Japan bans rice planting in contaminated soil

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By RYAN NAKASHIMA

TOKYO (AP) - Japan's government has announced it will ban farmers from planting rice in soil contaminated by radiation from the tsunami-flooded nuclear power plant, adding another food central to Japanese culture to the list of items raising concerns.

The ban will apply to any soil found to contain high levels of radioactive cesium, and farmers who cannot grow rice will be compensated.

So far, soil that exceeds the new limit has been found in only two places in Iitate, a village about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Fukushima Dai-ichi, the nuclear plant crippled by the March 11 tsunami.

"We had to come up with a policy quickly because we are in planting season," said Agriculture Minister Michihiko Kano, who announced the ban Friday. "Following this, I want to hear the opinions of experts and local officials on how to remediate the soil."

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20110409/D9MG0R700.html

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A group of Japanese police officers wearing white suits to protect them from radiation carries a victim as another group carries another body in the background while searching for missing people in Minami Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan Friday, April 8, 2011. Hundreds of Japanese police and soldiers have been mobilized in a major search operation inside the deserted evacuation zone within the 20 kilometer radius from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear reactors. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

[Donnachaidh]

1. this ban will last for centuries

Even now, cesium is found in foodstuffs being eaten by the populace around Chernobyl. And it's still doing damage to the children being born today.

What are those farmers supposed to do with their lives now? I'll bet the suicide rates in Japan explode amongst the people who least deserve this horror show. :cry:

[PSPS]

2. "the new limit"

So far, soil that exceeds the new limit has been found in only two places in Iitate, a village about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Fukushima Dai-ichi, the nuclear plant crippled by the March 11 tsunami.

I wonder how many places have soil that exceeds the "old limit." You know, the limit that existed before it became inconvenient or harmful to the nuclear PR campaign.

[SydNav]

3. I wonder how much soil in the US will top the previously banned limit n/t