Tokyo activists demand nuclear power referendum

National Feb. 10, 2012 - 06:45AM JST ( 59 )

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4

MiyagidadFeb. 10, 2012 - 07:11AM JST

Took 2 months to collect a paltry 250,000 signatures, should have taken 2 days. Goes to show that Tokyo/Kanto residents don't give a (%#!% about anyone except themselves. I hazard a guess the names are mainly from the older sections of society - the youth are pitifully disinterested. I was asked yesterday to please tell the world about what is continuing to happen up here, my retort was that the world doesn't show much interest any more because the Japanese people have failed to hold anyone to account. In 10 months , no criminal investigation, no politician dragged into court, no single national figure has stood up to champion the Fukushima people and the cause of denuclearisation.

I for one have had enough, we have decided to abandon our life, new house and friends in southern Miyagi, not a penny of help, less of official sympathy - the people of Fukushima have been, and continue to be treated like animals and this pathetic turn out shows few people care enough to simply add a name to a lousy petition.

Just reread this post, looks rather bitter, can't be helped - just hope any kind of poll has some positive effect - doubt that very much though.

Goodbye Japan
6

some14someFeb. 10, 2012 - 07:19AM JST

collecting signatures has no meaning...any doubt? confirm with people of Okinawa !
5

shirokuma2011Feb. 10, 2012 - 07:34AM JST

NO NUKS!!
-2

nigelboyFeb. 10, 2012 - 07:36AM JST

collecting signatures has no meaning...any doubt? confirm with people of Okinawa !

It has no meaning simply because there are no nuclear plants in Tokyo.
1

NetNinjaFeb. 10, 2012 - 07:38AM JST

@some14some I know where you are coming from? I often have the same sense of pessimism. We have to hit em where it hurts the most. Take the SOPA and PiPa acts. They nearly had to shut the Internet down to stop them. When companies thought they would lose money they changed their tune real quick.

As the Governor of Fukushima told us at the Yokohama Pacifico Nuclear Free convention last month, TEPCO and other agencies that profit from Nuclear energy have setup a complex framework in order to protect it's industry. It's going to take a lot more signatures and FORCE to smash it. You have to cut off the money to those who support nuclear energy in order to get results. Go after TEPCO's friends.

We are closer than we ever were before. There's blood in the water (and radiation) so it would be the right time to "Seize the Day". We had better do something rather than nothing...always.
6

nsg79Feb. 10, 2012 - 07:39AM JST

According to the article, collecting these signatures is only enough to 'request' a poll - any bets on the fact that this 'request' will get buried and never happen.
2

UtrackFeb. 10, 2012 - 07:41AM JST

Safe Journey to you and yours Miyagidad.
7

zichiFeb. 10, 2012 - 07:41AM JST

In the recent mandatory reactor stress tests, the NPP at Kashiwaszaki-Kariwa failed the tests on more than 100 pieces of plant. It would appear the TEPCO always put profit ahead of safety, which certainly also happened at the Fukushima plant too.

Miyagidad, sorry to hear you and your family are still struggling and especially you've not received help nearly one year since 3/11.
-5

miyazawa3Feb. 10, 2012 - 07:59AM JST

What Gai jin has to do in the rally....?
-2

UtrackFeb. 10, 2012 - 08:14AM JST

It's a shame but those signatures wont erase the situation at Daiichi. The radioactive pollen will still blow on the wind the land, sea and air will still be contaminated for years to come. It will accumulate and spread as long as Daiichi is kicking it out.
-2

iceshoecreamFeb. 10, 2012 - 08:54AM JST

Not gonna happen.
2

kchozeFeb. 10, 2012 - 09:15AM JST

This is the kind of decisions that must not be made by referendum. It's a complex decision, and there are a lot of unintended consequences from withdrawing from nuclear power, consequences that people do not know about and are hard to explain.

