Disaster Debris Wide-Area Disposal: Tokyo Univ. Students to the Rescue with the Help from Largest Ad Agency in Japan

Students at the prestigious (at least hard to get in) Tokyo University have formed a group called "Project to Think About 3.11 Debris". The group held a public symposium on March 28 on the Tokyo University Komaba campus, co-sponsored by Jiji Tsushin and others with "special support" from the Ministry of the Environment.

Their message: More information disclosure from the national government should help; there is a "silent majority" who would gladly accept disaster debris.

From the event co-sponsor Jiji Tsushin (3/28/2012):

不安解消へ情報開示を＝東大生ら、がれき処理で提言

Tokyo University students make proposals on disaster debris processing - information disclosure to dispel fears

東日本大震災で発生したがれき処理の問題を東京大の学生らが議論する「３・１１のガレキを考えるプロジェクト」（共催・時事通信社など、特別協力・環境省）は２８日、放射能汚染に対する国民の不安を解消するため政府に一層の情報開示などを求める提言をまとめた。近く環境省に提出する。

"The Project to Think about 3.11 Debris", where Tokyo University students discuss the issue of disaster debris from the March 11, 2011 earthquake/tsunami, issued its proposals to the national government to further disclose information to dispel citizens' fears of radiation contamination. The Project is co-sponsored by Jiji Tsushin and others, with the special support from the Ministry of the Environment. The proposals will be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment shortly.

　提言は、がれきの安全性への理解が広がらないのは、東京電力福島第１原発事故後の政府の情報提供の遅れが背景にあると指摘。がれきの安全基準（放射性セシウム濃度が１キロ当たり８０００ベクレル以下）を決定した検討過程を公開するなど、国民が放射能の危険性を冷静に判断できるよう情報開示を強化し、悪循環を断ち切るよう求めた。

The Project pointed out that it was the delay in disclosing information by the government after the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident that has hindered the understanding by the citizens of the safety of the debris. It requested that the government strengthen the effort to disclose information so that citizens could determine the danger of radiation calmly [in a scientific way] and break a vicious cycle. The group suggested the government disclose the decision process when they had decided on the safety standard for the debris (8,000 Bq/kg of radioactive cesium).

　また、岩手県釜石市でがれきを使ったラグビー場建設が計画されていることを紹介し、被災自治体でのがれき処理の取り組みをデータベース化するよう要望。がれき処理と復興に向けたまちづくりが切り離されている現状を批判した。

The group also told the audience that a construction of a rugby field was being planned in Kamaishi City in Iwate Prefecture using the debris, and suggested the government create a database of the projects at local municipalities in the disaster-affected areas. It also criticized that the debris disposal and rebuilding of cities and towns were being considered separately.

　さらに、がれきの受け入れをめぐっては反対意見ばかりが目立っている一方で、「被災者には遠慮があり不満や要求をすることが少ない」と強調。実際には受け入れに理解を示す「サイレントマジョリティー」がいるとして、意見交換の場を充実させる必要性を訴えた。

Further, as to the disaster debris acceptance, the group said only the opponents were getting the air time, but "the disaster victims are reserved, and they don't complain or demand". In reality, there was a "Silent Majority" who wouldn't mind accepting the debris, the group said, and emphasized the need for more dialogues.

If this seems contrived to you (I don't see why it shouldn't), it's because it is, contrived. This "Project to Think about 3.11 Debris" seems to have been organized by a joint educational venture between Tokyo University and Hakuhodo called "brand design studio". Hakuhodo is Japan's one of the two largest ad and PR agencies who has been getting a lot of jobs from the government ever since March 11, 2011 to spin the government policies and appropriately guide the general public.

This entity is the "others" in the Jiji article above, who co-sponsored the event on March 28.

If the national government thinks Tokyo University, Hakuhodo (or Dentsu for that matter), and the Ministry of the Environment exude honesty and truthfulness after one year of misinformation, and the citizens are willing to fall for this, there will be not much I can say.

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