Sunday May 27, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Victims struggling six months after quake, tsunami

National Sep. 10, 2011 - 06:45AM JST ( 44 )

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44 Comments

1

Ranger_Miffy2Sep. 10, 2011 - 07:58AM JST

Pretty decent wrap on the six-months situation.
1

Nicky WashidaSep. 10, 2011 - 08:21AM JST

Impressed that they put "immediate" into speech marks. Even the press recognise this for the insult to peoples intelligence that it is.
1

smithinjapanSep. 10, 2011 - 09:07AM JST

"Areas close to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant may be uninhabitable for longer."

I'm sorry, but I look forward to the day 20 years down the road when the government stops suggesting it'll just be a bit longer before the people who lived around the plant can go home and they decide to tell them it'll be uninhabitable for another hundred years. They need to say this flat out and relocate the people ASAP. It's disgusting how these people are forced to live and who have nothing because the government is busy with elections and what not.
2

smithinjapanSep. 10, 2011 - 09:08AM JST

"Parents living nearby face a nightmare dilemma: evacuate their children or live with the fear that radiation will make them sick. Experts agree that children face a higher risk than adults from radiation-linked cancers."

Morons call it a dilemma; I say it's a no-brainer. GET THE KIDS OUT!
0

CrickySep. 10, 2011 - 09:22AM JST

Pathetic...6 months, Japan is showing the world how to treat it's own citizens with complete distain. Duh... Tourism is down Mass slaughter 20,000 dead and what do they do.....?
1

zichiSep. 10, 2011 - 09:30AM JST

The Fukushima power plant and evacuation zone is one of the most dangerous places on the planet and will remain so until the plant is decommissioned and dismantled, which will take about 30 years. But no one will be able to live in the area again for hundreds of years. The evacuees should be told the truth so they can move on in their lives.

You can only have a cold shutdown with nuclear fuel rods which have not melted. This is not the case since most of the fuel rods in reactors 1-3 had a meltdown and melt-through creating a deadly nuclear cocktails of Corium weighting more than 300 tons. Some of that Corium is in the basement of No1 reactor building covered by highly reactive water which TEPCO is pumping out. But what happens with the Corium when there's no water covering it?

It will be a nightmare trying to recover the Corium and since this is the first event of this kind, there's no previous experience or data.

The evacuation zone should be increased to 40-50 kms.
1

Christina O'NeillSep. 10, 2011 - 09:54AM JST

Is it time for the Japanese population to organise a nationwide protest in support of their fellow country men women and children who are begining to lose hope in Fukishima?
1

FoxieSep. 10, 2011 - 10:15AM JST

That protest will never happen in disciplined Japan, Christina. This was probably the worst disaster that ever happened on this planet. The scale is just too immense. Yes, a lot more could have been done. Let's just hope it will soon.
0

zichiSep. 10, 2011 - 10:22AM JST

Tomorrow there are many protests and demonstrations planned. Check the web!
3

NRT00Sep. 10, 2011 - 10:40AM JST

Please beware that the phrase "no immediate health risk" is as meaningless as "safe levels of cesium" in water and food. The Physicians for Social Responsibility state that the only safe level for internal radiation is zero. A single atom of cesium internally can cause cancer because it is with you 24/7. Finding cesium in urine and blood is proof of wide spread contamination. The Japanese Government is failing it's citizens miserably in protecting them from contamination by doing inadequate testing of food and water and by still allowing the planting of crops in contaminated areas. If you have children, I would seriously consider leaving Japan, at least until they can better regulate food safety. I understand the difficulty of this but frankly it could be a matter of life and death.
2

zichiSep. 10, 2011 - 10:41AM JST

The population of Fukushima is around 2 million. Since the Fukushima nuke power plant started the prefecture government has received more than $100 billion in nuke taxes from TEPCO. Some of that was suppose to be used for the day a nuclear crisis happened. They didn't even build a single proper evacuation center nor did they have a plan to even evacuate the people living near the plant. There was no radiation measurements and no alarm system to warn people to flee. What happened to that $100 billlion?
1

zichiSep. 10, 2011 - 11:07AM JST

I have a friend whose family live in Miyagi, they survived the disaster and only lost one home. She has a younger brother in his 20's, university educated who had a hard time finding a job after the disaster. Employers are using the disaster to pay less wages or even free labor. He was offered work if he worked for the first three months and then they would decide whether or not to employ him. Or companies are offering work paid at less than the legal minimum wage of about ¥750 per hour. He's currently in one of those jobs earning ¥500 per hour.

