"Fukushima four years later..."

Chiho Kaneko, Fairewinds Energy Education board member, along with Alfred Meyer of PSR's national board, and Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps, in the Carbon-Free/Nuclear-Free contingent at the People's Climate March in New York City, Sept. 2014.On March 12, Margaret Prescod hosted Fairewinds Energy Education board member, Chiho Kaneko (photo, left) on Pacifica Radio's "Sojourner Truth," to discuss the status at Fukushima, four years on (listen to the top audio clip).

CCNE: "The State of Affairs and Ongoing Challenges of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster: A Civil Society Response Towards Recovery"

A new report from Citizens' Commission on Nuclear Energy (CCNE), "The State of Affairs and Ongoing Challenges of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster: a Civil Society Response Towards Recovery," was launched on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of the beginning of the Fukushima nuclear disaster and also on the occasion of the United Nation's 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR), held in Sendai, Japan, not very far from Fukushima.

The report intends to answer questions such as:

-  What have been the impacts of the Fukushima nuclear disaster?
-  What is the current condition of the victims of the nuclear disaster?
-  What is going on at the nuclear plant site and what risks still exist?
-  What mistakes did authorities make in response to the nuclear disaster?
-  What countermeasures are now necessary to cope with the situation?

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"

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.