Radiation Levels in Northwest Rain Were Up to 130 Times Safe Drinking Water Standards Following Fukushima

"Radiation levels in rainwater collected in Portland, Oregon on March 25, 2011 were 86.8 pCi/L for Iodine 131 (I131), amongst the highest recorded in the US after Fukushima. Rain in Olympia had even higher levels of radioactive Iodine. The Portland result was not posted by EPA until April 4.

"The maximum level of Iodine 131in rain in Olympia, WA was 125 pCi/L on March 24, which was not posted by EPA until April 4.

"Highest levels in rainwater in California were collected March 22, 2011 in Richmond, CA with levels of 138 pCi/L." Counterpunch

Beef Contamination Spreads in Japan After Fukushima Radiation Taints Straw

"More beef from cattle in Japan that ate straw tainted by radiation has found its way into the food supply, deepening concern about the safety of meat as the country struggles to contain the spread of the contamination.

"Cattle at the farm in Asakawa, about 60 kilometers from the crippled Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear station, were fed with rice straw containing 97,000 becquerels of cesium per kilogram, compared with the government standard of 300 becquerels, said Hidenori Ohtani at the livestock division of the Fukushima prefectural government." Bloomberg

Update on August 2, 2011 by admin

The Mainichi Daily News reports Japanese federal government panel is poised to recommend that beef cattle farmers in 17 prefectures be compensated for price losses as high as 70% due to public fear of meat contamination due to the feeding of radioactive rice hay to livestock.

Update on August 2, 2011 by admin

The Mainichi Daily News reports that the Japanese federal government has banned beef exports from a fourth prefecture, after detection of radioactive cesium contamination due to rice hay sullied with Fukushima Daiichi fallout. The three other prefectures banned from exporting beef are Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima.

45 per cent of Fukushima children had thyroid exposure to radiation

"The plant has been leaking radioactive substances since it was hit by a magnitude-9 earthquake and resulting tsunami on March 11.

About 45 per cent of children in Fukushima prefecture experienced thyroid exposure to radiation after the nuclear power there was damaged in March, officials said Tuesday." The Hindu

"National crime" and "graveyard governance" in wake of Fukushima catastrophe

Hokkaido Cancer Center director Nishio Masamichi, a radiation treatment specialist, has published a very hard hitting critique of the Japanese government and nuclear power industry's performance regarding the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear catastrophe. The Asia-Pacific Journal's Japan Focus has published a review. Masamichi expresses grave concerns for the health of residents downwind and downstream of the catastrophic radioactivity releases, and offers suggestions of critical changes that need to be made to thus far incompetent and confused emergency response.

New petition to protect the children of Fukushima against radioactivity

Aileen Mioko Smith, director of Green Action Japan, has just announced an opportunity for individuals and organizations across the world to sign a petition demanding increased protection for the children of Fukushima against the clear and present danger from the Daiichi nuclear power plant's ongoing releases of hazardous radioactivity. To read and sign the petition, go to the Green Action Fukushima Updates website.