U.N. chief tells Fukushima radiation evacuees 'to hang in there'

he came all that way to mutter a "gambatte kudasai". How poingnant and moving.

poignant

heart warming

he came all that way to mutter a "gambatte kudasai".

It seems he was on his way to Seoul and paid a courtesy call to neighboring country Japan.

Truly egregious and humiliating. Better give the evacuees the all cost of his visit, airline first class, luxury accommodation, cars, meal etc. at least something good could happen to them and they could eat something.

Better give them the money that all senior leaders wasted for their hypocrite visits and senseless mumbles lately. That could be helpful.

They got a visit, bet they cleaned the cardboard walls of their cells. Disgusting after 5 months people are still living like this. It's an absolute disgrace. 3rd largest economy in the world and it's own citizens are expected to live in a gym with cardboard walls for 5 months? Nice to see all that tax we pay goes to...?

"I came here to express my solidarity"

What exactly does that translate into? Or, is it just words. The victims need tangible aid and action to be taken. Words alone (however comforting) are not much use to those forced to live in shelters.

I know I shouldn't, but I get the feeling this was just a glorified PR visit.

Guess he could have just "twittered" or posted his "gambatte kudasai" on Facebook.

5 months late, a side-trip on his way home, and what exactly have the UN done for Japan, Tokoku and Fukushima so far?

Pointless, these people are living like homeless people, the JP government has basically ignored these people are hopes they will go away. Shame on the government for bringing this guy in to do your dirty work.

Hey, the Japanese PM and other visiting dignitaries have done nothing more, and when the PM finally DID make it north, after the rainy weather stopped so he could fly there, all he said was 'Taihen ne' and 'ganbatte kudasai'. It's all just politics -- these people can't do anything by being there in person unless they honestly LISTEN to the people, but they CAN, by the visit, see things first-hand and try to make them better. Hasn't happened in Japan, clearly, but maybe the UN can do more.

"At the meeting with Ban, Fukushima Gov Sato asked him for cooperation from the world body."

Last time Japan asked the world-body for 'co-operation' it was in not banning irradiated products from this nation, with the government saying they would even host parties with ambassadors and serve Fukushima produce. I bet Edano is second-thinking that strawberry he ate there.

Has "junket" written all over it.

Shame on the government for bringing this guy in to do your dirty work.

implying they have sincere hopes that the UN can do anything better.

not heart warming

Any victim of war, disaster or famine who places hope in the UN for salvation have a lot to learn. Especially those from nations that the UN was born to wipe off the face of the earth.

To the people of Fukushima...what about iwate, ibaraki, Shizuoka etc. Children in Tokyo...

I am pretty sure when Mr Ki-Moon toured the shelter containing 300 evacuees living BELOW sub-standard conditions, the voicing of his true opinion may not have been a politically correct thing to do. When situation is rough to deal with and hurtful emotionally saying Hang in there ( try to endure ) is all anyone can say who does not have the power to raise his hand and make a change overnight. All Mr Ki-Moon can do is ASK for change. Everybody knows the amount of money collected from all over the world to aid Japan's devastated areas population. Why Japan Red Cross chose to pay for the building to apartments instead of renting already built homes. Why proper living conditions were not acquired for the evacuee population is beyond me.

I have got to believe the people living in shelters near Fukushima want to scream, "No more Ganbaro Tohoku!" messages and signs. They don't need more visiting governmental officials and celebrities. What they need is clean homes to live in, assurances of employment and answers to how their hometowns will be rebuilt.

Enough of the goodwill. Let's get on with the restoration. Japan is one country and the government has an obligation to put resources where they are most needed. And now!

Half of the evacuees could of been housed for the cost of this visit. This is just excretment on a handy stick.

Hang in there, pat pat on the head maybe, its been 5 months of living in these conditions how much more condecending can a person be? Action not words is what the evacuees need. By the way ,yes the whole world is cocerned at the plight of the Japanese people and most are disgusted with the failure of the Diet to get thier act together and rehome at a safe distance all of those effected.

So what would you have said?

It's been 5 months of Non action in terms evacuees living in BELOW sub standard conditions. Mr Ki-Moon is NOT in charge of Japan. He said the only Politically CORRECT thing He could Say. Really, This take care of the situation Attitude projected towards Mr Ki-Moon is a Fantasy people need to wake up from.

What would i have said? I GUESS IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SAID IN PRIVATE IN ORDER TO AVOID UPSETTING THE DIPLOMATIC PROTOCOL

Maybe he doesn"t have the power or the means to do anything directly, but ganbatte...? Really?

Thats what you say to a 4 year old who falls down and scrapes his knee. Something a little more heartfelt would have been nice.

And if he really wanted to "express solidarity, for himself and on behalf of the UN, you don't think he could have brought supplies, clothes, fresh blankets, or even divider screens instead of cardboard boxes? "Ganbatte" doesn't feed a hungry mouth. It doesn't clothe a ragged peraon, and it certainly doesn't provide shelter or any modicum of privacy.

Mikey, he probably assumed that Japan would have enough blankets. And he probably said more than just ganbatte.

And if he did say ganbatte, actually in Japan, people say that in all kinds of situations - not just to four year olds.

Given the recent suicides, please don't say "hang in there".

Pots - Don't worry, the Fukushima evacuees will not hear the translated English words, they'll just hear "Ganbare."

OK, here's a link with a video of what the guy actually said:

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20110808/t10014785141000.html

Just in case the link doesn't work, it went as below, all in fairly comprehensible Japanese (sorry, can't post kanji for some bizarre reason):

chikara wo awasete ganbatte kudasai

kokuren mo sekai mo ouen shiteimasu

Also, while visiting Fukushima Minami High School and after listening to some of the children, he made the following comment, which, while doesn't help anyone, I found quite nice none the less:

Your voice is much stronger than prime ministers or any politicians, that's your voices I'm carrying back to the United Nations

Lastly, while it's not contained in the above link, here's what Mr. Ban had to say about Kans nuclear free vision:

(nuclear energy policy?) ... and this is all what national governments should determine (by themselves?).

... that nuclear energy is still regarded as one of the viable options for energy sources, particularly in fighting against climate change and also providing universal access to many affordable...

@ Yobi00

Thanks for the link and the excerpts.

well, waddya know...it's heartwarmin' after all. I'll sleep easy tonight. thanks world (gives playful tap punch to chin)