Following the disaster, the unemployment rate is now twice the national level which means more than 20%.

Many people lost all their identity which makes it very difficult to claim unemployment benefit.

The reconstruction needs to start, like today, so that employment can be created and there needs to be a local law that it's first offered to a local person before some gang of workers from another part of the country.
-1

DisillusionedSep. 10, 2011 - 11:15AM JST

It is hard to determine what Japan's priorities are in regards to the triple disaster. Is it relocating the people, rebuilding the infrastructure of north-east Japan, resolving the nuclear crisis in Fukushima or covering up their dithering response. Sadly, it seems to be the latter. When you speak to 'Naoki Average' about this the response is always the same - Shame! The ever-so proud Japanese are just embarrassed by the way the events of the last six months have unfolded and with good reason!
0

MaitakeSep. 10, 2011 - 11:37AM JST

Victims struggling six months after quake, tsunami

Ya think??

I predict another few headlines: "Victims still struggling 1 year after quake, tsunami"

and a little later down the road...

"High cancer rates of children linked to Fukushima nuclear crisis"
0

zichiSep. 10, 2011 - 12:07PM JST

Many rice farmers within the various disaster zones have lost their fields to salt water or radiation contamination. It could take several years to rebuild the contaminated fields.

There's a strange story with rice, or at least I think it's strange.

Because of a WTO agreement forced on the country Japan has to import 700,000 tons of high grade rice from California. This rice is never sold on the domestic market and instead it's stored in government silos until near rotten when it's released for animal feed. The quality of this rice is equal to good Japanese rice.

Sounds more like taking coal to West Virginia?

Currently there are something like 1.7 million tons of this rice in storage costing $144 million in storage fees and running costs.

Why not give this rice to the farmers who have lost their fields which they can sell on and start making a living again. It could be packaged and labelled has "American Grown Disaster Rice" or something?

And it's free of all radiation. I for one would buy it.
1

cactusJackSep. 10, 2011 - 12:32PM JST

Please don't rebuild in the tsunami zones ever again or this will be a repeating disaster.
1

Darren BrannanSep. 10, 2011 - 12:54PM JST

7.5 trillion terabequerels of plutonium were leleased from the reactors.. This from Japan's report to IAEA. Half life of 29000 yrs. The government hasn't drawn attention to it but it did create safety standards for uranium and plutionium in food. 1 bq. What is a worry is that a report came out yesterday that there has been a suuden spike of iodine emissions in Iwate and Tokyo. I am of the understanding that iodine indicates Uranium activity but maybe Johannes or Heda can explain that one way or the other. It could be an indication of further problems at Dai Ichi. Mybe not. Either way the land near Dai Ichi will not be safe in our lifetimes.
0

Nicky WashidaSep. 10, 2011 - 01:17PM JST

Darren - do you have a link to yesterdays report about the iodine spike in Tokyo and Iwate? Thanks.
5

Nicky WashidaSep. 10, 2011 - 01:21PM JST

Morons call it a dilemma; I say it's a no-brainer. GET THE KIDS OUT!

I agree with you SmithinJapan - but send them where? For many of these people, their whole families for generations have lived in the same area. There is nowhere to send them to.

So the whole family move away - what will they do for money? How do they pay for their accommodation? Maybe the Mother and kids move away and the father stays. But what if he no longer has a job because of the disaster?

And people are hvaing to make these decisions with the trauma of having lost homes, livelihoods, loved ones and so forth.

Just wanted to point out that some of these people are not morons, they are human.
-1

zichiSep. 10, 2011 - 01:29PM JST

The internal radiation level in Fukushima children dropped once they had left the prefecture and went to live in a safe place.
0

Darren BrannanSep. 10, 2011 - 01:52PM JST

and one kid (boy I think) stayed, and his cesium levels are actually rising, from a report I read last week.

