Saturday, January 7, 2012

Japanese Government to Measure Radiation of Rain and Snow in Fukushima Prefecture

About time, you may say. But wait, there's more. The result will be available in March.

And while we wait for the radioactivity of the snow that falls in Fukushima, the prefecture and the national government have been promoting ski slopes in Fukushima to young people with free or discount lift tickets. Come on up, the snow will shield dangerous radiation, so ski and snowboard in our beautiful mountains, the ski hotels in Fukushima say.

The Ministry of Education and Science already announced that there will be no announcement on weekends and holidays.

Yomiuri Shinbun (1/8/2012):

政府の原子力災害現地対策本部と福島県災害対策本部は1月から、同県内で地表に降った雨や雪を採取し、放射性物質を測定する観測を始めた。

The national government's Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters in Fukushima Prefecture and the Fukushima Prefecture's Disaster Response Headquarters have started to collect rain and snow that fall on Fukushima to measure radioactive materials.

 1回目の測定結果は、3月初旬までに公表する予定。大気中に浮遊するちりなどに含まれる放射性物質の測定は、現在も県内20か所以上で実施しているが、昨年夏以降、検出限界値を下回る地点が多くなっていた。このため、雨や雪についても観測し、どの程度放射性物質が地表に沈着しているかを調べる。

The result of the first measurement is expected to be released by early March. The radioactive fallout in the air is still measured at more than 20 locations inside Fukushima, but since last summer the numbers at many locations are below the detection limit. So the government will test rain and snow in addition to the fallout to see the deposition of radioactive materials on the ground surface.

8 comments:

mike in tokyo rogers said...

I work a lot with marketing and tourism organizations and I must say that I have been getting lots of requests to help out the Fukushima ski and snow board slopes. Those folks need the business and I want to help. They sure have a huge hill to climb. The government not being totally forthcoming on the results hurts confidence. (It hurts mine) and, as a promoter, how can I sell something that I am not 100% certain of?

Anonymous said...

Mike, you can't, and you shouldn't, IMHO. Particularly when they don't tell you the test result until March.

Anonymous said...

Mike, you could get in touch with the Safecast guys and see if they are willing to measure background radiation at the resorts.

Darth3/11 said...

I'd stay away from the entire Fukushima area except to volunteer and do something useful. Skiing the slopes is out for at least a year to let the radiation tick down. No more skiing there until the results are released, and in a timely and useful manner. Sorry, Mike.

Anonymous said...

It's not just about radiation level in the air on the ski slopes. It's about the snow itself. And the constant supply of radioactive particles from the mountains and forests around them. And the elevated radiation you get just by riding Shinkansen into Fukushima. And eating "local" food served by the hotels.

I'm sure there are many young people who either don't know or don't want to know about radiation that you can sell Fukushima to, but with good conscience on your part? I doubt it.

Anonymous said...

Mike--

If you do it (while your own conscience and other people are telling you not to do it), at least make sure that you include honest information. The worst thing that you could do would be to say that there is no harm at all.

Think about it: Right now it's business as usual, and it might go on for another year or two, but not much longer. What then?

Your reputation could be ruined and some people could be tempted to sue you because you're an easier target than the government or the large food supermarket. So, if you do it, do it with as much honesty as possible.

Anonymous said...

I thought Mike only said that he wanted to help IF he can make an informed decision based on real data. I guess one can say anything from the government is and will be a lie, but I think people are savvy enough these days to make up their own mind.

There are always people who thinks the only ways to help Fukushima are to eat their food and visit their area.

If you want to help, send money, voice your concern and vote to stop incompetency in your government.

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