CANCELLED: SADLY THE PARLIAMENTARY PUBLIC MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO CONCERNS ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS.
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The vigil (on Wednesday 11 March) and the march and rally (on Saturday 14 March) will still go ahead as they are outdoor events, but please check here again before setting out.
In 1946, just ten months after the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the United States started a series of nuclear tests in the Pacific Ocean. Between 1946 and 1962, the US would carry out a total of 104 nuclear tests in all, in the Pacific.
On 1 March 1954, the United States carried out a hydrogen bomb test in the Pacific Ocean. As a result of this, the Japanese tuna fishing vessel The 5th Fukuryū Maru – with 23 crew members – was exposed to radiation. A further 550 or so vessels were at that time within a radius of possible exposure to radiation. A quarter of them were the same type of tuna fishing vessel from Kochi Prefecture in Japan. For the following 10 consecutive months, contaminated tuna fish was dumped into the sea, while some of it was buried in the grounds of the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo.
In 1955, Japan received 2 million US dollars as compensation from the US, agreeing in return to not pursue any legal responsibility on the part of the US. That same year, Japan decided to build its own nuclear power plant. In 1964, ten years after the hydrogen bomb incident, Japan would host the Olympics in Tokyo.
This summer, nine years after the yet-unresolved Fukushima nuclear accident, Japan will once again host the Olympics in Tokyo. For the duration of this year’s Olympics, The 5th Fukuryū Maru exhibition hall will be closed due to security reasons. It is not wise to fish for a loach again under the same willow tree.
John Ruskin by Reverend G Nagase, 25 December 2019, watercolour on paper
John Ruskin wrote:
“The desire of the heart is also the light of the eyes. No scene is continually and untiringly loved, but one rich by joyful human labour; smooth in field; fair in garden; full in orchard; trim, sweet, and frequent in homestead; ringing with voices of vivid existence. No air is sweet that is silent; it is only sweet when full of low currents of under sound – triplets of birds, and murmur and chirp of insects, and deep-toned words of men, and wayward trebles of childhood. As the art of life is learned, it will be found at last that all lovely things are also necessary: – the wild flower by the wayside, as well as the tended corn; and the wild birds and creatures of the forest, as well as the tended cattle; because man doth not live by bread alone, but also by the desert manna; by every wondrous word and unknowable work of God. Happy, in that he knew them not, nor did his fathers know; and that round about him reaches yet into the infinite, the amazement of his existence. Note, finally, that all effectual advancement towards this true felicity of the human race must be by individual, not public effort.”
In Buddhism, the most important thing is the desire of the heart.
The desire of the heart should be pure towards the highest vision; then this helpless world will turn to the Pure Land.
“Together Against Sizewell C (TASC) demands the Government halt the Sizewell C (SZC) planning process immediately, review the UK’s energy policy and remove the nuclear component which has been shown by report after report to be superfluous to UK climate change, cost and electricity generating targets. Nuclear is too expensive, a security risk and leaves a legacy of radioactive waste.
Why is this important?
If SZC nuclear power station were allowed to be constructed over the forecast 12 year build period in this flood-prone rural part of East Suffolk, the unacceptable scale of environmental, social and infrastructure dislocation will be all too evident as it will:-
– devastate the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which provides a rich and varied mosaic of habitats that are a haven for an amazing variety of wildlife including iconic species such as bittern, marsh harrier and otter,
– split the Sizewell Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest in half with a new permanent elevated road,
– be constructed on the boundary with RSPB Minsmere, with 24/7 light, noise and air pollution being a huge threat to the internationally important nature reserve as well as the wider environment,
– result in the loss of acres of valuable farmland,
– threaten homes, land and businesses with compulsory purchase,
– see road building and alterations for 25 miles around the site, including 7 new roundabouts within an 8-mile radius of Sizewell,
– add hundreds of HGV journeys to and from the Sizewell site every day, causing unacceptable levels of CO2 and NOX emissions,
– harm the flourishing and sustainable tourism industry of East Suffolk affecting businesses around the much visited towns of Aldeburgh and Southwold and many popular villages as well as RSPB Minsmere and the National Trust’s Dunwich Heath,
– see up to 2 million litres of mains water consumed each day of nuclear power station operation, in addition to the huge volumes used during construction, in one of the driest parts of the country,
– require nuclear waste to be stored indefinitely on our crumbling, sinking coast as sea levels rise,
– create a huge upfront carbon footprint during construction and from the mining, milling and fabrication of the uranium fuel together with an unknown carbon footprint at the back end of operation – see why nuclear is not the answer to climate change: https://bit.ly/2TEpAeH
– lead to the production of low level radiation with all its attendant risks to human health, especially to young children and those yet to be born, see: https://bit.ly/2NGdLAC
SIZEWELL C CANNOT BE ALLOWED AND WE CAN STOP IT IF WE ARE UNITED IN OUR OPPOSITION. PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION.
