Japan has increased the "safe" radiation limits for children

[NNN0LHI]

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/mensch/0,1518,758410,00.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3DJapan%2Blegt%2Bhohe%2BStrahlengrenzwerte%2Bf%25C3%25BCr%2BKinder%2Bfest%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4HPIA_enUS306US306%26prmd%3Divns&rurl=translate.google.com&usg=ALkJrhiAAiSE5uO6eKckwRYgCSrdzLuuxQ

21.04.2011

It is a controversial measure in Tokyo responsible for children in Japan radiation limit is now the same as for German nuclear power plant employees. Das Erziehungsministerium hat nach SPIEGEL-Informationen den Wert für die maximale Dosis festgesetzt. The Ministry of Education has SPIEGEL information the value for the maximum dose set to. Experten reagieren bestürzt. Experts react in dismay.

[Poll_Blind]

1. You think people who will do this will make sure shit they export to US is safe? I don't.

I don't.

PB

[nebenaube]

2. I don't either...

In fact I doubt Japan will ever recover. After all the wind blows in many directions. We seem to be hell bent with the same recklessness here.

[NNN0LHI]

6. I couldn't find this story covered in English

Had to use Google and get the translated version from Spiegel.

There is some heavy "filtering", going on by our media for this situation.

We always laugh at the press restrictions in China but I bet we are having more stuff censored than they are. And we don't even realize it.

Like the tree falling in the woods. If no one hears or sees it did it really fall?

Don

[Ichingcarpenter]

See my post it from a science magazine n/t

[Ichingcarpenter]

8. dupe n/t

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. The Scientist that worked on the Standards just quit because of this

I'll try to find the link.. which was a better article on why it is so fucked up. Something about if the kids go outside for 3 hours a day and get almost 7 times as much and then go inside and get 2 times as much it evens out during the day.

[Poll_Blind]

4. Here's the link. And we should call him what he really is: A whistleblower.

Kan nuclear adviser fed up, quits

PB

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. I found it and it tells more

Government Adviser Quits Post to Protest Japan's Policy on Radiation Exposure for Fukushima Schools

TOKYO—A prominent Japanese radiation safety specialist has resigned his governmental advisory post in protest over what he calls "inexcusable" standards for school children in Fukushima Prefecture. The Yomiuri Online news web site reported in Japanese this evening that Toshiso Kosako, a radiation safety expert at the University of Tokyo, feels the standards are too lenient and that his advice has been ignored.

On 19 April, the ministry of education announced a "provisional idea" for schoolyards contaminated by radiation emanating from the ravaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The ministry cited a recommendation by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), based in Ottawa, Canada, that sets an acceptable level of between 1 and 20 millisieverts (mSv) per year for individuals. In its Application of the Commission's Recommendations to the Protection of People Living in Long-term Contaminated Areas After a Nuclear Accident or a Radiation Emergency , ICRP recommendation reads:

The reference level for the optimization of protection of people living in contaminated areas should be selected in the lower part of the 1-20 mSv/year band.

Japan's education ministry figured that children could spend 8 hours a day in a schoolyard with as much as 3.8 microsieverts per hour of radiation and then 16 hours a day inside a building with 1.52 microsieverts per hour and stay within a 20 mSv per year limit. Some 800 groups and 34,000 individuals have signed a petition demanding the withdrawal of the education ministry's 20 mSv per year standard, according to a coalition of citizens' organizations that will present the petition to the government on 2 May.

"Setting this (radiation exposure) number for elementary schools is inexcusable," says Kosako, according to Yomiuri Online. His resignation is expected to put additional pressure on the government to rethink its decision.
http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2011/04/government-adviser-quits-post-to.html?ref=hp

[lonestarnot]

10. This is so fucking fucked.

[bananas]

18. Yes - he's a whistleblower - and he was overcome with emotion announcing his resignation

I posted a couple of links with photos downthread,
replying to someone in Japan who was unaware of this.
It's disgraceful.

[Poll_Blind]

24. Thank you!

PB

[proverbialwisdom]

29. Tragic.

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/30_12.html

Kan comments on nuclear advisor's resignation

One of the nuclear advisors to Prime Minister Naoto Kan has resigned to protest what he called the government's impromptu handling of the nuclear crisis.

University of Tokyo Professor Toshiso Kosako, who tendered his resignation on Friday, also said that the government has belittled the law.

Speaking at a Lower House committee meeting on Saturday, Kan said Professor Kosako resigned because of disagreements with other scientists.

Kan said the government responded to the nuclear accident based on advice from the Nuclear Safety Commission and has never taken ad hoc measures.

Kosako also criticized the education ministry for allowing students at primary schools in Fukushima Prefecture to perform outdoor activities if the level of radiation of the school ground does not exceed 20 millisieverts per year.

