When radioactivity reports become as commonplace as weather reports

The Japan Times lists the following real time radioactivity reports on its website:

Interactive visualization of radioactivity levels in central Japan;

Daily radiation levels in eastern Japan;

Radioactivity concentration in water by prefecture (with English translation button).

And one has to wonder how wise it is to have 55 atomic reactors in a country that needs a "Most Recent Earthquake" report!

Minamisoma declares August "Decontamination Month"

The Japan Times reports that, in a desperate bid to save its town of 70,000 from permanent abandonment by nearly half its residents, Minamisoma has undertaken "symbolic" efforts to "cut in half" its radioactive contamination, to show that it will not "sit idly by" nearly six months after the triple meltdown just 20 km (12.4 miles) from its city limits at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. However, the radioactively contaminated runoff from hosing down schools is almost certainly simply running into storm drains and sewers, then on to local water treatment facilities and/or into local surface waters, to flow downstream. Radioactively contaminated topsoil removed from playgrounds and parks is simply being buried in unlined trenches in less frequented public areas. Parts of town outside the 20 km "no go zone" are already officially open to residents returning, despite remaining contaminated. The Japanese federal government apparently plans to allow residents to return to their communities even within the 20 km zone early next year, despite admitting it has few to no disposal or processing options for the widespread radioactive contamination.

Radioactive cesium detected in newly harvested rice 37 miles from Fukushima Daiichi

The Japan Times has reported that radioactive cesium, at levels of 22 becquerels per kilogram, has been detected for the first time in newly harvested rice grown after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear catastrophe began, and 37 miles away from the shattered atomic reactors. Rice cultivation has been prohibited within 12 miles of Fukushima Daiichi, thus far anyway. Although the Japanese federal government "allows" or "permits" rice contaminated to levels of 500 becquerels of radioactive cesium per kilogram to be consumed, the article fails to mention that any exposure to radioactivity carries a health risk, and that such risks accumulate over a lifetime, as reconfirmed for decades by the U.S. National Academy of Science (NAS), most recently in its BEIR VII report (Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation, 7th iteration)

Nuclear evacuees visit homes for first time since Fukushima Daiichi catastrophe began

The Japan Times has reported that nearly 200 nuclear evacuees from the towns closest to the shattered Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant are being allowed to visit their homes for the first time since the triple meltdown catastrophe began nearly 6 months ago. Government agencies are reporting radiation levels of 4 to 8.5 millirem per hour in the evacuated towns. Thus, the five hour visit will expose the evacuees to 20 to 42.5 millirems of external radiation from gamma rays. If the evacuees do not wear respirators, they also risk internal ingestion or inhalation of radionuclides, which could deliver an even more severe radiation dose. Under normal regulations, people are "allowed" or "permitted" to receive 100 millirems per year of radioactivity exposure. However, the Japanese federal government now "allows" residents of Fukushima Prefecture to receive 2,000 millirems per year, a 20-fold increase post-Fukushima. This includes infants, children, pregnant women, and fetuses -- known to be more vulnerable to radioactivity's harmfulness than ordinary adults. Another risk to the visiting evacuees not mentioned in this article -- the radioactive contamination of the personal items they apparently are allowed to retrieve from their abandoned homes. Also of concern -- the apparent intent of the Japanese government to allow evacuees from the 20 km (12 mile) evacuation zone to return to live in their severely contaminated homes in January, 2012.

Japanese Prime Minister Kan resigns after passage of bill promoting renewable energy

Kan has served as Japan's Prime Minister for 15 months, including nearly 6 months overshadowed by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear catastropheThe Japan Times reported on Friday, August 27th that Prime Minister Naoto Kan has resigned the presidency of the Democratic Party of Japan, and will resign as Japan's Prime Minister as soon as a replacement has been named in the coming days. Under increasing pressure to resign, Kan has pledged for some time to do so as soon as key bills were passed by the Japanese Diet (federal parliament), including one promoting renewable energy as a replacement for atomic reactors, which Kan has called to be phased out after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear catastrophe. Meanwhile, the Japan Times reports that among the Democratic Party of Japan candidates vying for the party's presidency and Prime Minister's mantle is the head of the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), Banri Kaieda. The Nuclear and Industry Safety Agency (NISA) has resided within METI until very recently. METI's explicit mandate is to promote atomic energy, but the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear catastrophe has led to long overdue reform efforts, to separate nuclear regulation from nuclear promotion. Critics, such as the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, have called for such reforms for over a decade, ever since the deadly Tokai-Mura nuclear accident of 1999.

Another contender, Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda, has indicated that old atomic reactors should be shut down, while it will now be difficult to build new ones in Japan -- although he is open to allowing currently exisiting reactors proven "safe" to be allowed to operate, in order to address Japan's electricity crisis.

Update on August 29, 2011 by admin

As reported by the Mainichi Daily News, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Finance Minister Noda has won the DPJ presidency, meaning he will take the reigns as the Prime Minister of Japan tomorrow. He beat out Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) head Kaeida. METI, whose mandate is to promote atomic energy, has also been home to NISA, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, the supposed safety regulator on the industry. In the aftermath of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear catastrophe, there has been general agreement to move NISA out of METI, to separate the promotional and regulatory roles. As mentioned above, Noda has indicated that old, unsafe atomic reactors must be shut down, and also that it will be very difficult now to build new reactors in Japan. Now former Prime Minister Kan has called for a Japan free of nuclear energy in the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe. Noda will serve out the rest of Kan's remaining term, until September 2012.