If you let it go by referendum, likely that people would say no to nuclear, no to coal, yes to renewables... except that renewables cannot replace nuclear and coal, especially not for an island nation like Japan. The reason Denmark can try to implement as much renewable energy as possible is that they are linked to the power grid of Europe, so they benefit indirectly from the nuclear and coal power plants in neighboring countries. If the wind doesn't blow, they just import electricity... if Japan goes to wind power, and the wind doesn't blow enough, it's screwed. The end result would be frequent blackouts and very high electricity prices. But when people go to vote at a referendum, it's not evident for them that this is what they're voting for.

That's the problem with direct democracy, everything is linked, reality is complex, but if you put questions up to people piece by piece, they end up contradicting themselves and creating rules that make it so that society is ungovernable. For example, they could vote a limit on taxation, then vote for a law forcing the government not to cut social programs, then another law forbidding deficits. All of these are popular positions in polls. But then you have a government that can't have a deficit, that has to spend more to avoid cutting social programs and that cannot raise more taxes. It's completely impossible to govern in such a context... that's why California went bankrupt. The State didn't do that bad, it's simply the the people had voted restrictive laws that prevented the government from taking the decisions they needed to make.
0

ElvensilvanFeb. 10, 2012 - 09:30AM JST

I would agree that 2 months may be quite long to collect 250,000 signatures, but we have to consider that most Japanese people are quite reluctant to sign things they are not sure of. So in a way, a lot of Japanese people are recognizing the dangers, and are standing up for what they believe in instead of just passively waiting for things to happen.
0

paulinusaFeb. 10, 2012 - 09:48AM JST

Perhaps there should be two parts to this referendum, the first being the nuclear energy question and the second being what will replace it.
0

Ranger_Miffy2Feb. 10, 2012 - 09:48AM JST

OK, JT commenters, aside from this lovely and remarkable petition, why should people DO to resolve the npp/energy situation??? An Occupy style sit-in at TEPCO and Kasumigaseki? Somehow, I don't think that would last long. Any other ideas?
-5

UtrackFeb. 10, 2012 - 10:02AM JST

TEPCO's curbside pavement in Tokyo is a hotspot I think it was 2.35 microseiverts or something anyway ( I watched a video of it being measured for radiation ) Folks have been breathing and eating foods contaminated with nuclear fallout for 11 months now and there is nothing J Govt or TEPCO can do about it. The Bans have not worked, testing has not worked. Daiichi is done in even with the workers there doing the best that they can do contaminates are still going to be coming out of those damaged reactors.
2

Jared NormanFeb. 10, 2012 - 10:11AM JST

2-3 microseiverts of radiation is actually normal for a city.
0

jforceFeb. 10, 2012 - 10:22AM JST

Rather than a referendum on this question, why not demand a whole list for voters nationally? I can think of 20 good things to vote on regarding the 3/11 disaster.
-1

Ivan CoughanoffalotFeb. 10, 2012 - 10:25AM JST

Once more, we'll have a pantomime of pretending the people are in any way involved in the workings of this feudal interpretation of democracy, we'll get vague recitals of "we must make sincere efforts", and the plants will be reopened despite failing their safety tests.

Whatever happened to our Dear Leader Ishihara's promise to open up a power plant "of indeterminate nature to be explained at a later date" within the Tokyo conurbation?
0

deepstar6Feb. 10, 2012 - 10:26AM JST

@Laz Brezer

Well, good luck writing your scripts. Directly affected english speakers in immediately affected areas would be very difficult to contact either because they have already left the nation or have moved far far away from the zone. The local residents who remain are purely out of any options. May I suggest to also include english speakers living in Tokyo who had to take indirect experience of the immediate aftermath.
0

yasukuniFeb. 10, 2012 - 10:33AM JST

Hey Miyagidad, I read your post, then clicked on your name and read every post back to July. (Were their ones before that?)

Good luck to you and your family. You obviously loved Japan and invested your life and heart here, so it's Japan's loss. Just a thought, but maybe you could write a book, or at least write some articles in some kind of media when you settle into your new home. I'm sure people would be interested, and might do some good some how.