By hand to Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy”
More about Sizewell C by Linda Pentz Gunter at Beyond Nuclear International:
“The Sizewell reactors sit on a windswept beach just yards from a sea that has already consumed ancient villages as the coastline changed and eroded over the centuries. Now the sea level rise that will come with climate change promises in time to drown a few more, most likely including the Sizewell nuclear site. Undeterred, the French government nuclear company, EDF, insists it will build a new reactor at Sizewell — one of its ill-fated EPR design that is already struggling at Flamanville, Olkiluoto and Hinkley. Just from a climate change point of view, it is an exercise in insanity. But there is so much more at stake.” Continued here:
Asami Yokota, a Fukushima mother who remained in Koriyama city while her son evacuated to Hokkaido, gave the following speech at the Remember Fukushima Parliamentary public meeting, in the House of Commons, Westminster, London, on 19 March 2019:
Rough transcript:
“My son, who was thirteen years old at the time of the nuclear explosion, turned twenty one while living in Hyogo prefecture, near Osaka, 800 km away from Fukushima.
I myself have always lived in Koriyama City in Fukushima, which is only 65km away from the [nuclear] power plant, where I have been running a small café.
The earthquake shook buildings and the aftershocks continued into the night.
The evacuation order was initially announced for residents within a 3km radius [from Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant]. Within a 10km radius it was suggested that residents stay at home.
My family spent a night in fear, while preparing to run away at any time, just in case. My son, who had knowledge of nuclear power, was unwilling to go outside.
Then my family evacuated to my relatives’ house in Aizu region (western Fukushima). However our home area wasn’t included in the evacuation area and when the school reopened we had to go back to Koriyama city. My son used to use a bicycle to go to school, but I started to take him by car. To avoid radiation exposure, my son kept wearing long sleeves, long trousers and masks as well as goggles, even in the hot summer days, which made him look very strange compared to others.
Gradually my son refused to attend school since everybody pretended everything was normal just it had been before, without knowing the accurate levels of radioactivity. If the Japanese government had given accurate information about radiation more people could have avoided radiation exposure. Besides, the actions our family took would have been understood I think.
Since October 2011, [in order] to dispel the bad reputation about Fukushima [produce], elementary schools and junior high schools started using rice and vegetables which were grown in Fukushima after the explosion. My son was concerned about internal exposure to radiation so he refused to eat school meals.
My son wanted to get out of Fukushima but there was no shelter for a single [unaccompanied] child.
I also wanted to help my son to get out and I took him for a recuperation at a centre in Hokkaido. Then he decided to move to Hokkaido when he graduated from junior high school.
He felt like a sort of domestic exile: there was no other case of a single [unaccompanied] child getting away from Fukushima for recuperation.
I am still living in Koriyama City but I don’t want to stay there any longer as none of the issues regarding nuclear radiation exposure have been resolved yet.
I feel some [other] people also want to evacuate from Fukushima or move to other places. I don’t know when and where to move: I hope some place can accept us. My son was lucky as there was a place which welcomed him when he moved there. Therefore I think it is important to have a sense of safety by having the option to move.
While I’m staying in Fukushima, I have to avoid internal exposure [to radiation] as much as I can. I used to buy vegetables at my local farmers [market] near my café. But I stopped going, instead trying to buy food from places faraway from Fukushima.
Right after the explosion, some shipping of Fukushima produce was suspended due to the radioactive contamination. Now most of the produce is being shipped based on the dose of radioactivity [it contains]. Most people believe that the shipped food is totally safe but I’m highly suspicious of it.
We can buy safe food and clean water, even though they are pricey. We can’t buy safe air, however. Many people argue that the food produced in Fukushima is totally edible. However I think the freedom of choice about whether to eat it or not is most important. In order to protect myself from internal exposure I will continue this habit.
