Until the Fukushima accident, Japan had 55 operating nuclear reactors as well as enrichment and reprocessing plants which had suffered a series of deadly accidents at its nuclear facilities resulting in the deaths of workers and releases of radioactivity into the environment and surrounding communities. Since the Fukushima disaster, there is growing opposition against re-opening those reactors closed for maintenance.
A German doctor and member of a Nobel Peace Prize-winning physicians' group has criticized a World Health Organization report on the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe for underestimating its impact on human health.
In a research paper, Alex Rosen said the WHO report, published in May this year on estimated radiation doses received by residents near the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, was compiled mainly by officials related to the International Atomic Energy Agency, which promotes the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes.
Rosen, a member of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, called for an independent assessment based on solid scientific methodology that would examine the health impacts from radioactive fallout released after the Fukushima No. 1 complex suffered three core meltdowns in March 2011. The Japan Times
Ms. Kazuko Kawai, Founder of Voices for Lively Spring (a Japan-based human rights organization and a grass-root organization): The radiation problem, health problem is spreading all over Japan now through burning debris Iwate and Miyagi, and also contaminated food.
Both foreign doctors participated in the IPPW World Conference and the field trip in Fukushima, which was organized by Peace Boat and Green Action and other organizations.
And they thought that they had sufficient information, but then they observed the health consultations on the tour and were very surprised to find out that actual patients were in even worse condition than they had anticipated.
The symptoms are always the same […] Nose bleeds, skin disease, diarrhea, respiratory diseases, pains at the rear of the ears, stomatitis, and so on, and so on – as well as thyroid disorders.
The World Network for Saving Children from Radiation is circulating two urgent petitions for action involving children and radioactive contamination from the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear disaster. Now, more than one and a half years after the nuclear accident, 260,000 Japanese children are still living in the catastrophe’s radioactive contamination. One petition is directs Japanese authorities to evacuate children to non-contaminated areas of the country. The other petition calls for justice and accountability following the widely recognized “man-made” nuclear disaster for which to date not one single person has been held accountable.
Anand Grover, the United Nations Special Rapporteur reports on Fukushima, some highlights:
-potassium iodine was not handled properly.
-government did not evacuate properly or communicate radiation doses and implications to the public.
-government neglected hotspots and used 20msv/year limit implying this was safe which is not.
-radiation monitoring stations did not adequately reflect exposure data. Therefore all validated data, alot being collected by private individuals, should be made public.
-provide holistic and comprehensive treatment for ALL radiation effected zones and include wider health consequences than the current health survey.
-err on side of caution and monitor health outcomes for an extensive period of time.
-allow individuals access to their health data and that of their children.
-initiate long-term monitoring of sub-contract workers at the ruined plants.
-evacuation centers did not provide adequate facilities for women with children and the disabled and elderly. Separation of families due to inadequate evacuation procedures has caused unnecessary anguish.
-government needs to strengthened food contamination monitoring.
-adopt an action plan with clear timeline to reduce contamination to 1msv per year.
-restore subsidies to all evacuees so they can make proper decisions about whether to return or leave.
-government ensure that TEPCO is held financially accountable and that taxpayers are not.
-ensure participation of effected people, particularly vulnerable groups during all parts of decision-making process, including health services and decontamination. This is not currently being done.
-implement the “act on protection and support for children, and other victims of the Tepco disaster” which was enacted in June, 2012. This act provides a framework for those affected by the disaster and provides opportunity to enlist affected people in decision-making. video
The position of UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health was created in this century. This interim report on the Fukushima disaster appears to represent the first time an investigation has linked health impacts of industrial radiation from a nuclear catastrophe to human rights -- in this case the right to health for both children and adults. A final report will be issued in June of 2013. Stay tuned to Beyond Nuclear for updates. See the UN press release. NECN.com
A mountain trout caught in a Fukushima Prefecture river returned a radioactive cesium reading of 11,400 becquerels per kilogram, more than 100 times the government-set limit for food items, a survey by the Environment Ministry said Friday. Kyodo News
December 18, 2012