Friday, May 27, 2011

Crippled nuke plant not prepared for heavy rain, wind (by Mainichi Shimbun)

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The crippled Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant is not fully prepared for heavy rain and strong winds forecast due to a powerful typhoon moving Saturday toward disaster-affected areas of northeastern Japan, according to the plant's operator Tokyo Electric Power Co.


http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110528p2g00m0dm013000c.html

Unclear future prospect and unsettled nuclear issue makes me feel insecure

(by Mr. Koji Endo (40) from Minami Souma City, now in Sado City)
As my work place is located within 3 kilometers from the Fukushima No.1 Nuclear Power Plant, I am not able to go to work. The life without the future prospect really makes me feel insecure. My house is located within 30 kilometers radius of the nuclear power plant. I hesitate to go back considering the future of my son who is 11 years old. He is getting used to the elementary school here, but says sometimes that he wants to go back. I have a mixed feeling as a parent. We could live a normal life only if there were no issue of nuclear power plant. I’d like the government to make it clear as soon as possible if the compensation will include the expected income during the period that I cannot work.

Niigatqa Nippo, Voices of Evacuees in the prefecture, May 25th, 2011
http://www.niigata-nippo.co.jp/news/subgenre/51/23345.html

Translated by Makiko Tajima Asano

Hoping to go back to our house, though very concerned about the effect of the radiation on our grandchildren

(by Mr. Yasuo Itsuga (72)  from Minami Souma City, Fukushima Prefecture, now in Niigata City)
My original house located 2 kilometers from the coast was washed away, and I lost my sister, brother, and his grandson. I hate earthquake and tsunami, but I detest nuclear power plant. I am staying at this evacuation center with my grandchildren since March. Since their house is located outside of 20-kilometer restricted zone from the nuclear power plant, we could go back, if we all want, but I am scared to do so considering the effect on our young grandchildren with future. My son is staying at the house taking care of the business, and came to Niigata to check on us yesterday. We discussed “going back home by the end of summer break.” I hope the nuclear power plant issue would be settled by then.


Niigatqa Nippo, Voices of evacuees in the Prefecture, May 25th, 2011
http://www.niigata-nippo.co.jp/news/subgenre/51/23345.html

Translated by Makiko Tajima Asano

The unemployed totaled 110 thousand after the earthquake disaster among three prefectures

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare reported that the number of the unemployed has climbed up to about 111.5 thousands among Iwate Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture where the Great East Japan Earthquake hit most severe and the people there either lost their jobs or got on suspension due to the temporarily close down and filed for unemployment benefit. Many are considered “Job loss related to the disaster”, and even 5,112 were added past nine days after May, 13th, 2011.


Statistics are based on the number of people who came to “Hello Work” – unemployment office to file for the benefits between the next day after the disaster and May 22, 2011. The prefectural breakdown shows that Iwate had 23,640 (1.9 times more compared to the last year), Miyagi had 48,496 (2.4 times), and Fukushima, 39,437 (2.8 times); the total number summed up to 111,537 (2.4 times).

The figure included the people who left jobs voluntarily and retired due to the age, but the most of the portion of increase were attributed to the job loss due to the disaster. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare expects low possibility for a sudden increase after this.


Yomiuri News Paper May 25, 2011

Translated by Makiko Tajima Asano

G8 leaders to call for strengthening of nuclear plant safety treaty (by Mainichi Shimbun)

G8 leaders meet in Deauville, France, on May 26. (AP)
G8 leaders meet in Deauville, France, on May 26. (AP)
 

Cabinet's nuclear safety chief totally confused after TEPCO reversal on water injection (by Mainichi Shimbun)


Nuclear Safety Commission Chairman Haruki Madarame. (Mainichi)