Many people insist that to question the reputation of Fukushima produce [is wrong] and that its recovery is positive.
Most people categorise the people who care about radiation and internal exposure, like me, as negative. Therefore I’d like to be a helpful person for those who believe in Fukushima [radiation danger] but can’t really speak their fear and worries in front of others.
Thus I will keep talking about this matter in my café, listening to the others, as well as giving them advice to help them feel reassured.
Recently some old friends of my son who are now over 20 years old asked him “is it possible to get married?” or “can we have a baby?” based on their fear of [their] exposure to radiation.
I don’t think it wrong to either respond to the radiation seriously like we do, or to pay no attention to it. In my case, me and my son are doing this in order to not feel regret in the future.
Even the intellectuals and researchers are polarized with opposite opinions. Therefore I think “what do I decide?” What I think is right is more important that what is right.
We are getting used to living with radiation, which is invisible, odourless and therefore only detectable via the numerical data of air radiation doses which are broadcast on TV in Fukushima every day.
I felt it was strange in the beginning but now we are getting used to it. Regarding the decontamination people have started to think it is fine for the contaminated soil to be buried in the gardens next to their homes, or in parks.
Now they have begun to relocate the contaminated soil to a temporary place in Fukushima. The staff who used to wear to protective suits now do decontamination work without wearing masks. I think that its invisibility and odourlessness causes people to forget about the risk of radiation.
Now eight years have passed and I spent the night of 11thMarch in France. I recall the beginning of the nuclear disaster and believe that it is still continuing: it hasn’t finished at all.
People who think about nuclear power, radiation and radioactive exposure are seen as troublemakers or outsiders in Japan nowadays, including my family. Thus I am very honoured to be hear to speak out the truth which has been marginalized and ignored on the news in Japan.
Thank you so much for your listening.”
Asami Yokota (centre) speaking at the Remember Fukushima Parliamentary public meeting in the House of Commons Committee room 9, London, on 19 March 2019
Fukushima Mother Akiko Morimatsu[1] gave the following speech at the Remember Fukushima Parliamentary public meeting, in the House of Commons, Westminster, London, on 19 March 2019
Rough transcript:
“Thank you very much for having me today, I’m Akiko Morimatsu.
I am very honoured to speak here in the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. It’s been eight years and this place is far from Japan, but people are thinking about us and I am really thankful to all the people who have given us this opportunity. And I will talk about what we lost, what suffering we’ve had and what suffering the whole of humankind had to suffer.
These are my children [applause]. Meiyo, 11 years old and Meia, 8 years old.
After the Fukushima Daiichi disaster for two months I remained in Koriyama which is about 60 kilometres away from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. In May, two months after the disaster, I moved to Osaka which is about 600km away from Fukushima with my two children, my beloved children.
It’s been eight years since we evacuated. The only reason I evacuated in order to protect me and my children and it’s about our health and our lives. At that time my children were several months old and three years old.
Immediately after the disaster there were a lot of parents and children who wanted to evacuate and there are still many parents and children who want to stay away from the disaster struck area. However during the last eight years virtually no policy or institution has been established in order to protect our lives. On the other hand the Japanese government is trying to eliminate the public support [in order] to promote the return of the people to Fukushima and for this policy a huge amount of money has been spent meanwhile housing subsidies and public support to the evacuees has been cut.
We the residents of Fukushima have been exposed to unnecessary radiation exposure. First the nuclear power plant exploded and that contaminated the air and the [radioactive] plume fell to the ground and that spread into the ground water and the water goes into the ocean and in that sense, just as Ian visualized, the Fukushima Daiichi disaster contaminated the whole Earth.
Of course the nuclear power disaster is an environmental disaster and it’s a matter of energy policy. However I myself regard the nuclear power disaster as something which directly concerns human life and health and it’s about our right to live a healthy life free of radiation exposure.
My personal experience was that at that time my daughter was only several months old and I had to drink the contaminated water and I had to breastfeed my daughter [2][3]. And my daughter didn’t have the choice to say “no.” She didn’t even have any notion of avoiding radiation exposure, she couldn’t understand that kind of notion. But my daughter and those other children were forced to be contaminated because of the actions of their parents.
To live free from radiation exposure, the right to live free from radiation exposure is one of the fundamental human rights that directly concerns our human life.