The nuclear scientist said it's very unlikely that even workers at nuclear reactors could be exposed to such a high level of radiation, and therefore he cannot agree on that figure as an upper limit for children.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told reporters that the ministry's decision seeks to reduce exposure to radiation and that it does not mean the government will allow the limit of 20 millisieverts per year for children.

Saturday, April 30, 2011 15:10 +0900 (JST)

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. I always wondered how we were going to hit the ceiling on population

growth and how our reproductive numbers would be reduced. Plague and wars were my first guess. But, now I see that the answer is that our inability to recognize that we have exceeded the resources of our planet will end reducing our numbers through sterilization.

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. With a minor effort in ...beheading the fools who pull this shit.

[GKirk]

9. Problem solved! n/t

[Bonobo]

12. Please provide a proper link. We can hardly believe that kind of 5th hand nonsense.

If the government did such a thing and announced it (or Der Spiegel found out mysteriously), then how is it possible that there is no report elsewhere. '

The link that Ichingcarpenter provides says nothing about increasing the safe levels for children.

[Ichingcarpenter]

13. I answer

Radiation exposure is a concern in both adults and children. However, there are at least two unique considerations in children.

Children are considerably more sensitive to radiation than adults, as demonstrated in epidemiologic studies of exposed populations.

Children also have a longer life expectancy than adults, resulting in a larger window of opportunity for expressing radiation damage.


As a result, the risk for developing a radiation-related cancer can be several times higher for a young child compared with an adult exposed to a high or low risk exposure.

The Guy quit... he's an expert... in Japan....
for the Govt...

Listen I'm from a real nuclear family myself..
they are playing with children's lives with this.

The standards are for adults not children.

[NNN0LHI]

14. Der Spiegel Europe's leading newsmagazine and Germany's top news Web site is not a proper link?

Is that what you are insinuating?

[bananas]

16. VOA: Japanese Radiation Adviser Quits in Rebuke to Government - "tearful news conference"

Here's a Voice Of America news story:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x291733

Japanese Radiation Adviser Quits in Rebuke to Government

A key Japanese adviser on radiation leaks at the country's disabled Fukushima nuclear power facility has quit in protest over the government's handling of the disaster.

The adviser, Toshiso Kosako, a radiation safety expert at the University of Tokyo, said the government-set limits for radiation exposure at schools near the nuclear site are too high. At a tearful news conference late Friday, Kosako said he could "not allow this as a scholar."

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Japanese-Radiation-Adviser-Quits-in-Rebuke-to-Government-121022709.html

See the photo with the VOA news article (I tried to paste it inline but it didn't work).
Try to understand why he's crying.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_of_America

Voice of America (VOA) is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government.

[bananas]

20. Here's that photo on another news site, from another GD thread

From another GD thread, posted by AsahinaKimi:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x991388

Japan prime minister's nuclear adviser resigns


TOKYO (AFP) – A senior nuclear adviser to Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan submitted his resignation on Friday, saying the government had ignored his advice and failed to follow the law.

Toshiso Kosako, a Tokyo University professor who was named last month as an advisor to Kan, said the government had only taken ad hoc measures to contain the crisis at the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant.

In a tearful press conference, he said the government and its commissions had taken "flexible approaches" to existing laws and regulations, and ignored his advice after he was named an advisor on March 16.

"I cannot help but to think (the prime minister's office and other agencies) are only taking stopgap measures... and delaying the end" of the nuclear crisis, he told reporters.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110429/wl_asia_afp/japandisasteraccidentnuclearpolitics
===============================================================================
Someone wanted Updated News on Japan, I would say this qualifies..

[bananas]

17. AP: Japanese government adviser Toshiso Kosako is overcame with emotion...announcing his resignation

Found a similar AP photo that pastes inline - Newsday is a well-known newspaper on Long Island, NY,
and of course AP is the well-known highly credible Associated Press:

http://www.newsday.com/news/criticism-up-on-japan-pm-s-handling-of-nuke-crisis-1.2848054

Criticism up on Japan PM's handling of nuke crisis
Originally published: April 30, 2011 4:27 AM

http://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.2848063.1304152010!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/display_600/image.jpg

Photo credit: AP | Japanese government adviser Toshiso Kosako is overcame with emotion during a news conference Friday, April 29, 2011 in Tokyo announcing his resignation from the position. The expert on radiation exposure said he could not stay and allow the government to set what he called improper radiation limits of 20 millisieverts an hour for elementary schools in areas near the tsunami-damaged Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT, NO LICENSING IN CHINA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND FRANCE

(AP) -- Criticism of the Japanese government's handling of the crisis at a radiation-spewing nuclear power plant increased Saturday, with a new poll indicating three-quarters of the people disapprove and a key adviser quitting in protest.