Take care.

But, how about Okinawa? Japan needs good people man.
0

marcelitoFeb. 10, 2012 - 10:43AM JST

I understand your frustration Miyagidad - hope it all works out for you and your family..good luck! And you are right...its not for the world to fix Japan,s problems - Japanese people need to stand up for themselves once and for all and strongly demand accountability from the political and business leaders whose actions contributed to the Fukushima disaster...will it ever happen?...wouldn,t hold my breath too much
0

deepstar6Feb. 10, 2012 - 10:48AM JST

Referendum sounds good. That's right it only sounds good to ears. Things won't change much by mere signatures. Unless we "the people" demand our power from non-nuke resources these nukes will remain. A track back information of power generation must be in place for us to know from where and how our power is getting generated. Just like how we know from where our food & breverages are manufactured from. If we can choose our power sources, only then we can make any impact.
3

MiyagidadFeb. 10, 2012 - 10:54AM JST

Hi Yasukuni, thanks for heart felt comments - you are right that we put a lot into the area, we have some lovely memories and met wonderful people. However I think it is time we tried somewhere new. My wife is from Ishinomaki and mum and dad and much of our family/friends were in the ship building/breaking business - unfortunately their lives were devastated on 3.11. There seems a very different reaction among the thousands of people I have met as a volunteer and program coordinator in the tsunami areas and the officials and people's reactions to Fukushima. Miyagi and north has always been classed as the Tsunami area, a clean disaster that warrants an outpouring of goodwill, however the fact Fukushima was hit by the tsunami and there was huge loss of life and property is very much secondary and the whole Fukushima disaster is seen as dirty disaster, one where so many people are complicit that people are very guarded about their response.

Who has suffered - the children, I have heard a third of children tested recently are showing lumps in their thyroids, fatigue, nosebleeds and other conditions are rising. There are more kids that have been exposed than people who signed this petition - once again I have to say that I am incredibly disappointed in the people of Japan, the parents who turn their backs on this and as for the way of doing business/government, a fully believable situation where no one takes responsibility for this man made tragedy and noone will be held to account.

We love Okinawa, maybe one day in the distant future that could be an option, but I will wait for all of my kids to turn 20 (another 14 years) and they can make up their own minds.

I leave with a very heavy heart and feel a deep sense of shame at leaving our community, and the people we came to share our lives with, but our connections will carry on and good luck with the referendum, if it ever actually takes place.
3

zichiFeb. 10, 2012 - 11:25AM JST

I think the government is taking notice of the nations current feelings on restarting reactors, and the future of its nuclear energy policy.

NISA has postponed making a decision on restarting two KEPCO reactors at one of its NPP's in Fukui, which met the requirements of the reactor stress test. It was also recently visited by the inspectors from the IAEA, which stated the stress tests were within the standards of the IAEA .

Whenever I see the word IAEA, I just see Big Nuke trying to repair the PR damage from this disaster. The stress test have not made the NPP's any safer than prior to 3/11. The stress tests were only computer models based on the data which they knew.

Even if and when, NISA agrees to restarting the KEPCO reactors, KEPCO will still need to get the support of the local government and people. The governor stated he wouldn't support restarting the reactors until the central government issues written safety guidelines.

On nuclear energy, the battle line has been drawn. Big Nuke on one side, the majority of the people on the other, the central government in the middle.
0

SquidBertFeb. 10, 2012 - 11:38AM JST

I leave with a very heavy heart and feel a deep sense of shame at leaving our community, and the people we came to share our lives with,

