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Fukushima 'voluntary' evacuees to lose housing support

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Stupid, pledge billions in aid to other countries while your own people are forced to suffer. Get it right

25 ( +29 / -4 )

“The environment is safe for leading a normal life and that means we are no longer in a position to provide temporary housing,” he told AFP.

Right and just where in Japan do you live? (Should have been a follow up question for the guy here)

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Matsumoto left her family’s home 50 kilometers from the plant, after her daughter, then 12, began suffering an array of health problems, including nose bleeds and nausea.

So, obvious;y the 20 kilometer no go zone is not enough if people further away are developing health issues. When the meltdowns happened, many international experts, including ones from the US, were stating the no-go zone should be at least 50 kilometers, which was denied by the Japanese 'experts'. It seems the international experts were right. Now, they are forcing people to go back into these zones by removing their living allowances. However, for most of these 'refugees' There is nothing to go back to. They will have no jobs and the infrastructure of many areas has been shattered with many essential services like, supermarkets and department stores being shut down. These people should not go back and should fight the government and TEPCO for their subsidies and compensation, but we all know how that will go.

22 ( +23 / -1 )

Forcing people to live in a contaminated area should be considered a human rights abuse. As well as a genocide issue since this may cause premature deaths.

19 ( +22 / -3 )

Hay These people have started all over again, after the Plant stuff up their lives I was not the Tsunami. Have the Gov have Jobs and social facilities ready to go for these people to move back. I doubt it. Man Japan treat there people bad. Japan is slowly turning into a third world country this has to do with class. If you poor in Japan you stay poor. The Standard for the poor in Japan mirror that of eastern block countries of 90,s.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

"pledge billions in aid to other countries while your own people are forced to suffer. Get it right"

they will never get get it right..."its over"

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I am furious that the central government and Fukushima prefecture stigmatised and now abandoned us,”

As well you should be. But what are you going to do about it? You have to fight this administration and make yourself heard. The Japanese public should take note: the Abe regime does not care about your welfare and safety, nor do they care about the future of Japan in general. Remember that during the next election.

pledge billions in aid to other countries while your own people are forced to suffer. Get it right"

And not only that. That pathetic excuse for a PM is still insisting that nuclear is the way to go.

So, obvious;y the 20 kilometer no go zone is not enough if people further away are developing health issues. When the meltdowns happened, many international experts, including ones from the US, were stating the no-go zone should be at least 50 kilometers, which was denied by the Japanese 'experts'. It seems the international experts were right.

Not only that. The jgov used nationalist propaganda to discredit these outside sources, when in fact it was the outside trying to protect the Japanese citizens while their own government was slowly killing them off.

Now, they are forcing people to go back into these zones by removing their living allowances. However, for most of these 'refugees' There is nothing to go back to. They will have no jobs and the infrastructure of many areas has been shattered with many essential services like, supermarkets and department stores being shut down. These people should not go back and should fight the government and TEPCO for their subsidies and compensation, but we all know how that will go.

Amazing how all these so called nationalist governments are the ones that always end up destroying the countries which they govern..

very true.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

While I feel for the people of Fukushima who lost their livelihoods, it's time for these same people to realise that this government does not care about them and move on with their lives. If you don't help yourselves, you are not going to get helped. I am not by any means suggesting that the Fukushima people are lazy or self-serving but it's been almost six years and the government hasn't done anything substantial and is not going to. You folks are going to have to pick up and start over. It's sad and unfair but it's the only way you can salvage your lives.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Question: What steps have those people living in them done to find new or Jobs?

It was made clear from the outset that is only for a short period and not permanent.

I truly feel for them but the Government can't pay them indefinately using our taxes, granted some might be elligible for social welfare. Others have jobs, etc.

-12 ( +3 / -15 )

@strangerland care to comment?

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Those people need to be set up so they can earn a living and pay for there own housing - that's where the efforts should be made.

But asking them to return to an obviously contaminated area is simply ridiculous.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

They were given help finding new employment and homes, many have done so and live a good life elsewhere. . Neither are they forced to move into the contaminated zone.

My guess is that the majority refuse to move out of that area as it is ancestrsl, etc. Similar happened after other disasters.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

@strangerland care to comment?

Not really. I don't usually comment on things where I haven't got enough information to make an informed opinion. This isn't something I've looked into both sides of the story to find out whatever information I can, in order to form an informed opinion, nor be able to present a proper argument/comment.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Stupid, pledge billions in aid to other countries while you

Agreed. That money is also a kind of "welfare" for Japanese companies.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

At least a MINIMUM of 10 years support should be provided.

