- Representatives of 46 newspapers in Japan have met to analyze their collective news coverage of the Fukushima accident. 28 of the papers, or 61%, have run editorials calling for the complete abolition of nuclear power in Japan, 14 (30%) have called for a gradual withdrawal from reliance on nukes, and two favor keeping the nuclear option open. Those newspapers most opposed to nukes include The Mainichi Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, and Tokyo Shimbun – three of the largest daily circulations in Japan. The two in favor of nuclear include the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s largest-selling paper, and the popular Sankei Shimbun. Of the two major Fukushima dailies, one calls for a gradual withdrawal and the other declined to comment. The only other paper to not comment was the Fukui Shimbun. (Fukui Prefecture is the home of the only two operating nukes in the country.) In addition to the op-ed survey, editors were asked how they would rate their initial coverage of the accident, and all said they could have done a better job. They feel they relied too much on the press statements of the Tokyo government and Tepco, which have since been judged by all accident investigative panels to have been less than transparent and at times incorrect. Finally, some newspapers were critical of their peers regarding the effects of radiation releases from F. Daiichi. Jun Sakuma, editor of the Fukushima Minpo, said “I get the feeling that Tokyo-based national newspapers are focusing on the risks, so I think reporting that may lead to excessive worries could be inappropriate.” (Asahi Shimbun)
- Many food stores in Japan have set their own radioactive Cesium limits, below the national standard of 100 Becquerels per kilogram. A store in Tokyo (Catalog House no Mise) has been selling agricultural products from Fukushima. It has set its own Cesium limit at 40 Bq/kg and displays the test results for all to see. Their independent testing and low limit has resulted in an increase in agricultural sales of Fukushima foods. One employee explains why she buys the Fukushima foods, “I can buy goods at ease because they display the test results. Recently, I have come to feel that I don’t have to worry more than necessary.” The Aeon food company has an even more restrictive limit of 15 Bq/kg. Aeon says they have also seen an increase in Tohoku region-sourced sales, especially seafood, but that some customers still feel anxieties about buying foods produced near F. Daiichi. According to the Fisheries Agency says the level of contamination in the fish caught off Tohoku has dropped enough to allow stores to reduce their standards well below the national limits. In fact, the Agency reports that with most locations there is no detectable Cesium in the waters, which suggests that eventually all seafood restrictions will end. (Mainichi Shimbun)
- The first detailed radiation survey within 3 kilometers of F. Daiichi has begun. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is using a drone helicopter to take the first look at radiation fields closest to the power complex, beginning with Futaba town. Although there is a firm ban on airplane flights within 3km of F. Daiichi, the law does not apply to unmanned flight technology. The JAEA helicopter can cover a one square-kilometer area every two hours, with readings taken at between 30 and 100 meter elevations, depending on topography and the height of buildings. The readings will be plotted and color-coded on maps. A full report on the results is expected by the end of October. (NHK World)
- Prime Minister Noda has “reshuffled” his cabinet and replaced former Disaster Minister Goshi Hosono with Hiroyuki Nagahama. This has met with considerable concern in Fukushima Prefecture where officials fear the change will only add more delays to the on-going decontamination efforts. In Naraha, Mayor Yukiei Matsumoto said,”With problems piling up–from decontamination work, construction of interim storage facilities to compensation payments–the change in environment minister will have a massive impact on us.” Okuma Mayor Toshitsuna Watanabe said: “Mr. Hosono visited our town many times and was diligently tackling the problem. To be honest, I wanted him to stay on. Including a concrete picture of the facilities, there are still things that are unclear to us. So I’d like him [Nagahama] to give more explanations about the construction proposal.” All officials feel Tokyo could speed up decontamination and repopulation if they wanted, but this sends a message to Fukushima that this might not happen. “I want the new minister to actually see how much help is needed in this disaster-hit area. In keeping with what Hosono has already done, I want the minister to speed up decontamination operations,” said Namie Mayor Tamotsu Baba. Sadayori Aota, a restaurant owner in Namie, said, “I feel politicians care more about the next election than the lives of people in the affected areas.” (Yomiuri Shimbun)
- As expected, Hakodate Mayor Toshiki Kudo has announced formal plans to file legal action against the resumption of nuclear construction at the Ohma power station. Although Hakodate is in a neighboring Prefecture, and located across some 23 kilometers of open sea from Ohma, the mayor feels obligated to take this action because he believes the plant can no longer be judged as being safe and no new emergency evacuation plans for Hokkaido have been created by Tokyo since the political boundaries of evacuation zones were expanded to 30km. “If the village is cut apart by tsunami or other disasters, where can we escape to?” questioned Mayor Kudo. He further demanded an indefinite freeze on Ohma’s construction because he says the reason for it being built is unclear and its operation could cause rumors that would damage the local fishing industry. Some other local mayors supports Kudo’s move – Koichi Iida of Kazamura Village in Aomori Prefecture near Ohma. He said, “I didn’t expect J-Power would come here this hastily. We haven’t approved of the construction yet,” and demanded that new evacuation plans be a prerequisite for the resumption of construction. In addition, Hokuto Mayor Toshimine Takaya said, “We, along with the city of Hakodate, will call on the company to freeze the construction.” Nanae Town Mayor Yasukazu Nakamiya said, “They’ve learned nothing from the lessons of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.” Hokkaido Vice Gov. Kenichiro Tada added, “The decision to restart the construction is extremely regrettable. Our awareness toward the safety of nuclear plants has changed a great deal in the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear crisis.” (Mainichi Shimbun)
- A colleague in Japan has sent us a link to the English translation of an award-winning essay on the socio-political and psychological repercussions of Fukushima. Dr. Jun Takada of Sapporo Medical University takes a highly critical approach towards the government and Press for encouraging irrational fears of radiation exposure. The entire essay can be read at… http://www.apa.co.jp/book_ronbun/vol4/2011einglish.html
This site requires a lot of work. We hope you find our efforts valuable and rewarding. Please consider offering your support. There is no minimum amount. Feel free to donate as you see fit, without restriction. Thank you...