There is no shame in a father taking action for the best of his children and family, leave with your head held high.
-5

nisegaijinFeb. 10, 2012 - 12:29PM JST

How about a referendum with one condition: those who vote no to nuclear power will be required to surrer all electricity usage. That's only fair. You cannot have your cake and eat it to!
0

marcelitoFeb. 10, 2012 - 12:30PM JST

SquidBert -well said indeed ! Miyagidad - the shame belongs to those in power who could /should be doing more for the people but aren`t...not you!
0

smithinjapanFeb. 10, 2012 - 12:49PM JST

The government proudly trumpets its laws about 'not being able to implement/do something without consent of the locals', but only when they agree with what the government wants to do. The government of this nation is hell-bent on restarting reactors, as they are losing money, and bribes from power companies, every day they do not, and despite not needing them in use (clearly we are getting by). So, sadly, while it's great these people are voicing their objects, said objections will go unacknowledged, save perhaps for a, "We hope for your understanding on this issue" pre-recorded response.
-1

MiyagidadFeb. 10, 2012 - 12:55PM JST

Squidbert, marcelito,

I appreciate your comments, it is difficult not to feel terrible as I pack up everything and say final goodbyes. The shame is of course upon the powers who be, but I feel I am abandoning people we care about, I know that is a deep vein of feeling among the locals we are leaving behind.

In reply to nisegaijin, simple answer here - if Tokyo people want reactors, they should be built in Tokyo, not in Tohoku - they have exported all the risk and filth up to us here - our safety was less important than theirs (less human?) . Also, who gave them the right to call the plants 'Fukushima' - this has tainted an entire prefecture that will never recover it's name - these plants are 'Tokyo' plants and should have been named thus.

Have a referendum with those issues on the table. Then the % of voters who say yes to reactors should equal the % of contaminated waste that is delivered to Tokyo for disposal or storage.
2

zichiFeb. 10, 2012 - 01:13PM JST

Admirable effort but they are 10-20 years too late. The damage has been done and we must all suffer the effects of the fallout and spread of contamination now.

While there are NPP's, there'll be a possibility of another nuclear disaster, minor or major?
0

Kent IbbottFeb. 10, 2012 - 01:21PM JST

Miyagidad ... you're in southern Miyagi? Whereabouts? I'm in that area myself, in Watari-cho (the Miyagi Watari, not the Fukushima one). I logged on via Facebook to post this, so I presume it'll appear with my real name. I can't see a way to send a PM to commenters here, so if you're interested in chatting about the situation, please contact me via Facebook. You're probably not too far from where I am.
-2

j4p4nFTWFeb. 10, 2012 - 01:37PM JST

Nuclear energy is the clean, safe and environmentally friendly choice for the future.

The people who are protesting against it either profit from, are bankrolled by, or are doing the bidding of Big Coal, Big Oil, the Chinese Communist Party, North Korea or Arab States with no freedoms. These are the parties who want to see the ruin that would come to the Japanese economy if we abandoned nuclear power.

We will never give in to them.
-1

DisillusionedFeb. 10, 2012 - 01:55PM JST

Nuclear power can be safe and efficient if it is established properly and well maintained. Unfortunately, TEPCO and the J-Gov have failed miserably creating the no-confidence feeling among Japanese and foreign people in Japan. This leaves japan in a catch 22. Most people don't want nuclear power, but Japan does not have any viable optiions at present due to investing solely in nuclear power since the 70's. Of course, going back to fossil fuels is not an option. Japan should be a world leader in geothermal energy technology cos of their geography, but again they have failed to do enough in developing an alternative energy sources. Wake up Japan! The boat is sinking!
2

zichiFeb. 10, 2012 - 01:59PM JST

Miyagidad,

I can understand and accept all of your anger over the nuclear disaster. Your decision to leave is based on personal circumstances and choices. You are young enough, that one day you could return if you wish.

To be fair, the people of Tokyo never built the Fukushima NPP. It was built by TEPCO, the government, the atomic safety agencies and 40 years ago with the full support of the Fukushima government and the majority of the people.

Over 40 years, the prefecture has received more than ¥100 billion in nuclear energy taxes plus additional donations for sport stadiums and shopping malls. Some of that money was suppose to be used to prepare for a possible nuclear disaster.

The people were farmers and fishermen, which was seasonal and meant the men leaving their communities during the winter months to find work. The nuclear power plant changed that and provided work for many, directly and indirectly.