The power company and the lack of proper oversight by the government is to blame for them losing everything.

50 to 100 kilometers around a nuclear power plant that had major meltdowns should be the evacuation perimeter not 20. That's so close.

The govt. has money for these people but they keep choosing to use it elsewhere such as the Olympics and overseas development and aid.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Amazing. People are bleeding and developing lumps in their thyroids, but they are considered 'voluntary evacuees'. The money that the J-Gov has splashed around in other countries recently is simply to buy favor and to show an outward appearance that 'everything is OK' and a small man's attempt to display superiority.

Meanwhile, citizens here are suffering in so many ways and their calls for help are silenced. Remind me again how Japan is not a communist state?

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

People of Japan should follow the Koreans when they get government runaround! Go by the Thousands & Picket The Diet as well as Tepco Corporate Headquarters Bang them pots & pans until they Take care of Their Victims!! Shame on Abe well as these vultures in local office!

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Unbelievable.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Question: What steps have those people living in them done to find new or Jobs? Answer: It was made clear from the outset that is only for a short period and not permanent.

The government said a lot of things that were not true. Why should they choose to stick to this principle? All the money spent on rebuilding Olympic stadia could have gone to better health and rehabilitation for these victims. I seriously hope the nation rallies around them.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

They should make protest at the Olympics... they will get noticed.... I doubt the problems will be fixed by then.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Seen plenty of interviews and a common thread was I was born here and I want to die here, or this area is all I know, ...

Majority did find new jobs and Dwellings, easy to forget the news how those struggled being accepted in new schools, etc.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

I truly feel for them but the Government can't pay them indefinately using our taxes, granted some might be elligible for social welfare. Others have jobs, etc.

But you are fine with the government wasting our tax money on the black-hole of businesses who leach the life out of the country?

These people WERE told it was supposed to be temporary, but the government did little if anything to actually help them besides give them money, and from what I understand, it wasn't a whole lot either, and like the single mother wrote here, they would drop below poverty line, but I doubt she is much higher above it right now.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Yubaru you DON'T know what I am fine with and what not.

Yes, they could have done more.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

They were domestic refugees now.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I dunno, 6 years of free rent should be enough for a lot of people to get back on their feet. What is it that the comments are suggesting? 10 years? 20 years? Some other arbitrary number? Lifetime? Free rent for life for their children and grandchildren?

It does say limited support will still be offered to some who qualify. There are also other regular social programs to support single mothers like Ms. Matsumoto.

Having your life completely disrupted and needing to evacuate would truly suck. But if you are not advocating eternal housing subsidies, what is it that people consider fair?

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

For more information about this perhaps you can try on Facebook

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

I dunno, 6 years of free rent should be enough for a lot of people to get back on their feet. What is it that the comments are suggesting? 10 years? 20 years? Some other arbitrary number? Lifetime? Free rent for life for their children and grandchildren?

Osakaboy, it's a fair point but the problem is not so simple for many victims. Moving city and changing jobs in Japan is not so straight forward like in developed countries. They have been at a huge disadvantage since the incident. Too many hypothetical variations in each individuals situations to bother going into them (but, home owners becoming homeless, and livelihoods taken away for example). But, basically the J-Gov wants to send them into an unsafe place with little economy and opportunities.

I agree with the sentiment thought that it's just not possible to rely on the government for any compassionate help here, in any capacity. I guess we have to stop comparing Japan to other countries and expecting too much of it.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

the homes have been abandoned for six years, so have probably fallen apart or are full of moulds and problems of their own. But the government bought up TEPCO in order to stiff its citizens. This is criminal

4 ( +4 / -0 )

TRILLIONS to other countries literally within a week, but evacuees are STILL suffering in Tohoku, and now are going to have their support yanked because "there's no money", and because, "TEPCO hopes to return to profit".

Absolutely disgusting. These people will have no choice but to return to run down homes with possibly ferile animals running about, no social services operating, and no doubt in some cases no way to work.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

“The environment is safe for leading a normal life and that means we are no longer in a position to provide temporary housing,” he told AFP.

If the environment is safe enough for people to live "The National Diet" should be moved there for at least 5 years.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

She lived in Koriyama...it's a bustling healthy town where thousand live and work with rising land prices. I've actually visited several times since 3.11. The last time I went, the radiation monitors showed lower levels then in Shinjuku.

The woman deserves jack. I'd understand if it was closer, but a Koriyama resident who won't go back because of radiation fears is insane. But if she's that worried...it's been SIX YEARS! Make a new life elsewhere and get on with your life. How long does she expect a hand out?