Nicky http://www.zakzak.co.jp/society/domestic/news/20110909/dms1109091222007-n1.htm iodine has an 8 day half life.On the 25th of August there was a spike in the waste water sludge centres. There had been none for a while and then it jumped to 2300 Bq/L and then back down to 480 2 days ago. (In Okushu city Iwate) from the 15th -16th they were getting a much lower 150 bq in Tokyo's processing centres.Tepco claims their own monitoring stations at Dai Ichi showed no unsual event or emissions.
2

Juan RodriguezSep. 10, 2011 - 01:52PM JST

I am not being pessimistic here, rather more realistic; it will take a long time for Japan to clean this whole mess up. It is very sad that the unfortunate whom were affected by this disaster will have to start their life all over again, It will not be an easy task at all, definitely it will take a lot of effort, strengh, and willingness on their part. I know you all expect the government to expedite the reconstruction process so we can put it behind us, but you can't simply wait for them, especially if you have little ones. Remember there were a lot of people that perished on 03/11, so at the end of the day if you have survived this catastrophe, you owe it to yourself to keep busy living & fighting, regardless the obstacles in your way.
1

zichiSep. 10, 2011 - 01:56PM JST

The Decontamination Law passed the Diet without deliberation a week ago. Under the law the Government is only responsible for decontaminating the evacuation areas and other areas exceeding 20mSv/yr.

And the people responsible for the clean up are all from pro-nuke agencies. Go and figure!
-6

AsagaoSep. 10, 2011 - 02:38PM JST

@nicky. This is a serious disaster, not a holiday plan. They just have live with the fact they have to move and start a new life. Forget the past. They are lucky to not of been swept way by the tsunami. Staying, wit kids, is like standing in front of the tsunami, rather than moving to higher ground.
2

It"S MESep. 10, 2011 - 02:45PM JST

I fully agree with Nicky.

Easy to talk when you don't have to make those decisions yourself.

Many kids that been moved are facing serious bullying, etc in their new locations, that is if they could find a school that had room to take them. Ditto for parents many who are now working at minimum or below wages in the new locations and also are separated from their friends support network.

For those families that moved their future is still as uncertain as if they had stayed. Add in separations, etc.

Only yesterday they talked to a father on Tv whose family left and he stayed behind to man the petrol station he owns and he sez there is just no enough business left and he might have to foreclose, etc.

As was said not that easy, lots of things to consider.
4

Nicky WashidaSep. 10, 2011 - 04:19PM JST

@nicky. This is a serious disaster, not a holiday plan. They just have live with the fact they have to move and start a new life. Forget the past. They are lucky to not of been swept way by the tsunami. Staying, wit kids, is like standing in front of the tsunami, rather than moving to higher ground.

Believe me Asagao, I am painfully aware of that. But to call people struggling to make these life-changing decisions and plans "morons" is just a bit much, I feel.
-2

manta60Sep. 10, 2011 - 04:21PM JST

>

This was probably the worst disaster that ever happened on this planet. Errr, I don't think so.
0

Nicky WashidaSep. 10, 2011 - 04:21PM JST

PS thanks for the link Darren.
-4

manta60Sep. 10, 2011 - 04:25PM JST

The quote function is crap. Anyway my above comment was aimed at foxie who said this was the worst disaster that ever happened on this planet. What a ludicrous thing to say. Only someone who thinks anything that happens outside of Japan could make such a dumb statement.
-2

manta60Sep. 10, 2011 - 04:26PM JST

outside of japan is irrelevent was what i meant to type, ahh not my day.
0

FoxieSep. 10, 2011 - 06:05PM JST

I don't know how you measure disasters, manta. If it is by number of casualties, then I agree that the China floods has been the worst. But we have never seen a triple combined disaster like this, earthquake, then tsunami, then a nuclear crisis which is still going on.
1

Christina O'NeillSep. 10, 2011 - 06:22PM JST

The plight of those in Fukishima is no longer headlines in Europe, it is assumed by almost everyone I talk to about the ongoing situation that the Japanese goverment has resolved all of the problems. They are unaware that the children remain dangerously close to the contamination that may seriously effect their future health, that many evacuees remain in shelters and temporary accomodation.Their is only one way as far as I can see, to shame the Japanese goverment into accelerated action and that is by making the headline news to put Japan right back into the international media arena.The population of Japan would have to do this themselves, one massive nationaly organised march on the Diet in Tokyo. I think that until the Japanese stand united in protest the situation will remain critical for many months to come. Those that do not wish to attend the rally may find putting pen to paper and bombarding the goverment with protest letters may also help to bring home the message that this goverments priority is to the people they were electected to serve in all Prefectures
0

zichiSep. 10, 2011 - 07:20PM JST

"The plight of those in Fukushima is no longer headlines in Europe, "

This is equally true in America too but I'm actually grateful. My mother and step father live in Florida and when CNN was bashing out daily scary headlines meant I had to spend much of the time with email and Skype. This is also true of all my relatives back in the UK.