The people and businesses of Tokyo paid for their power, and as we now know were over charged for 10 years.

The people of Tokyo didn't have much of a say in the building of the nuclear plant but Fukushima could have refused it, like some did.

Until the 3/11 nuclear disaster, the people of Fukushima gained more than those living in Tokyo.

But the policy of building any nuclear plants in a country which gets 10% of the world's most powerful earthquakes, was misguided. The government and the power companies lied to the people about the real dangers of nuclear energy.

All nuclear waste needs to stay in Fukushima, in a proper storeage and within the current no-go zone.

Miyagi will rise up again, and will be rebuilt but I expect some parts near to Fukushima may be off limits for decades.

I hope you'll continue to make comments here on JT. I think only about 30% of the people on JT actually live in Japan?
0

warnerbroFeb. 10, 2012 - 03:49PM JST

It is quite frustrating to watch the government and nuclear power industry continue to lie to the people and put business profits above children's health. Nobody in Japan has been raised or schooled with the idea that what he or she thinks about public policy means anything. That is the way the bureaucracy and hereditary politicians like it. Sure, once in a while, a new face can squeeze into the political mix but they all immediately acquiesce to the bureaucracy. The DPJ has dropped nearly all the initiatives that differentiated it from the LDP, the last gang of criminals to play at government.
2

zichiFeb. 10, 2012 - 04:01PM JST

To those who state people who oppose nuclear energy and the restarting of the reactors should give up "thief share of electrical power".

I'll gladly give up my share of electrical power, provided those who support nuclear energy agree to take "a share of the nuclear waste and spent fuel", to be stored in their gardens and neighborhoods!
0

Laz BrezerFeb. 10, 2012 - 08:14PM JST

@deepstar6. Thanks. Actually some of these comments might find there way into the script www
1

yasukuniFeb. 10, 2012 - 11:14PM JST

@Miyagidad. Like the others said - no shame in that. Sounds like you have gone beyond the call of duty. otsukaresama
1

nakamakkaFeb. 10, 2012 - 11:17PM JST

There is a rally in Yoyogi Park tomorrow Saturday, and a walk/march from Yume no Shima to Tepco HQ and Hibiya Park on Sunday. See http://nipponzanmyohoji.org/tenku.htm (in Japanese; it's the Nipponzan Myouhouji monks' website).
0

UtrackFeb. 11, 2012 - 01:18AM JST

Good luck with the protests even though it is pollen season and the people who are out protesting will get an extra dose of radioactive pollen. The only way to make J Govt really take the people seriously is for the people to leave Japan. J Govt would do anything in it's power to get a large number of people back into it's country if there was a mass exodus. A mass exodus would stop the nuclear power industry in Japan in it's tracks and save untold number of people from further contamination. Daiichi aint stopping no time soon.
3

zichiFeb. 11, 2012 - 02:25AM JST

According to the JMA, the pollen season will be about two weeks later this year.

Utrack,

The only way to make J Govt really take the people seriously is for the people to leave Japan. J Govt would do anything in it's power to get a large number of people back into it's country if there was a mass exodus.

And where would you suggest 10 million, 20 million, 50 million, 100 million, 130 million could go?

Daiichi aint stopping no time soon.

It will go on for 20 or 30 years. Even without a nuclear disaster, decommissioning a plant takes that much time.
2

nigelboyFeb. 11, 2012 - 02:31AM JST

The government proudly trumpets its laws about 'not being able to implement/do something without consent of the locals', but only when they agree with what the government wants to do.

False. The existing plants were build because they indeed got the permission from the locals. They money that they received were too tempting to turn down. If they don't want it, it's these local people and NOT the people of Tokyo have the power to shut it down forever.
0

UtrackFeb. 11, 2012 - 02:48AM JST

And where would you suggest 10 million, 20 million, 50 million, 100 million, 130 million could go?