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

And 'your' (sic) a semi-literate.

Prefer Strangerland, to be honest.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Abe and his cronies have failed the people of Fukushima completely. It's absolutely disgusting. A stronger media and more people prepared to stand up for themselves is needed to hold these awful politicians to account.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

The government has fouled up most if not all of the response but the out-pour for this charlatan is inappropriate. Down vote me if you like, but then LOOK UP Koriyama City. Just because it's in the same prefecture does not mean its the same condition. There are no abandoned homes in Koriyama City. There is no radiation problem in Koriyama City (at least not more than Tokyo).

Of all the thousands of people who are really suffering, this lady is NOT one of them.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Tokyo has higher levels of radioisotope contamination than Koriyama City? Dr. Mita a physician who moved his practice from Tokyo did say Tokyo should be declared uninhabitable. But even in Koriyama children will feel the affects of radioisotope contamination more so than adults.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The last time I went, the radiation monitors showed lower levels then in Shinjuku.

And then ? The last time she went, her daughter was getting weird symptoms ! Even if it's psychological illness, she suffers. And I would tell her to trust the experts about safety of air, place, food, because there have been so many cover ups, lies and fraud on the matter. The cause of these people's life disruptions is the criminal management of the nuke plant reinforced by the lack of action of authorities after small incidents, before the meltdown and since then. This family should have been given the means of permanent relocation anywhere on earth, at least 5 yrs ago.

this lady is NOT one of them.

They are all "of them". Given the scale of the "blunder", if 100% of Fukushima population had relocated, I'd say they should all get State support.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Time and again on this site and elsewhere, I have seen Fukushima stigmatized and maligned. Its people, its food products, its environment. Time and again on this site and elsewhere, I see nuclear hysteria being whipped up against the government and TEPCO, cowing institutions into an overabundance of caution in dealing with evacuees. And mostly, I see people doing fear mongering about radiation that is entirely unfounded and which is contradicted by actual, real scientists and medical personnel in the area.

You have made these evacuees believe that they are dying, and that the whole of Fukushima is some kind of blighted death zone. You have made them believe that they will become terminally ill "any day now" for six years. You have created clients for welfare, psychiatric hospitals, and various religious groups by demagoguing them ceaselessly into despair and hopelessness. People up and down the coast who lost more than these evacuees have picked up and moved on or have dug in and gotten on with their lives.

Look now upon what you have wrought. All the alleged danger and alleged threat and alleged conspiracy has turned thousands of people into having alleged symptoms to avoid getting on with their lives. They are dependent and they like it that way. And now all of us will have to pay to support them for the rest of their lives because someone told them that they are doomed by radiation beyond redemption. They cannot even trust or believe anyone who tells them that they are safe. Congratulations, you have created mental illness in these people who just wanted help during a scary time.

Who are the people who have gone on with their lives? They are simply people who ignored all the nuclear hysteria. They are not dying. They are not sick. There is nothing wrong with them whatsoever. I recently drove right past Fukushima Daiichi, as anyone can do, and the radiation levels everywhere but quite near the plant are low and dropping fast. That has been documented every day for six years. I saw people living in all but the closest areas, and they are just fine and living happily. I cannot imagine the horror that would drive someone from Koriyama (!!!) from returning home.

But that horror is certainly unfounded, and it has certainly been created by the ghouls that have fomented anti-nuclear hysteria. Shame on them. I have watched it all happen. I am a witness. Shame. TEPCO interrupted these people's lives. THere is no question about that. But anti-nuclear hysteria has destroyed their lives. It did not have to be this way.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

http://m.huffpost.com/jp/entry/10537440

This is a good article that supports 5Speedracer5 post above

Unfounded ideas have led to suffering, and misinformation is one of the biggest things to overcome for the future of Fukushima.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Seems my link didn't show on last post. Should have read Check (Evacuate Fukushima) site on Facebook

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It has been proven that constant exposure to low levels of nuclear radiation can cause Thyroid cancer. The article was published right here on Japan Today. Remember the TEPCO nuclear power plant worker who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer although he was exposed to low levels of radiation. No fear mongering just the news of events happening in Fukushima Daiichi

0 ( +1 / -1 )

One person has thyroid cancer linked to a nuclear disaster. One. And a form of cancer that is very survivable if found as early as this. Compare that to the deaths caused by the switch back to fossil fuels... 4/5 years ago experts said few would die as a result of Fukushima and everything that's happened since then proves that. That one worker has thyroid cancer not only proves that but actually screams it from the mountains.

More people have suffered because of stress than radiation. That's a fact.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

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