Monday, February 20, 2012

Former Career Bureaucrats-Turned Politicians in Kawasaki, Kanagawa and Oita Eager to Ignore the Residents' Opposition, Want to Burn Disaster Debris

They are both graduates from Tokyo University Law School. After their career in the national government bureaucracy, they "descended from heaven" and landed on political careers.

Mayor Takao Abe of Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture was actually the first to declare war against citizens who do not want to have disaster debris that has been contaminated with the fallout from Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant to be burned in their midst (literally) and buried. On April 6, 2011 he declared his city would accept disaster debris from FUKUSHIMA (not Miyagi or Iwate) and burn it in the city's incineration plant.

Mayor Abe says he will simply ignore the opposition when it comes to disaster debris processing in his city, and he will be willing to go it alone without the prefecture-wide consensus in Kanagawa (because there won't be any).

From Sponichi Annex (2/20/2012):

川崎市の阿部孝夫市長は20日の定例記者会見で、東日本大震災で発生したがれきを受け入れると表明した神奈川県に反対意見が相次いでいることについて「(川崎市は)筋の通らない反対意見は無視する」と述べ、市単独でも受け入れる考えを示した。

During the regular press conference on February 20, Mayor of Kawasaki City Takao Abe indicated that his city would consider accepting the disaster debris over the opposition [from the residents] against the Kanagawa prefectural government that declared it would accept the disaster debris. He said, "(Kawasaki City) will ignore any opposition that is unreasonable."

 阿部市長は昨年4月、岩手、宮城、福島各県に災害廃棄物の受け入れ支援を申し出たが、量が多いため国が主導するよう求めたまま計画は進んでいない。がれき受け入れの具体的な計画を問われると「まだめどは立っていない」と述べ、明言を避けた。

Mayor Abe had offered to accept the disaster debris from Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima last April. However, since the amount of the debris is too large, the plan to process the debris have stalled due to the lack of leadership from the national government. When asked if there's a concrete schedule for accepting the debris, Mayor Abe avoided being specific by just saying "It is not established yet."

 反対意見については「(安全だと)客観的なデータを示してもただ反対したい人はいる」と批判し「誰かが最終判断して責任を持って実行しないといけない」と述べた。

He criticized the opposition by saying, "There are people who oppose no matter what, even with the objective data that vouches safety. In the end, someone has to make the final decision and carry it out in a responsible manner."

 神奈川県は川崎市などでがれきを焼却し、同県横須賀市の県最終処分場に埋め立てる計画を示したが、住民の反対を受けて調整は難航している。

The Kanagawa prefectural government has come up the plan to burn the debris in Kawasaki City and other locations and bury it [the ashes, non-flammable debris] in the final disposal site in Yokosuka City. But the plan has stalled at the opposition from the residents.

Kanagawa Governor and former TV personality Kuroiwa cried on camera the other day to appeal to the Kanagawa residents. He wants Kawasaki, Yokohama, and Sagamihara to burn the debris and dump it in the final disposal site in Yokosuka, where the local residents have suffered enough from the poor management of the site.

I would love to hear how Mayor Abe is going to take responsibility if a negative consequence from the debris burning ever occurs.

The mayor's declaration last April (April 6, 2011 to be exact) that he was going to bring Fukushima debris to Kawasaki and burn it alarmed the residents so much that they immediately organized themselves into opposing the mayor's unilateral move.

Mayor Abe was born in today's Fukushima City in Fukushima Prefecture, is a graduate of the prestegious Tokyo University Law School and a former career bureaucrat at the Ministry of Home Affairs (which was re-integrated into the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in 2001) with a stint in the Environment Agency (which has become the Ministry of the Environment) before he successfully ran for mayorship in Kawasaki City in 2001.

Now, on to Oita Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, which has been largely spared from the contamination from Fukushima I Nuke Plant. Governor Hirose, a former super-elite bureaucrat, wants to help out Tohoku so much that he's willing to subject the prefecture to potential contamination from radioactive materials that deposited on the disaster debris, not to mention arsenic and the host of other toxic substances.

