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© 2011 AFPVictims struggling six months after quake, tsunami
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© 2011 AFP
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Nicky Washida
I agree with you SmithinJapan - but send them where? For many of these people, their whole families for generations have lived in the same area. There is nowhere to send them to.
So the whole family move away - what will they do for money? How do they pay for their accommodation? Maybe the Mother and kids move away and the father stays. But what if he no longer has a job because of the disaster?
And people are hvaing to make these decisions with the trauma of having lost homes, livelihoods, loved ones and so forth.
Just wanted to point out that some of these people are not morons, they are human.
Nicky Washida
Believe me Asagao, I am painfully aware of that. But to call people struggling to make these life-changing decisions and plans "morons" is just a bit much, I feel.
NRT00
Please beware that the phrase "no immediate health risk" is as meaningless as "safe levels of cesium" in water and food. The Physicians for Social Responsibility state that the only safe level for internal radiation is zero. A single atom of cesium internally can cause cancer because it is with you 24/7. Finding cesium in urine and blood is proof of wide spread contamination. The Japanese Government is failing it's citizens miserably in protecting them from contamination by doing inadequate testing of food and water and by still allowing the planting of crops in contaminated areas. If you have children, I would seriously consider leaving Japan, at least until they can better regulate food safety. I understand the difficulty of this but frankly it could be a matter of life and death.
smithinjapan
"Parents living nearby face a nightmare dilemma: evacuate their children or live with the fear that radiation will make them sick. Experts agree that children face a higher risk than adults from radiation-linked cancers."
Morons call it a dilemma; I say it's a no-brainer. GET THE KIDS OUT!
Juan Rodriguez
I am not being pessimistic here, rather more realistic; it will take a long time for Japan to clean this whole mess up. It is very sad that the unfortunate whom were affected by this disaster will have to start their life all over again, It will not be an easy task at all, definitely it will take a lot of effort, strengh, and willingness on their part. I know you all expect the government to expedite the reconstruction process so we can put it behind us, but you can't simply wait for them, especially if you have little ones. Remember there were a lot of people that perished on 03/11, so at the end of the day if you have survived this catastrophe, you owe it to yourself to keep busy living & fighting, regardless the obstacles in your way.
nath
I fully agree with Nicky.
Easy to talk when you don't have to make those decisions yourself.
Many kids that been moved are facing serious bullying, etc in their new locations, that is if they could find a school that had room to take them. Ditto for parents many who are now working at minimum or below wages in the new locations and also are separated from their friends support network.
For those families that moved their future is still as uncertain as if they had stayed. Add in separations, etc.
Only yesterday they talked to a father on Tv whose family left and he stayed behind to man the petrol station he owns and he sez there is just no enough business left and he might have to foreclose, etc.
As was said not that easy, lots of things to consider.
Ranger_Miffy2
Pretty decent wrap on the six-months situation.
Nicky Washida
Impressed that they put "immediate" into speech marks. Even the press recognise this for the insult to peoples intelligence that it is.
smithinjapan
"Areas close to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant may be uninhabitable for longer."
I'm sorry, but I look forward to the day 20 years down the road when the government stops suggesting it'll just be a bit longer before the people who lived around the plant can go home and they decide to tell them it'll be uninhabitable for another hundred years. They need to say this flat out and relocate the people ASAP. It's disgusting how these people are forced to live and who have nothing because the government is busy with elections and what not.
Christina O'Neill
Is it time for the Japanese population to organise a nationwide protest in support of their fellow country men women and children who are begining to lose hope in Fukishima?
Foxie
That protest will never happen in disciplined Japan, Christina. This was probably the worst disaster that ever happened on this planet. The scale is just too immense. Yes, a lot more could have been done. Let's just hope it will soon.
cactusJack
Please don't rebuild in the tsunami zones ever again or this will be a repeating disaster.
Christina O'Neill
The plight of those in Fukishima is no longer headlines in Europe, it is assumed by almost everyone I talk to about the ongoing situation that the Japanese goverment has resolved all of the problems. They are unaware that the children remain dangerously close to the contamination that may seriously effect their future health, that many evacuees remain in shelters and temporary accomodation.Their is only one way as far as I can see, to shame the Japanese goverment into accelerated action and that is by making the headline news to put Japan right back into the international media arena.The population of Japan would have to do this themselves, one massive nationaly organised march on the Diet in Tokyo. I think that until the Japanese stand united in protest the situation will remain critical for many months to come. Those that do not wish to attend the rally may find putting pen to paper and bombarding the goverment with protest letters may also help to bring home the message that this goverments priority is to the people they were electected to serve in all Prefectures
taj
"The plight of those in Fukishima":
Interesting that the majority of the discussion on this thread focuses only on Fukushima, and forgets the whole rest of the coast: the tsunami victims, the devastated communities. I wonder if it's because of the influx of readers with little or no connection to Japan. If you're based in Europe or North America, the only way to feel connected to the story is to worry about whether the contamination could spread that far, and to wonder if a similar disaster could hit a reactor near you.