Zichi, J Govt any Govt really will do what they want as long as the population is there to prop it up. If the population leaves and goes anywhere Mongolia, Chile, Brazil anywhere. J Govt is going to scramble to do what's right instead of just giving lip service.
2

zichiFeb. 11, 2012 - 03:00AM JST

The Fukushima No. 2 nuclear power plant was "near meltdown" after being hit by tsunami following the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, according to the head of the plant.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120209007089.htm
3

zichiFeb. 11, 2012 - 03:02AM JST

Utrack.

they can't just "go" they would require visa's and no country could even deal with even one million!
2

ZetsuFeb. 11, 2012 - 06:45AM JST

Some 250,000 people in Tokyo have signed a petition circulating since Dec 10 -more than the 214,000 threshold, 1/50th of all electors, required to request a poll.

Good start, but somehow deceiving. As Miyagidad (1st post) says:

Took 2 months to collect a paltry 250,000 signatures, should have taken 2 days. Goes to show that Tokyo/Kanto residents don't give a (%#!%

Today in tiny Switzerland wich has 5 nuclear reactors (4 NPP) and has officialy decided last year to phase out of nuclear energy (last reactor should shut down in 2034...), a citizen initiative has been deposited in the canton of Bern which counts about 980'000 people of which 15'480 have asked to simply shut down the 2nd oldest (1972) swiss NPP now. It's not done yet but I hope we'll succeed in shuting down those NPP one by one and earlier than 2034. Switzerland has no pressure to phase out, but the government decided to. Completely different situation here, less big industry pressure and so on, but still if there's a will to at least reduce and go for alternative options, just damn go for it, it's also an opportunity.

15'000 signatures is nowhere near 250'000 but hey, it's countryside Switzerland... so Tokyo should definitely have gotten there in 2 days... People of Japan, please wake up, open your eyes, say something and go for it! Where were those millions of J-people in Tokyo since Dec 10? Hiding under their kotatsu???

Before 3/11 I was planing to come back to Japan. Put everything on hold and watched, hoped donated, talked to my j-friends and after a year feel mainly deception to see the whole thing unfold. Still want to come back but failing of J-gov in this mess and shoganai attitude of some people is really pushing me to abandon my return. I miss Japan and I really hope you'll get that BS sorted out as best as can be now. But I guess it'll never be the same again. So much possibilities, but failling on strong decisions. Decieving.
0

gyouzaFeb. 11, 2012 - 09:02PM JST

What has happened since 3.11? Lets not devalue the enormous efforts of the government and volunteers who have tried to return the communities destroyed by the tsunami to something close to a building site, ready for rebuilding. Didn't happen overnight, but the scale of the disaster dictated that it was always going to take some time. Read this, then state that nothing has been done, and that no one cares.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/02/09/see-how-japan-has-rebuilt-in-the-11-months-since-the-earthquake-and-tsunami/

My heart reaches out to all who have suffered - I can't imagine the sense of loss for many.
2

zichiFeb. 11, 2012 - 09:14PM JST

Gyouza,

I fully agree with your comment. There are thousands of people, survivors and volunteers who have achieved remarkable determinations not to be defeated by the three mega disasters of 3/11. There are many major obstacles still ahead, especially with the Fukushima NPP, and although on that point I prefer truth and facts, I don't feel doom and gloom.

Every single day is a new beginning, a new start!
0

Star-vikingFeb. 11, 2012 - 10:58PM JST

MiyagidadFeb. 10, 2012 - 10:54AM JST

Good luck with your move.

Who has suffered - the children, I have heard a third of children tested recently are showing lumps in their thyroids, fatigue, nosebleeds and other conditions are rising.

I searched about that http://www.slideshare.net/u.surgery/the-epidemic-of-thyroid-nodules-which-should-undergo-fine-needle-aspiration

A quote: "Nearly 40% of the population has sonographically demonstrable thyroid nodules."