From Oita Godo Shinbun (2/20/2012):

大分県の広瀬勝貞知事は20日の定例記者会見で、東日本大震災で発生したがれきの受け入れについて「(福島第1原発から離れている)放射性物質の心配のないところについては、全国的な視点で考えてみる必要がある」と述べ、前向きな姿勢を示した。

Governor of Oita Prefecture Katsusada Hirose held a regular press conference on February 20 and said he wanted to move forward on accepting the disaster debris. "We need to consider from a nation-wide perspective [when it comes to disaster debris] from locations that are far away from Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant and there's no need to worry about radioactive materials", he said.

 広瀬知事は、がれき受け入れをめぐり市町村と協議を始めていることを明らかにした上で「時間をかけて住民の皆さんにご理解をいただきたい」と訴えた。

Governor Hirose disclosed that he had been in negotiation with the municipalities over the disaster debris, and appealed to the residents by saying "Over time, I would like the residents to understand."

 受け入れの際の放射性物質の検査は「出口で確認する、入ってくるときに確認するなどの態勢を十分にとることが前提になる」と強調した。

As to the inspection of radioactive materials on accepting the debris, he said emphatically, "It is a matter of course that we will thoroughly check at the exit [after the debris is burned], and check at the entrance [before the debris is burned]."

The elite governor and former top bureaucrat at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry thinks the radiation contamination lessens by the distance. I guess he believes in contamination in concentric circles just like the Kan administration officials. I guess he's never seen the radiation contour map by Professor Hayakawa. Or even the map by the Ministry of Education.

Mayor Abe pales in comparison with Governor Hirose in terms of achievement as a career bureaucrat. Mr. Hirose was the highest-ranking bureaucrat as the Administrative Vice Minister at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the most powerful ministry of the Japanese government. The position is as the highest as a career bureaucrat can rise to, in the Japanese government system. Then he descended from heaven to succeed the governorship from his predescessor who had become the governor after successful career at the Ministry.

If Governor Hirose gets his way, there goes the very thriving business by the farmers in Oita who have had brisk sales of their radiation-free produce to the consumers in eastern Japan. Oita is famous for shiitake mushrooms. Bye bye to them also. Call it "baseless rumors", but it is a defense mechanism left for consumers as the governments at all levels side with the producers of Tohoku (and to a lesser degree, of northern Kanto).

Governor of Tokyo Ishihara told the Tokyo residents to "shut up", and will burn the radioactive debris from Miyagi Prefecture in the incineration plants in the populous 23 Special Wards. Mayor of Shimada City Sakurai proudly declared he is subjecting the residents of Shimada to an "experiment".

It continues to be a rude shock to many in Japan that their elected officials do not listen to them, as they are supposed to. People still think the public officials should put the welfare of the residents first and foremost, as they are supposed to.

It is hard for them to accept that these elected officials and unelected bureaucrats behave the way they've behaved since March 11, 2011.

16 comments:

Karen Sherry Brackett said...

This concept of shipping waste all over Japan for incineration is questionable. Simple logic seems to be if you already have land that is wasteland now for generations to come. Then keep all waste in this area rather than contaminate the good land. Politicians are not nuclear scientists. They are not qualified to make nuclear judgement calls but this is really just common sense anyway.

CaptD said...

We are now are being ruled by those in Nuclear Denial*; instead of by Leaders that demand an end to the Trillion Dollar Eco-Disast­er RISK that Nuclear poses to mankind! The nuclear industry is fighting tooth and nail to maintain it's market share; yet NOW Solar (of all flavors) is far less costly to construct, faster to construct and carries with it N☢ Nuclear radioactiv­e baggage that can kill a Countries economy and or those living nearby!
Ask The Japanese!

*Nuclear Denial
http://is.­gd/XPjMd0
The illogical belief that Nature cannot destroy any land based nuclear reactor, any place anytime 24/7/365!
Remember Nature does not follow design basis calculations or even engineering RISK formulas…

Chibaguy said...

