The children of Fukushima negotiate directly with the person in charge of the measure after a nuclear power plant disaster, Aug 17, 2011
August 17, 2011, the children of Fukushima negotiate directly with the person in charge of the measure after a nuclear power plant disaster at the House of Representatives a congressional office building no. 1 in Tokyo, Nagatacho.
A total of four children had gone to the negotiation, the female of the second grade- junior high school (during the evacuation to Tokyo), the female of the fifth grade elementary school, and the brothers of the third grade elementary school and a fifth grade. The participants from the government were a total of ten persons including the life support from the Cabinet Office nuclear power victims (2 persons), Nuclear Safety (1 person), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (7 persons). It was absence although attendance was also requested to the leader of nuclear emergency response headquarters, Prime Minister Naoto Kan, and Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Takagi (both at that time).
Prior to the meeting, purpose explanation and children’s self-introduction were made for reporters.
Children told the enthusiasm for the negotiation.
The negotiation began with the four children handing over the government representative, the copy of the letter addressed to the government written by children in Japan.. Subsequently, four children read out the letter written in their own respectively, and conveyed the feeling to the government person in charge. “Separating with friends, everybody had to become scattering, why we have to carry out such a thought” “What is important for adult is money than life?”Ā “Please do not hurt our family and friends.” “We have not played outside since the nuclear power plant disaster. The friend had run after a house. Please take the responsibility.” “The original criteria upgraded dozens of times, and we can not believe that it is safe even in the junior high school student, The adult needs to take the responsibility.” “It had been better to be no nuclear power plant, if it becomes such a thing”, and “Please consider how we can evacuate safely with the friend of a school.”
The government persons who have attended answered to this petition that we brought back this matter and tell the appropriate department.
Whereas the children complained of sadness for everyday of their own was robbed, and asked a question “How you realize group evacuation?”, the answer of the government is “we are committed to decontaminate in order to return early.” and “we are working to ensure the safety.”.
Although, children asked “What is the maximum?” to the person who had answered “every effort has been well up to now, we want to maximize the efforts of the future”, the answer was poor.
Mr. Nishinaka of the network Fukushima protects children from radioactivity who planned this negotiation requested to the government that I want you to consider how it should be or what you should do not rather than as the government but as an adult human.
At the press conference after negotiation, children revealed the dissatisfaction to the government, saying “I wanted to meet those who can answer the questions”. “I wanted you to answer that it would not be decided if not decided about group evacuation”. Although the show the dissatisfaction to the government, they said, if there is an opportunity of negotiation again, I would like to ask a question more and to pull out an answer.
The day of this negotiation, to resume normal operations of Hokkaido, and the Tomari nuclear power plant was decided (* Notes). All the children who were asked to their opinion on this matter, show a contrary intention. “we had not been deeply considered about a nuclear power plant until it suited this disaster. However, I wanted you to consider deeply the nuclear power plant I want people across the country to get to know the fearfulness now and to know the devastation of Fukushima.”
The curtain got down by the message of one of the children who negotiated, and the female of the second-year student in a junior high school. “So that we could live in comfort even if we grow up, and we could create the society without a nuclear power plant, let’s go from now on to cooperate with everyone.”
[Notes]
“Hokkaido, resume normal operations of the Tomari nuclear power plant.
Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry delivered the end certificate of the periodic inspection of the Tomari nuclear power plant of No. 3 of the “Hokkaido Electric Power Co, Inc” which was continuing adjustment operation to the Hokkaido Electric Power at 4:00 p.m. on August 17, 2011.
It means that the Tomari nuclear power plant of No. 3 had shifted to commercial service by this from adjustment operation which continued five months or more.
This is the first time since the accident of the first nuclear power plant of Fukushima that the nuclear power plant in a periodic inspection resumes commercial service in the whole country.
No. 3 will go into a periodic inspection from January, 2011, and will shift to adjustment operation on March 7.
Adjustment operation was usually continuing adjustment operation five or so months by the occurrence of the earthquake disaster but about one month, not undergoing the final inspection required before commercial service shift.
It is decided to perform plutonium-thermal power generation by a mixed oxide fuel by No. 3 which started commercial service this time.
(Translation: Junko Terauchi)