not reported by japanese govt/organisation.
5

Star-vikingNov. 18, 2011 - 12:45PM JST

According to its own research carried out between Oct 12 and Nov 8 in eastern Japan, 47.3 becquerels of cesium per kilogram were discovered in cod

Some more information would be nice - where the samples were taken from, how many fish were sampled, what the normal caesium level in the fish concerned was.
-1

davidattokyoNov. 18, 2011 - 03:19PM JST

Interesting. Would be instructive if comparative studies could be performed elsewhere so we know what is normal. There is natural radiation in the world.

And if they find something important, I hope their change their name because Greenpeace is regarded by many as having zero credibility. They cry wolf so often it's hard to know when to pay attention to them.

But just going by the story, they found radiation of 1/10th the limit set, so it actually sounds to me like eating the fish is perfectly safe (unless the 500 limit is not stringent enough, but then Greenpeace always believes whatever limits there are are not stringent enough).
2

kurisupisuNov. 18, 2011 - 03:30PM JST

Natural radiation and some more in your food and then some more in the air and if really unlucky there might be a hots pot near your home or work-cancer at an early age might be a result!
3

zichiNov. 18, 2011 - 03:35PM JST

That is very low, but it's probably double the amount if it contained caesium-134 and caesium-137? No mention where the fish were caught?
-3

Spidapig24Nov. 18, 2011 - 03:39PM JST

Davidattokyo,

Regardless of who found it, it's pathetic that the government bodies didn't! Now we need it investigated fully and transparently.
-3

davidattokyoNov. 18, 2011 - 03:58PM JST

Spidapig24,

The article states that GP found radiation of 47.3 becquerels versus the official limit of 500, e.g. Greenpeace seems to be claiming that the fish are safe to eat in one accepts the 500 limit.

So what are you criticising the government bodies for? What are you demanding be investigated fully and transparently?
0

Spidapig24Nov. 18, 2011 - 04:12PM JST

Davidattokyo,

A couple of points you are the one questioning greenpeaces finding and saying they have zero credibility. My point is simple who is responsible for food safety in Japan? Is it greenpeace or is it the j government body. My point is simple, if it wasn't for greenpeace announcing this finding would we as a general public now about it? Yes the levels are safe l don't disagree, but it is nice to know what one is eating and whether it is contaminated or not after all it assists to make personal choices on what we eat.

As l said you criticize greenpeace yet if it wasn't for them we would not be aware of this result
4

JannettoNov. 18, 2011 - 04:43PM JST

Zero credibility? I'd trust Greenpeace over the govt. or Tepco any day.
-8

davidattokyoNov. 18, 2011 - 04:59PM JST

Jannetto,

I don't trust the government or Tepco much on this issue either, and it's great if you trust Greenpeace, but a lot of people don't trust them at all because of their various past misdeeds. That's why I suggested they should rebrand themselves, if they find something important. To lose the tainted Greenpeace name would benefit both their organization and the public.

They are claiming that the levels are safely within the limits anyway. Hopefully it stays that way.
-5

davidattokyoNov. 18, 2011 - 05:03PM JST

Spidapig24,

JFYI people don't trust Greenepace because they commit crimes and produce frivolous & misleading propaganda for their ends. People have no problem with freedom of expression but Greenpeace have frequently abused this privilege.
4

Spidapig24Nov. 18, 2011 - 05:07PM JST

davidattokyo

JFYI people don't trust Greenepace because they commit crimes and produce frivolous & misleading propaganda for their ends. People have no problem with freedom of expression but Greenpeace have frequently abused this privilege.

Taking out the crime bit it sounds like your describing TEPCO and the J Governments handling of this whole issue. Oh wait you may as well throw the crime bit back in.
4

zichiNov. 18, 2011 - 05:22PM JST

davidattokyo,

the only criminals here are TEPCO, who were requested to update 600 essential pieces of plant against earthquakes, which they refused. While other power plants increased the height of the sea walls, TEPCO didn't think it was necessary. TEPCO earned billions in profit and had time and money to update safety standards at the power plant.

The eventual cost of the nuclear disaster clean up and decommissioning will cost more than ¥25 trillion and will take more than 30 years.