These people down south need to wake up. Some people do pay attention to where things come from and this could be the end of buying anything made in Japan. As professor Takeda said; these people need to step down for the sake of the country. TEPCO needs to leave Japan as well.

Anonymous said...

I had planned to move from Tokyo to Kyushu. I guess this is the end of my time in Japan

Anonymous said...

Dear Mayor Abe, Go to hell. Thankyou. Jack, U.S.A.

Anonymous said...

Politician are not nuclear scientist, yes. They are just people who are able to do the most stupid and horrible thinks for money.
They are not worthy of representing people. No one of them.

Anonymous said...

Since I have not been able to locate any reasonable excuse for burning radioactive waste, I conclude that it is the intention of those in charge to distribute radioactive waste throughout Japan and other countries to 'soften' the disparity in human health that would otherwise result (e.g., Fukushima residents have startling rise in future disease rates while areas relatively free of radiation do not have this sudden horrible rise). I believe they also want to get the radiation dose 'down' in some areas so they believe evenly distributing it will result in a harmless dose everywhere. Of course Japan wants to burn the radioactive waste that they don't dump directly into the ocean in order to dispose of it's problem in other nations (carried away from Japan by wind). I think these things because there is no logical excuse to date for what they are doing.

Anonymous said...

There is a powerful evil working through Mr. Hirose and Mr. Abe and Mr. Ishihara. There is no other possible explanation. (Does anyone know a good exorcist?!) Next elections will not come soon enough to turn this around. Only God can help us now. Pray for Japan.

CaptD said...

What is wrong with this "Picture"?

1. Tepco is one the "GANGS" that runs Japan.
2. What is good for TEPCO is good for Japan.
3. The Japanese people MUST OBEY TEPCO for the "GOOD" of the Country.
4. The financial health of TEPCO is more important than the physical health,
... of the Japanese People and all their FUTURE children!
5. Only TEPCO knows what is best, all others must BOW to TEPCO's Rule.
+
Japan is now a majority TEPCO Stock Owner, where is their TEPCO Board seat and who is asking questions and demanding answers for all those in Tokyo receiving TEPCO's radioactiv­e fallout?

This is UNACCEPTAB­LE!

Who wants to star in a Japanese radioactiv­e pollution Film!

CaptD said...

I think future generations will look at what is happening in Japan as a perfect example of a Government using Science to condom its citizens to an unhealthy future in order to make money for those that control the Government!

TEPCO is now engaged in a Health War not only against the Japanese People but all those living downwind from Fukushima!

CaptD said...

Here is my explanation of the Black G☢☢

I believe that the reason for the high Cesium counts is the interaction of Earth Quakes (EQ's) with the Corium(s) with the groundwater below the complex and that may even be the cause of the Black Dust that is now being widely observed in Northern Japan.

EQ's + H☢T Corium(s) + Ground water = (Hydro Corium) Fissioning

Fissioning + Time => Radioactive Steam Releases => Black Dust (helped by burning Debris forms Black G☢☢

CaptD said...

Wake up Japanese parents!
Your children are depending upon you, not TEPCO to insure their future health!

Demand random testing which will keep the Gov’t. from “cherry picking” children to test!

If even a few children a found to be highly exposed, then ALL CHILDREN should be tested!

If the Gov’t. can spend BILLIONS of yen on decontamination then why can’t they also provide testing for all children UNLESS THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE RESULTS!

Anonymous said...

Gundersen is in Tokyo giving a talk..

http://vimeo.com/37189735

..

Anonymous said...

Gundersen. Nuther nuclear whore cashing in on Fukushima disaster, peddling his "book". Disgusting.

Anonymous said...

Gundersen's publisher must be feeling rich. Having an interpreter alone would cost $700 or so, as they have to pay for a half day. Press Club audience. That says it all.

arevamirpal::laprimavera said...

@anon at 1:43, you're not kidding. That translation/interpretation company charges the top dollar for their service.

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