Letters delivered to Japanese embassies on "Fukushima Day"

Letters were hand-delivered to Japanese embassies and consulates around the world on March 11, 2015, marking the fourth anniversary of the start of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Beyond Nuclear participated in these actions by hand-delivering a letter from its staff to the Japanese Embassy in Washington, DC (pictured). The letter, addressed to Japan Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, and Ambassador to the U.S., Kenichiro Sasae, listed a number of environmental, safety and health concerns about the handling of the Fukushima disaster and its on-going impacts. It also urged the Japanese government to renounce plans to re-open its nuclear power plants. As a highly technologically advanced country, "Japan could lead the world in renewable energy and energy efficiency as an economic development strategy," the letter said. Read the full letter here.

Beyond Nuclear interviewed on EV World about Fukushima

Beyond Nuclear's radioactive waste watchdog, Kevin Kamps, was interviewed by Bill Moore, founder of EV WORLD: WORLD OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES on his inFOCUS video program. Their 30-minute dialogue covered a lot of ground, focusing on the latest news from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear catastrophe four years after it began on 3/11/11, but also touching on Nebraska nuclear issues (Moore is based in Papillion, NE, near the troubled Fort Calhoun and Cooper atomic reactors), renewable and efficiency alternatives to nuclear power, and what folks can do about it all.

"Letters from Mina"

Mrs. Sachiko Sato (background) and her daughter Mina (age 13), speaking in New York City in September 2011. AP photo.In September 2011, about six months after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear catastrophe began, Beyond Nuclear had the honor and privilege of hosting Mrs. Sachiko Sato, a catastrophe survivor, and her teenage son and daugther.

Also in the delegation were Aileen Mioko Smith of Green Action-Kyodo, and anti-nuclear activists from Hokkaido. The group presented at numerous events in Washington, D.C. and the New York City metropolitan area.

Recently, Aileen Mioko Smith shared the news with Beyond Nuclear that a little booklet has been published, in Japanese language, entitled "Letters from Mina." It includes correspondence between Mrs. Sato, and her daughter Mina, from 2014. It also includes reflections, presented by Mina, to her classmates, about her heartbreak and healing in the aftermath of having to flee their family farm and home, likely forever, due to the nuclear catastrophe and radioactive contamination.

Mina gave her mother permission to share the letters and reflections, and Mrs. Sato has approved Beyond Nuclear posting the English translations here.

New edition of The Thunderbird: A closer look at Fukushima

What is new at the stricken Fukushima nuclear site since the March 11, 2011 nuclear disaster there began? What really happened? And what are the health implications, both in Japan and for the U.S. if a similar nuclear disaster happened here? The newly released spring edition of the Beyond Nuclear newsletter, The Thunderbird, looks at these issues and more. Feel free to download, reprint and distribute it widely.

Fukushima at 4: implications for the U.S.

Beyond Nuclear has released a press release, looking to tomorrow's fourth anniversary since the Fukushima, Japan nuclear disater began.

Headlined: "Higher radiation doses could be ruled "acceptable" after nuclear disaster: "Fukushima" in the U.S. an ever-present danger," the release sounded the alarm over the potential for the Environmental Protection Agency to weaken radiation exposure standards that could see affected populations forced to accept higher “allowable” doses of radiation to make severe nuclear accidents appear tolerable.

“There is every reason to believe the Environmental Protection Agency could simply increase the ‘permissible’ dose of radiation as authorities did in Japan,” said Cindy Folkers, radiation and health specialist at Beyond Nuclear. "You just have to look at the EPA guidelines for state and local governments during a nuclear disaster to see that they are planning on allowing 5-20 times the radiation dose recommended internationally.

"The industry and government shouldn't be allowed to make a nuclear catastrophe appear more survivable than it is by inflating allowable radiation exposure levels, " Folkers continued.

The release also examined the continued potential for a Fukushima-style nuclear disaster on U.S. soil due to an industry-compliant regulator that has declined to mandate essential safety retrofits for U.S. "Fukushima" reactors. Read the full release here.