the_STIG's past comments

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    the_STIG

    The Japan Federation of Bar Associations have a different view of this:

    http://www.nichibenren.or.jp/activity/document/statement/year/2011/11...

    Summary translation: Under the government's project, "Tweets and blogs on nuclear power and radiation issues are monitored around the clock and inaccurate information will be promptly corrected and citizens are guided to correct information". However, some information on nuclear power and health effects of radiation have not reached scientific consensus and definition of "accurate information" is not clear. Government's criticism on "inaccurate" information will intimidate senders of information and is likely to violate freedom of speech under Article 21 of the Constitution. Guiding citizens to information that government finds accurate, would restrict flow of information with different contents and limit the citizens' rights to know, interfering them in shaping opinions on nuclear power. We are deeply concerned it is a significant problem that would shake the very foundation of democracy. Apparently the government's disclosure of information on nuclear accident is not sufficient. The government didn't disclose SPEEDI right after the accident and has still not revealed what happened to RPV in the accident. The government covered up for quite some time the fact of meltdown and does not present sufficient grounds for their benchmarks relating to radiation levels and health impacts. Furthermore, incident by Kyushu Electric Power Company with fake e-mails in support of nuclear power, revealed that information on nuclear power has been unfairly manipulated. According to today's press report, Nuclear Safety Agency asked Chubu Electric Power Company to make local residents pose pre-arranged questions in favor of nuclear power at a government-sponsored symposium in August, 2007. Under such circumstances citizens including those who were not familiar with internet, have turned to tweets and blogs by experts and journalists for accurate information and exchange information that benefits each other. The govenment should disclose to citizens wider range of, detailed information based on sufficient grounds. Not doing so and restricting information flow among citizens constitute state's control of information. The fact that there has been already manipulating of information going on as stated above, indicates seriousness of this problem. Japan Federation of Bar Association requests immediate termination of the project. Kenji Utsunomiya Chairman Japan Federation of Bar Associations July 29, 2010 (This text is free to use under Creative Commons rules, but the author the_STIG prefer to be informed first.)

    Posted in: Gov't denies online, Twitter censorship over nuclear crisis

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