I wish there was more focus on the rebuilding, the need for buses to an from temporary house clusters, the need to have ports rebuilt, etc..
Cricky
Pathetic...6 months, Japan is showing the world how to treat it's own citizens with complete distain. Duh... Tourism is down Mass slaughter 20,000 dead and what do they do.....?
Maitake
Ya think??
I predict another few headlines: "Victims still struggling 1 year after quake, tsunami"
and a little later down the road...
"High cancer rates of children linked to Fukushima nuclear crisis"
Nicky Washida
Darren - do you have a link to yesterdays report about the iodine spike in Tokyo and Iwate? Thanks.
Nicky Washida
PS thanks for the link Darren.
Foxie
I don't know how you measure disasters, manta. If it is by number of casualties, then I agree that the China floods has been the worst. But we have never seen a triple combined disaster like this, earthquake, then tsunami, then a nuclear crisis which is still going on.
Samantha Zoe Aso
For those out there who shout with righteous indignation that parents in Fukushima areas should 'just get their kids out'. The families that had the means to do so, have long gone. What if you have no family living elsewhere to help or take you in? No job to go to? Japan isn't known as a welfare state. Infact, I am severely shocked when reading headlines about families that have relocated experiencing bullying problems due to radiation concerns. Whilst I have met incredible individuals with huge hearts, the country as a whole couldn't be termed as 'fuzzy wuzzy'! There isn't in reality as much support, financially, physically and emotionally available as these families need. The government needs to get a grip on reality and step in to help it's own folk. Most of my Japanese friends seem to be in denial about the whole situation and make appropriate sighing and nodding gestures when bringing up the topic of the kids still living in Fukushima. That seems to be as far as it goes. Heaven help Tokyo when the big shaky comes.
Tokkō Tai
Nuclear Power is very bad idea. Not necessary. Should be finished all over world.
Tokkō Tai
Thank you Zambezi san.
Alex80
Yeah, and do you know why? I think this is called "censorship", but some people seem to think we can trust Europe or Usa... <_<;
taj
"Fukushima Stigma"
Is that actually true, Zichi, or just some rumours being floated about to sell trashy tabloids?
Disillusioned
It is hard to determine what Japan's priorities are in regards to the triple disaster. Is it relocating the people, rebuilding the infrastructure of north-east Japan, resolving the nuclear crisis in Fukushima or covering up their dithering response. Sadly, it seems to be the latter. When you speak to 'Naoki Average' about this the response is always the same - Shame! The ever-so proud Japanese are just embarrassed by the way the events of the last six months have unfolded and with good reason!
Zambezi Dan
Tokko Tai above is absolutely correct. Nuclear power was a real dumb idea from the very start. Too expensive, and way too dangerous, plus it creates all the stuff dangerous despots and psycho regimes need to make nuclear weapons.
manta60
This was probably the worst disaster that ever happened on this planet. Errr, I don't think so.
manta60
outside of japan is irrelevent was what i meant to type, ahh not my day.
manta60
Zambezi Dan. Two points, 1st, compared to coal, nuclear power isn't dangerous, its the profit obsessed idiots like tepco that manage it that are dangerous, 2nd, no country that has developed nuclear energy first has gone on to make nuclear weapons, its ALWAYS weapons first. Nuclear energy IS necessary, at the moment, its not perfect but at the moment there is NO viable option. Unless you want to go back to living in a cave.
manta60
The quote function is crap. Anyway my above comment was aimed at foxie who said this was the worst disaster that ever happened on this planet. What a ludicrous thing to say. Only someone who thinks anything that happens outside of Japan could make such a dumb statement.
Asagao
@nicky. This is a serious disaster, not a holiday plan. They just have live with the fact they have to move and start a new life. Forget the past. They are lucky to not of been swept way by the tsunami. Staying, wit kids, is like standing in front of the tsunami, rather than moving to higher ground.