Tomorrow, the 11th many protests have been planned.....
0

Samantha Zoe AsoSep. 10, 2011 - 07:54PM JST

For those out there who shout with righteous indignation that parents in Fukushima areas should 'just get their kids out'. The families that had the means to do so, have long gone. What if you have no family living elsewhere to help or take you in? No job to go to? Japan isn't known as a welfare state. Infact, I am severely shocked when reading headlines about families that have relocated experiencing bullying problems due to radiation concerns. Whilst I have met incredible individuals with huge hearts, the country as a whole couldn't be termed as 'fuzzy wuzzy'! There isn't in reality as much support, financially, physically and emotionally available as these families need. The government needs to get a grip on reality and step in to help it's own folk. Most of my Japanese friends seem to be in denial about the whole situation and make appropriate sighing and nodding gestures when bringing up the topic of the kids still living in Fukushima. That seems to be as far as it goes. Heaven help Tokyo when the big shaky comes.
0

Tokkō TaiSep. 10, 2011 - 09:14PM JST

Nuclear Power is very bad idea. Not necessary. Should be finished all over world.
-1

Zambezi DanSep. 10, 2011 - 09:43PM JST

Tokko Tai above is absolutely correct. Nuclear power was a real dumb idea from the very start. Too expensive, and way too dangerous, plus it creates all the stuff dangerous despots and psycho regimes need to make nuclear weapons.
0

Tokkō TaiSep. 10, 2011 - 09:44PM JST

Thank you Zambezi san.
-1

Darren BrannanSep. 10, 2011 - 10:26PM JST

My friend ( a teacher) said to me yesterday: so Darren.. Did you notice that all the news about Fukuichi and cesium has disappeared on Japanese Tv? What do you thinks us Japanese, really strong and stoic or just a silly bunch of sheep?'

The Japanese know the government and media are hiding things and they know they have to live with it.. What this guy did say was ' I can't believe people in japan do not demonstrate, riot or make a fuss'

My answer ' about halfway between both descriptions'

A lot of Japanese are being very proactive. The okfood blog which lists the safest options based on many japanese calling and canvassing food makers. The mother's groups campaigning for survey meters to scan school lunches. People demanding justice for the children in fukushima. All softly softly but twitter is the best thing to happen for freedom of speech in Japan. Ppl in fukushima are getting better info from twitter and npos than any govt. Body.
-2

manta60Sep. 10, 2011 - 10:41PM JST

Zambezi Dan. Two points, 1st, compared to coal, nuclear power isn't dangerous, its the profit obsessed idiots like tepco that manage it that are dangerous, 2nd, no country that has developed nuclear energy first has gone on to make nuclear weapons, its ALWAYS weapons first. Nuclear energy IS necessary, at the moment, its not perfect but at the moment there is NO viable option. Unless you want to go back to living in a cave.
0

Alex80Sep. 11, 2011 - 12:05AM JST

The plight of those in Fukishima is no longer headlines in Europe

Yeah, and do you know why? I think this is called "censorship", but some people seem to think we can trust Europe or Usa... <_<;
1

tajSep. 11, 2011 - 10:05AM JST

"The plight of those in Fukishima":

Interesting that the majority of the discussion on this thread focuses only on Fukushima, and forgets the whole rest of the coast: the tsunami victims, the devastated communities. I wonder if it's because of the influx of readers with little or no connection to Japan. If you're based in Europe or North America, the only way to feel connected to the story is to worry about whether the contamination could spread that far, and to wonder if a similar disaster could hit a reactor near you.

I wish there was more focus on the rebuilding, the need for buses to an from temporary house clusters, the need to have ports rebuilt, etc..
-1

zichiSep. 11, 2011 - 10:14AM JST

Fukushima is no longer news in Europe or the U.S. because news broadcasting always moves on.....

Out of a population of 2 million, about 60,000 have left Fukushima Prefecture and most likely the numbers will increase in the coming months and years.

There is now the "Fukushima Stigma" with landlords refusing to rent accommodation, or schools refusing to accept kids from Fukushima. This happened with the atomic bombing survivors.
0

tajSep. 11, 2011 - 04:59PM JST

"Fukushima Stigma"

Is that actually true, Zichi, or just some rumours being floated about to sell trashy tabloids?
0

zichiSep. 11, 2011 - 05:34PM JST

I believe "Fukushima Stigma" to to be true, since I read it in the media but I have no resources for checking stories?