Gov't names 4 more radiation 'hot spots' near Fukushima plant

Since the March 11 disaster, Japan has raised the legal exposure limit for people, including children, from one to 20 millisieverts per year—matching the safety standard for nuclear industry workers in many countries.

A twenty fold increase. Ouch.

Didn't they do the same with Mercury at Minamata?

The Fukushima Governor, Yūhei Sato and Miyagi Governor, Yoshihiro Murai assisted, protected and promoted the use of MOx fuel in the nuclear facilities in their prefectures, especially Murai's efforts to persuade the Onagawa plant in Ishinomaki to accept MOx fuel, the first in the nation to do that and a decision that weighed heavily on the Fuushima decision to accept that poison.

Check these out: http://cnic.jp/english/newsletter/nit135/nit135articles/nw135.html#onagawa http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9E9Q0I00&show_article=1

They are complicit in this disaster and still in positions of power, hopefully they will go when Kan does.

Japan's leaders should be charged with willful intent to do harm for their failure to protect children and families in the wake of this disaster. It is shameful to raise the limit to that of nuclear workers for children. How can any rational human being think that is ok? Not to mention the lack of emotional intelligence and heartlessness necessary to make such a decision.

Many of us from abroad have long thought that Japan's leaders are as corrupt as some of their SE Asian peers, but just far better at putting an acceptable public face on it. But this disaster has revealed the depth of self interest, corruption and complicity in acts not beneficial to the nation by many of the key leaders in government and industry.

Miyagidad. I am sorry, but replacing Kan would be like trying to scratch the surface off a malignant skin cancer. It will mean nothing at all as he will be replaced by people from the same broken establishment. Even those calling for Koizumi to return fail to see that the problem is not the PM, nor the parties. It is the entire system of government and the lack of representation that the Japanese people suffer under.

The system must be replaced with one that does not allow a repeat of the current inbred nature of politics in Japan. It must be a truly representative system. Then and only then can we resolve Fukushima and assure that such leadership failures do not plague us the next time Japan faces a crisis.

The people of Japan must stand up and demand change.

You don't have to be an rediation expert to know that children are at the highest risk. These people really are clueless.

Since the March 11 disaster, Japan has raised the legal exposure limit for people, including children, from one to 20 millisieverts per year—matching the safety standard for nuclear industry workers in many countries.

Yeah, that's right, put children in the same bracket as "nuclear industry workers". Japan would rather have thousands of people with radiation related illness in the future, rather than have people moved to safer areas.

Is this a silent genocide or something?

The Government just do not care! It's unbelievable. This is an embarrassing another embarrassing another embarrassing another embarrassing....Killing your own people. Guess children do not vote so shogani....ne

Japan on Thursday recommended 59 more households should evacuate from four areas considered radiation “hot spots” near the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, officials said.

Recommended??? How about evacuated? How about compensated?

Where's the class action lawsuit suing the gov't everyday of your life and your children's life?

Tens of thousands of people have moved to shelters from areas in and beyond the no-go zone around the plant, including from a wider 30-kilometre zone where people were first told to stay indoors and later urged to leave.

I would not be surprised if the evacuees were served the tained beef just like it's stated in the article about there being 1500 head of contaminated cattle whose beef went to school lunches and stores. I am still in shock.

There is radiation all over the food,in the air,and in the water. Not only in Fukushima but in major metropolitan areas in Tokyo, Dr Chris Busby has shown that even at the height of atomic bomb testing in the Pacific in the 50s and 60s that people in Tokyo are receiving radiation exposure hundreds of times greater in 2011.

Watch his lecture on u stream.

It is particularly chilling when he shows that car air filters collected in Fukushima and Tokyo areas show high radioactivity!

The real news is that there are hot spots ALL over Honshu!

the govt & bueaurocrates shud be brought up on charges at The Hague!

I really feel sorry for families in Fukushima. But they still have the option to pull up & just leave, cant believe more havent done so

what amazes me : how is tepco still a private company ?

W-T-F !

JP gov. should cease ALL assets of tepco and ALL assets of all senior staff ( and ANY gov. official related to a power company) over the past 40 years, compensate / re-locate these people NOW!

kurisupisu.

We do need to worry about radiation, but people like Busby are sensationalists who are overstating the reality. There are a lot of groups and individuals measuring radiation around Japan. None of their readings support the kind of extreme statements made by Busby.

I don't trust the government here as far as I can throw the Diet building. But I trust Busby just as little.

Since the March 11 disaster, Japan has raised the legal exposure limit for people, including children, from one to 20 millisieverts per year—matching the safety standard for nuclear industry workers in many countries

This should be considered outrageous and a crime in itself

You don't have to be an rediation expert to know that children are at the highest risk. These people really are clueless.

I dont agree. To suggst that these people are clueless suggests that they are mistaken because of ignorance, which in turn suggests lack of culpability. I think they knew exactly what they were doing, but did it anyway, placing economics above the value of childrens lives. They dont have the excuse of being clueless.