That right to live free from radiation exposure is intrinsic to every single person, even the babies who were just born, or if you are an older person who might end your life tomorrow: regardless of your sex, regardless of your family members, regardless of your background, we all need to have the right to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure and that’s the right of every single person in the world.
I’d like to talk about why I decided to evacuate. Before the disaster I already knew that in 1945 atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and from that I knew the word “Hibakusha.” Hibakusha means a person who has suffered radiation exposure. And because I knew that word I felt I had to leave this place.
It’s the same: the radiation exposure due to the atomic bomb or radiation exposure due to the seemingly peaceful uses of nuclear for energy purposes. They are all the same radiation exposure, so I say no more Hiroshima! No more Nagasaki! And then no more Fukushima!
This is the most important message I have from Fukushima, that it is not only the right of Japanese people but of people all over the world.
I believe that we can’t live with nuclear. We have learned a lot of lessons from Hiroshima and Nagasaki and we as Fukushima victims we need to continue to witness, we have the responsibility to tell the suffering to people and to the next generation.
The preamble to the constitution of Japan states that all people in the world have the right to live in peace, free from fear and want. And I would really like to pursue a life in peace, free from fear of radiation exposure and want. And I’d really like to stress that we cannot live with nuclear. And thank you very much for inviting me here.”
Akiko’s speech in the UN Human Rights Council last year:
“My name is Akiko Morimatsu. I’m here with other evacuees and mothers together with Greenpeace. I evacuated from the Fukushima disaster with my two children in May 2011. Shortly after the accident radiation contamination spread. We were repeatedly, unnecessarily exposed to unannounced radiation. The air, water and soil became severely contaminated. I had no choice but to drink the contaminated water and to breastfeed my baby. To enjoy health, free from radiation exposure is a fundamental principle. The Japanese constitution states “we recognize that all peoples of the world have the right to live in peace free from fear and want. However the Japanese government has implemented almost no policies to protect its citizens. Furthermore the government is focusing on a policy to force people to return to highly contaminated areas. I call on the Japanese government to immediately fully adopt and implement the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Council. I thank the UN member states for defending the rights of residents in Japan. Please help us protect people in Fukushima and East Japan, especially vulnerablechildren from further radiation exposure. Thank you.”
[1] Akiko Morimatsu, Fukushima mother who evacuated to Osaka with her two young children; leading light in the Japanese anti-nuclear movement & campaigning on behalf of the victims of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster: in March 2018 Akiko appeared in front of the UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Council) to speak on behalf of the victims of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, key member of Osaka-based “Thanks & Dream The Great Eastern Japan Earthquake & Nuclear Evacuee Association” http://sandori2014.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-2062.html;
[2] The government did not warn the residents of Koriyama that their tap water might be contaminated with radioactivity from Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant; some Koriyama residents only became suspicious that it might be when the government advised residents of further away Tokyo to avoid feeding their infants and babies with tap water due to contamination. Tokyo lies some 230km away from Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant while Koriyama lies only some 60km away.
2011 map showing wide deposition of radioactive materials from Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant: Koriyama is at location no. 1, Tokyo includes locations nos. 14-17
“In general, the lower the molecular weight of a medication, the more likely it is to penetrate into human milk, simply because diffusion through the alveolar epithelial cell is much easier. Medications with molecular weights less than 300* are considered smaller and will tend to penetrate to milk in higher concentrations than those with higher molecular weights.”
* the most common radioactive elements in the fallout from Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have molecular weights of less than 300 e.g Iodine-131, Cesium-134/137, Strontium-90, Plutonium-239, Uranium-235
Tomorrow in one year, on March 26 2020, the Olympic torch relay will start in the radioactively contaminated Fukushima Prefecture. This is why tomorrow, a group of anti-nuclear oranizations in Germany, Switzerland, France and Japan will launch an international information campaign entitled „Tokyo 2020 – The Radioactive Olympics”. The campaign will focus on the ongoing radioactive contamination of parts of Japan due to the nuclear catastrope of Fukushima, which began eight years ago.
Dr. Alex Rosen, chairman of the German affiliate of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), one of the principal organizations behind the campaign explains: „We are concerned about the health consequences of radioactive contamination, especially for people with increased vulnerability towards radiation, such as pregnant women and children.“
International regulations limit the permitted dose for the general public of additional radiation following a nuclear accident to 1 mSv per year…
REMEMBER FUKUSHIMA 