On radiation and thyroid cancer http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid/thyroid-nodules

A quote: "Ionizing radiation has been known for a number of years to be associated with a small increased risk of developing thyroid cancer. The risk is very small and the amount of radiation exposure is usually quite high. There is typically a delay of 20 years or more between radiation exposure and the development of thyroid cancer."

So these lumps are most likely natural, and not caused by the Fukushima Dai-ichi disaster.

It would certainly help if the blog-news that reports these things checked up on things a bit more - rather than trying to scare the willies out of people.
1

warnerbroFeb. 11, 2012 - 11:49PM JST

One difficulty in collecting signatures is that people know the government is monitoring activists and will take the list of signatories and do searches on them. Thereafter, right wing thugs may start visiting them as happens with people in the teachers union or those who protest against nationalistic issues. People whose employers are somehow profiting from nuclear power generation may face uncomfortable attention at work.

I agree with Star-viking that Japan's nuclear policy is sufficiently terrifying without inventing nonexistent terrors. Thyroid nodules are not rare and few become cancerous. However, the effects of radiation are almost never evaluated objectively. This is particularly true when it comes to emissions from nuclear power generation. They are evaluated under standards invented to fit political goals during the Cold War. Here is one source detailing the chronic and intentional misinformation about radiation. http://japanfocus.org/-Gayle-Greene/3672 The bias in research is so great that it is safe to say nobody knows what effects emissions from nuclear power plants have on the health of children. Worse than that, however, is that the Japanese government simply does not care.
0

UtrackFeb. 12, 2012 - 12:00AM JST

Star-viking- So these lumps are most likely natural, and not caused by the Fukushima Dai-ichi disaster.

I have heard it all now, 40% of a Local population have same medical problem but it's natural, okay.. right.

Population outflow continues in disaster-hit areas ( nhk english ) This article makes sense at the very least those who are in the environment are not saying Oh, these medical conditions are natural. They are suffering Right Now as we speak environmentally, medically, financially and J Govt rose colored glassily. That can not fight radiation so it's good to pack up and leave.
1

zichiFeb. 12, 2012 - 01:39AM JST

In Fukushima Prefecture, since the 3/11 disasters, about 33,000 people have left, out of a population of 2 million plus. In Miyagi and Iwate prefectures, a small number of people have also left because they lost everything, or can't find any local work.
0

UtrackFeb. 12, 2012 - 01:54AM JST

So almost a million people are walking around wit lumps on their necks No work, so No medical care but the state kind. That is not a every day is fresh and new picture. It's a horror story, sitting back and wallowing in fallout is not going to help them. No Occupy's or Protests are going to help them. Individuals and Small Organization Can Not Help them. Leaving will help them have a Better life. Even to Okinawa is better than where they are.
1

zichiFeb. 12, 2012 - 02:18AM JST

Utrack,

The unemployed, low paid can still get medical care. They can apply to be excused from the normal monthly health charges, they can also apply to be excused from paying the normal 30% charge when having health care. This 30% is very low when compared to America.
-2

Star-vikingFeb. 13, 2012 - 04:05PM JST

-1 Good Bad

Utrack Feb. 12, 2012 - 12:00AM JST

Star-viking- So these lumps are most likely natural, and not caused by the Fukushima Dai-ichi disaster.

I have heard it all now, 40% of a Local population have same medical problem but it's natural, okay.. right.

So almost a million people are walking around wit lumps on their necks No work, so No medical care but the state kind. That is not a every day is fresh and new picture. It's a horror story, sitting back and wallowing in fallout is not going to help them.

Mon Dieu Utrack, read the link - it's about the US population - nearly 40% of the US population has nodules that can be seen by ultrasound.
-2

Star-vikingFeb. 13, 2012 - 04:06PM JST

zichi Feb. 12, 2012 - 01:39AM JST

In Fukushima Prefecture, since the 3/11 disasters, about 33,000 people have left, out of a population of 2 million plus.

I think it's higher - lots of Fukushima cars driving in Yamagata-Ken now. Lots of people are still on the books in Fukushima, but staying elsewhere with relatives.