A Kyodo News service poll released Saturday showed that Prime Minister Naoto Kan's support ratings were plunging.

<snip>

[bananas]

21. Several news stories posted in LBN, EE, and GD - links to those threads

Several news stories posted by different people - is this really not being reported in Japan?

LBN: Government Adviser Quits Post to Protest Japan's Policy on Radiation Exposure for Fukushima Schools

EE: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x291733">Japanese Radiation Adviser Quits in Rebuke to Government

GD: Japan prime minister's nuclear adviser resigns

[proverbialwisdom]

27. DIY - remain calm, assess and act.

I'm very sorry, but YOU MUST review the links in post #15.

The goals are to become aware of the issues and to act to protect the reproductive potential and long term health of at-risk children.

Steps must be urgently undertaken to minimize the inhalation and ingestion of radioactive particles in contaminated zones by children - bottom line. There is no time for denial.

And, yes, anyone who comprehends the seriousness of this challenge will weep. Importantly, however, actions can be taken to improve outcome.

-------------------

Also see interview with physicist Michio Kaku: http://www.democracynow.org/2011/4/13/expert_despite_japanese_govt_claims_of

--------------------

This group has consistently been ahead of the curve on Japan and their fact-finding has been repeatedly validated. Don't discount their work.

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/nuclear/safety/accidents/Fukushima-nuclear-disaster/Radiation-field-team/
Maps

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/nuclear/safety/accidents/Fukushima-nuclear-disaster/
"Our first thoughts are with the people of the Japan as they face the threat of a nuclear disaster, following an already devastating earthquake and tsunami. Greenpeace will continue to monitor and provide independent assessment of the situation at Japan's nuclear plants, as this is where we can best help by providing expertise. Our heartfelt condolences to all affected by this tragic chain of events."

[proverbialwisdom]

15. Pooling sources helps. I hope these go viral.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/04/29-7
Published on Friday, April 29, 2011 by Institute for Policy Studies
Japan's Nuclear Catastrophe Leaves Little to Celebrate on Children's Day
A recent government decision callously put thousands of kids in harm's way.
by Robert Alvarez

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/04/85736.html
OPINION: How to minimize consequences of the Fukushima catastrophe
By Alexey V. Yablokov
MOSCOW, April 15, Kyodo

http://counterpunch.org/nader04272011.html
April 27, 2011
Concealing the Consequences
Chernobyl 25 Years Later
By RALPH NADER
"The disaster at Chernobyl's reactor on April 26, 1986 continues to expose humans, flora and fauna to radioactive lethality especially in, but not restricted to, Ukraine and Belarus.

...I call for an open rigorous public scientific-medical debate on the findings and casualty estimates of the Yablokov report, to determine its usefulness for necessary programs of compensation, quarantine, accelerated protective entombment of the still dangerous reactor, and expanded studies of the past and continuing ravages issuing from this catastrophe and its recycling of radioactivity through the soil, air, water and food of the exposed regions. Such a public review is what the science adviser to the President and the National Academy of Sciences should have done already and should do now. The continuing expansion of the Fukushima disaster in Japan provides additional urgency for this open scientific review."

Chernobyl: Consequences for people and the environment (Translation published by NY Acad of Sciences, Kindle ebook available 4/19/11 $2.99)
http://www.amazon.com/Chernobyl-Consequences-Catastrophe-Environment-ebook/dp/B004X8DOQC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1304183378&sr=8-4



ALSO RECOMMENDED: (I've already read titles with asterisk)
* Voices From Chernobyl
* Chernobyl Heart 20 Years On
Chernobyl: The Forbidden Truth (written by winners of Right Livelihood Award in 1992)

[bananas]

19. "Japan's Nuclear Catastrophe Leaves Little to Celebrate on Children's Day"

Those are good links - Thanks for posting them - and Welcome to DU!

[AsahinaKimi]

22. Thank you for reposting my post..

I am honored! :hug:

[bananas]

23. Thank you for posting it!

These photos are important, it's one thing to report that a scientist resigned, but it's another thing to see the pain in his eyes over what's happening. :hug:

[AsahinaKimi]

26. agreed

When most Americans here that someone cried over resigning their post they are thinking "Yeah over the money he had to probably give up.." While money is always a motive to work, some people in Japan do try to take pride in their work. Some work so hard, it kills them. Understandably there are some who work to get away from their family problems, however many Japanese take pride in the work they do.. even if its running a cart on the street that serves Noodles, Miso soup or Yaki Tori.

[SoCalDem]

25. How nice of them

:puke:

[JohnyCanuck]

28. K&R n/t