I am really starting to despair of this country.　And I have never WANTED to love a place more in my life. I dont want to uproot my family and move them across the world. I dont want to potentially separate my kids and I from my husband. And I don`t want to leave my home. But this is getting too much now.

.

what amazes me : how is tepco still a private company ?

I`m not sure what scares me more - TEPCO being in charge of TEPCO, or the government.

miamum:

I am really starting to despair of this country.　And I have never WANTED to love a place more in my life. I dont want to uproot my family and move them across the world. I dont want to potentially separate my kids and I from my husband. And I don`t want to leave my home. But this is getting too much now.

You shouldn't make your decisions merely on WHAT YOU WANT TO DO or DON'T WANT TO DO.

The government are not interested, they hope these people will die before getting to Court. Or they retire on their big pensions... And well frankly FT. There is not a gram of empathy. I would be going crazy living in a school gym a card board wall between me and someone I didn't know until now.It's been 5 months!!! Many foreign companies have offered housing and been rejected, this situation is... Farcical. The red Cross make excuses but it's been 5 months...come on!

Pathetic...pathetic, the world is watching Japan. You have failed the litmus test.

This is from July 18, 2011 JT

Radiation concerns for Japan's beef supply intensify

It also released results of tests conducted on remaining straw, which revealed cesium levels as high as 500,000 becquerels per kilogram at one farm in Koriyama City. That translates to roughly 378 times the legal limit.

The hay must have been stored in a Hot Spot.

With all the donations received form around the world, surely they can sort out better housing for people forced to flee because of other's mistakes? If people are staying put because they feel they have no-where to go, then this is just plain wrong, especially where kids are involved.

Um, what does your statement have to do with the woman worried about her children?

"the woman" goes on and on about what she wants to do while all she should do as a sensible/responsible mother to her children is get them the hell outa dodge if she believes it's all that bad here.

Japan needs to let American beef back in the country, and more poultry and pork from other countries too. Does not have to be Kosher, just radiation free.

ihavegreatlegs.

US Beef is widely sold in japan(just not very popular).

My local stores sell US/Aussie/etc Beef, NZ lamb, South American/US/etc chickens and those are japanese owned and run stores.

No shortage of overseas food in my neighbourhood.

With all the donations received form around the world, surely they can sort out better housing

@teahme! you are right. But they have not done it at all. Very sad indeed

The temporary housing is done by the goverment, did all those donations end up with the goverment?

So, yes, a lot of money was donated but it was not pooled and thus can't be used readily as each charity is in control of their received donations and got their own ideas on how they should be used.

Thanks Zenny11! I will look more but rarely see it. Maybe because I am in Yamato-shi which is in Knagawa and the sticks, but close to the beach and convenient for my businesses. Central with Machida/ChuRinkan/Yamato...and of course the surf. Keeps me in shape and reduces stress

These are crimes against humanity. There is NO other way to look at this. Fukushima area produce and livestock should have been strictly quarantined from DAY 1. All areas showing elevated levels of contamination should also have their produce quarantined (Shizuoka tea, etc).

The people in contaminated areas should be evacuated instantly with no questions asked. This should be FULLY supported by the government. These people having to beg their government to take action shows that Japan is being run by a completely incompetent or willfully evil government.

The majority of the people of the world are clueless or could care less so there will be no support from abroad for these people. The people of Japan MUST stand up and take back their nation from the criminals that are running it. EVERYONE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNbcvNb0GdQ) responsible needs to be punished to the FULL extent of the law (imprisoned or executed). There can be no mercy shown to these monsters - High level Government, TEPCO and other related parties.

"Environmental groups and critics have slammed the government for the rule change and say the current evacuation zone around the plant is not wide enough and does not account for the irregular pattern of radiation exposure."

Of COURSE it's not, and other nations have suggested the zone should have been much wider from the start. But will the government listen? Nope, they'd rather sit on their hands until they can fob it off on the next guy, and 20 years down the road when a lot of these people are dead or dying or just developing cancers the government then will say the current government should have declared a much wider area. They'll of course add that the situation is 'regrettable' and claim they have no responsibility to pay damages.

They never listen, and they fail to act -- and the people suffer for it. What's more, the evacuations should not be 'voluntary', they should be mandatory.

Get the people out instead of waiting to add more hotspots next month, and make it mandatory. Compensate those who lose, and provide more temporary houses. All easier said than done, I know, but it's going to be one hell of a burden in the years to come if they wait.

Mr. Smith, There are so many empty schools in Japan that can be used as little villages within towns. Why are they not being used?

I try so hard to make people think out of the box here. They have such a hard time with it!

Got the memo Hiro-chan. stop wasting time na.

Do what you do best on exposing the wrongs ok! Talk later

There are several forces at work here that contribute to the terrible disaster of Fukishima and other accidents throughout Japan. All of these are being swept under the carpet as much as possible.