TEPCO are responsible for contaminating more than 13,000 sq km of the country. Forced more than 100,000 people to flee their homes and communities.

People are having a hard time believing in the safety of food, especially from Fukushima.

I don't even know how you could even mention Greenpeace and TEPCO in the same breath. Greenpeace have been honest with their food testing and as you can see from their results is below the limit. If you haven't read the full report and are just relying on this short post, does not provide enough info for you to call it out!
1

spudmanreincarnatedNov. 18, 2011 - 06:12PM JST

This whole Govt. versus Greenpeace debate is typical of conservative right wingers blaming the progressive group for bad news. Wouldn't be sure about the safe level as stated by the powers that be after this little face saving manipulation of levels. Credibility on both sides could be better but YTF err on the side of danger?
1

spudmanreincarnatedNov. 18, 2011 - 06:12PM JST

oopps forgot link to abovehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/02/parents-revolt-radiation-levels
-1

DotobockNov. 18, 2011 - 11:01PM JST

I do not agree with their anti whale policy but now Greenpeace seems to have quit sending ships down to Antarctica to harrass Japanese whalers. Instead they are focusing on environmental issues and rightly so. Whaling is not really an environmental issue as the whales are not endangered and whale hunting these days seem to be sustainable.

In any case. This is why I like Greenpeace because of work like this. Thanks for the radiation updates, however more info please. While I prefer fish over meat, I do check the labels on fish. I stay clear of anything Miyagi and Tohoku and Chiba. Southern Japan is OK and Chilean, Norwegian, American fish I welcome more than I used to these days. In Japan, remember though, that if the package says Chiba. It does not mean that the fish was taken in Chiba. It means that the boat delivered the fish in Chiba. You never know where thew fish has been swimming. If you do take time to do research however, you know that fish swim in big circles or in patterns. Katsuo swims from Kochi in SHikoku to Chiba then back to Shikoku again and so on.

These guidelines to how much is not dangerous. Are these guidelines for grown up males? Pregnant women? Children??
0

nigelboyNov. 19, 2011 - 02:08AM JST

Regardless of who found it, it's pathetic that the government bodies didn't! Now we need it investigated fully and transparently.

Spidapig24

http://www.jfa.maff.go.jp/j/sigen/housyaseibussitutyousakekka/index.html

The information is all there. It's transparent. (facepalm)
-5

Elbuda MexicanoNov. 19, 2011 - 05:43AM JST

And this is why my wife, Japanese and I very Mexican AVOID like the plague and fish, seafood from say FUKUSHIMA, Ibaraki, Chiba etc..does not take a rocket scientist to see where the Dai Ichi Nuclear power plant is, see which way the ocean currents flow and BINGO you have a rough idea where and why that FISH, SEAFOOD will be contaminated by radiation, Go Ganbarou Tohoku??
0

DotobockNov. 19, 2011 - 12:32PM JST

Spidapig24

http://www.jfa.maff.go.jp/j/sigen/housyaseibussitutyousakekka/index.html

The information is all there. They are testing each type of fish, sea food, vegetables. The question is not if the Japanese government is testing or not, they obviously are, and doing a decent job at it. However, the more testing the better. I would also like to see various ward and city offices setting up places where anyone can go and test their food for free.
2

zichiNov. 19, 2011 - 12:45PM JST

The government is testing food as are others like some universities. All food can't be tested just a core sample.

To test food for radiation it must be destroyed, or at least cut up into very small pieces. Testing one sample takes more than 15 minutes. The equipment must be cleaned before the next sample is tested.

Some companies are working very hard to come up with quicker methods and without destroying the food. Especially needed for fish, so they can move along a belt and be tested.

The JA should be used to test every farm in the country.
0

horrifiedNov. 19, 2011 - 01:12PM JST

The 500 Bq/kg is not a limit for safety. It has nothing to do with safe or not safe. It is just a legal limit for producers to abide by. That limit is based on the LNT model which shows no level of radiation contamination is "safe."

Also, Greenpeace does not do their own testing. They are simply hiring out the testing to a reputable company, which also publishes the same test results. Nothing fishy here.