Fukushima Gov. Slams TEPCO, Gov't for 'Betrayal'

[Hissyspit]

Source: The Daily Yomiuri

Fukushima gov. slams TEPCO, govt for 'betrayal'

The Yomiuri Shimbun

Fukushima Gov. Yuhei Sato has expressed anger at the central government and Tokyo Electric Power Co., saying both "betrayed" the people of Fukushima Prefecture with repeated assurances about the safety of nuclear power plants.

- snip -

"The central government and TEPCO repeatedly told us, 'Nuclear power plants are safe because they've got multiple protection systems,' and, 'Earthquake-proof measures have been taken,'" Sato said.

"TEPCO used the term 'beyond our expectations' (to describe the natural disaster), but they can't establish effective policies for nuclear energy safety unless they take into account things that are beyond their expectations," Sato said.

Sato pointed out that more than 100,000 evacuees remain in a state of high anxiety, worrying about radiation exposure every day. "I want to cry out: 'Do the government and TEPCO understand our feelings?'"

Read more: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110408005027.htm

[aquart]

1. He's out of a job now, isn't he?

[Art_from_Ark]

6. Why do you say that?

He is the current governor of Fukushima Prefecture.

[aquart]

8. Which would be what, exactly? Empty streets and abandoned dogs?

Where's the tax structure to pay his salary? He is governor of Evacuation Land.

[Art_from_Ark]

9. The entire prefecture is not evacuated

Fukushima City, Iwaki and Koriyama (combined population 1,000,000+), which are the three largest cities in the prefecture, are still very much in business. There are still 2 million people living in the prefecture, buying things, engaging in economic activities.

[aquart]

10. How far from the reactors?

on edit: Thanks for the correction. My impression was wrong.

[Art_from_Ark]

11. The total evacuation zone is a 12-mile radius from Daiichi

The recommended evacuation zone is an 18-19 mile radius from Daiichi. The cities of Fukushima and Koriyama are outside of those zones.
I know someone with relatives in Iwaki (on the southern boundary of the 30km zone) and they are still there, and will stay there unless things become REALLY bad.

Up to 200,00 people have evacuated from the area around the nuclear reactors. Most of them have either gone to stay with relatives elsewhere in the prefecture, or are staying in Fukushima or Koriyama cities. There are, however, also quite a few who are staying with relatives outside the prefecture, including Tokyo and my city, which has been accommodating several hundred refugees at public facilities around the city.

Land area affected by total or recommended evacuation: approximately 560 square miles
Land area of the entire prefecture: approximately 5,500 square miles.

Thus, about 1/10 of the prefecture is under either a mandatory or recommended evacuation advisory. Which is STILL pretty BAD, of course.

[No Elephants]

2. He didn't mention G.E.?

[ixion]

3. the people believed what they wanted to believe

because it's pretty easy to see that nuclear power is not safe.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Another problem: rice production in Fukushima is fourth in the nation at about 450,000 tons.

but
Soil cesium limit set for rice / Some farmers won't be allowed to plant this season, possibly longer.

The crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant has spurred the government to restrict rice planting in soil with more than 5,000 becquerels per kilogram of radioactive cesium, the first time maximum radiation levels have been set for soil.

Radioactive cesium levels exceeding 5,000 becquerels per kilogram have been detected in farmland close to the nuclear plant and farmers in these areas will likely be barred from growing rice this season, government sources said.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110409003461.htm

Does no one see anything bizarre about even HAVING to set radiation limits for food?????

[Hissyspit]

13. It's not bizarre.

It's nightmarish.

[xchrom]

5. more surprised experts: "TEPCO used the term 'beyond our expectations'

:grr:

[TheEuclideanOne]

7. They could follow our model and find all of the people who are guilty

and give them huge bonuses.

[marions ghost]

12. criminal negligence and

betrayal of the public trust. The Fukushimans should be angry. They were treated like cockroaches.

"Do the govt and TEPCO understand our feelings?" Hell no. Betrayal means never having to say you're sorry.

They are screwn, duped by exploiters--just as in America--the owners & operators of the nukes there or here really could not care less about effects on the public, now or thousands of years into the future.

Sad to see these farmers who have worked hard to produce food in their tidy little fields, caught in the zone of a lethal dragon flailing its tail. They will never live there again. Maybe the Japanese will make it a shrine like at Hiroshima. In 100's of years tourists can visit.

Very sad for the people, for the animals, for the farmland, for the country, for future generations. I hope the Fukushima people keep expressing their legitimate anger.

If we don't learn from this, I give up.