First, Prime Minister Kan should follow through with his promise to step down. He should then be immediately arrested and jailed, in a Russian, Turkish or Mexican prison "Death Row" for the following, (1) Violation of Japanese law and procedures by failing to declare a Nuclear Disaster for over 4 hours (according to NHK) after receiving the report from proper channels, (2) Significantly understating the seriousness of the Fukushima Disaster and not acknowledging Tsukugawa and Onagawa accidents. (3) He created an insular culture that hid the truth in a segregated confererence room. (4) He was complicit with Tepco in allowing a policy of non-communication or mis-communication to occur.

Second, Tepco is totally inept. Their acknowledgment, immediate response, subsequent recommended actions and executive level behavior towards the Japanese people, world press, their own bankers and Keiretsu, etc. are separately and together inexcusable. The top 50 people in Tepco should be arrested, sued for all of their property and wealth, punished severely with Prime Minister Kan, etc. from the government... Turning Tepco into a government enterprise would just make things worse. Government institutions are more process oriented than Japanese companies. There is no accountability possible.

Third, someone like the US or Israel, who has some better understanding of Nuclear Technology, Power Plant design/operation and an action orientation combined with wise pragmatism should be brought in to manage the situation, at Tepco and Japan's expense. Maybe the IMF or World Bank would underwrite such an effort as it would be costly and require the issuance of a substantial amount of debt.

Fourth, the attitude of this generation of people in Japan and other places needs to change drastically. Get away from your TV sets, Internet, Facebook, etc. Get out into the real world. Set goals. Stop trying to survive by just going along with processes, cultural norms and belief systems that are badly flawed. Take a stance, do what is right!

Fifth, no one seems to value the lives of people in Japan or even in the USA West Coast. Raising radiation exposure standards in Japan, just institutionalizes a society that will have to bear the terrible costs of illnesses like cancers. In the USA, the EPA has raised the radiation standards for drinking water in the aftermath of Tohoku and Fukushima.

I can go on for hours and hours if someone wants to talk about it and figure out how to take some constructive action.

To the USA, I say, stop the wars in places like Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria etc. Focus the resources on bettering mankind, and righting the wrongs and eliminating the dangers in Japan.

It is time to WAKE UP everyone...

****What about othe farm animals aside from cows? Like chicken whoes feed became contaminated? What will the people do without the fried chicken fast food outlets? Teri becoming a vegetarian

goddog: "Mr. Smith, There are so many empty schools in Japan that can be used as little villages within towns. Why are they not being used?"

Not only that, but plenty of unnecessary construction projects (usually labeled 'community center') that have been built and basically abandoned or never used to begin with.

Mr. Smith.... Please try answering the question. Why are those places not being used according to you?

It's been 4 months. The U.S. DoE and DoD were all over the area with satellites and drones. They have known where hotspots were since April. What in the bloody hell has the Japanese government been waiting for?

@tkoind2 You think so?

Sensationalist?

To what end would he be so I wonder?

Check him out here-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Busby

And that goes for A Gunderson as well?

Telling it like it is -not hiding it!

How about the Japanese government ? Already notorious and infamous for under reporting the facts AND it has a set a new standard for radiation exposure (thoughtfully taking into account internal exposure) the overall exposure rate is now an 'unhealthy' 100 milisieverts in a lifetime!

Assuming we live long enough to get it in the meantime ..........

i would rather be a knowledgeable guinea pig than an ignorant one eh?

Spinach with radiation 27 times higher than limit found in Ibaraki, JT article MARCH 21, 2011

Radioactive substance exceeding limit found in beef in Fukushima, JT article APRIL 01, 2011

Retest finds no radioactive substances in Fukushima beef, JT article APRIL 02, 2011

Co-op sells banned spinach to consumers in eastern Japan, JT article APRIL 21, 2011

What ever is growing / raised / living in those Hot Spots in being Contaminated by Radiation.

wnagler1,

Some experts on nuclear technology came from the U.S. and are now managing the crisis backstage both in the government and TEPCO. As for your first concern, Kan, the Chief Secretary of the Cabinet, the METI minister, Chairmen of Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency and Nuclear Safety Commission and the former president of TEPCO have already been accused on July 14 by a group of citizens as a criminal case for delaying vent of the nuclear reactor container and failing to take an appropriate evacuation/safety measures for the local residents though they had information on the spread of radioactive substances just after the nuclear accident.

First, Prime Minister Kan should follow through with his promise to step down. He should then be immediately arrested and jailed, in a Russian, Turkish or Mexican prison "Death Row"

wnagler1 - while I agree with your point that PM Kan is appalling and should have stepped down long ago, I reckon jailing him may be a bit too much, bro.

There are Hot Spots all over and the people are getting doses a radiation and not even knowing their in harms way.

This story is ridiculous. I witnessed the new Nuclear disaster minister say that July 17 was the date people should be able to return home. He also said that stage one of the roadmap was completed successfully , and things are are going fine. So don't worry about anything, just watch tv.

@ Asagao

I witnessed the new Nuclear disaster minister say that July 17 was the date people should be able to return home.

Was the return home mandate for Fukushima evacuees ? What year ?