Japanese Government vs Fukushima Citizens on The Right to Live

Via pejorativeglut Jul 23, 2011

UPDATE: Per my suggestion, this video is now featured on Boing Boing.

UPDATE #2: This video is now featured on Gizmodo.

Here is a truly astounding and WTF unbelievable, must see video on how current Japanese government officials are mistreating, ignoring and insulting their very own citizens in Fukushima! These residents are located outside of the current 20-30 km evacuation zone. However, since more high levels of radiation are being discovered near their homes and schools, they want the government to increase the evacuation zone and financially support them and their families to evacuate. But, of course, the Japanese government does not want to do this as it would involve many more residents and cost much, much more. In the beginning of this video, the Director of Local Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters, Mr. Akira Satoh, answers some very serious questions from some very concerned Fukushima citizens:

Citizen: "As other people do, people in Fukushima have a right to avoid the radiation exposure and live a healthy life too. Don't you think so?"

Akira Satoh: "The government has tried to reduce the radiation exposure dose as much as it can."

Other citizens: "You didn't answer his question!"

Citizen: "So are you saying that they don't? They have that right don't they?

Akira Satoh: "I don't know if they have that right."

Can't believe it? Watch:



Above video was filmed and edited by some anonymous members of the Japanese Save Child website. English subtitles are 100% correct and were done by pejorativeglut.

The below picture is of Mr. Akira Satoh. Towards the end of the video, when he refused to accept the childrens' urine for radiation testing, they should have poured it all over him!



See also: Japan Prediction: Nuclear Holocaust, Tokyo Evacuated

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kerosene lamps and stuff . . .

Who would have guessed that less than two years after moving out of our 3,000 square feet (including basement, garage, and workshop) sticks & bricks home . . .

And into our 500 square feet (including basement--yes we have a basement--and what we call the garage) fifth wheel RV . . .

That I'd still be dealing with the idea of paring down my stuff stuff . . .

This is a shot of the storage tubs Todd pulled out of the RV's basement for me this week, so I could sort through things again and see what stuff could part ways from us. I did manage to cull a full box of stuff that's headed to the rescue mission. And that's on top of the three bags of clothes and two boxes of stuff I cleared out a month ago.

It's not been the easiest of transitions for me in a lot of ways. For forty-seven years I was a collector of things. Craft things, tea-party things, cooking things, sewing things, beauty things, seasonal thing, "one of these days" things, kid things, school things, book, magazine and movie things and just "because it's pretty" things . . . and at the house on Hunter Road, I definitely had the room to store all my things! After nearly two years of living in the RV, I've got less attachment to stuff, but paring down is still difficult -- even when it's things I've not looked at or used since we moved here.

But after the devastating storms of April that left so many without power/water at best, and with nothing, at worst, I've been thinking again about what's *really* important, and what I can *really* do without.

I finished up reading The Long Winter, by Laura Ingalls Wilder last night. It's the sixth in the Little House series. They experienced a dreadfully long, brutal winter -- seven months of it -- and during that time they went without a lot of luxuries and ever tougher, a lot of necessities.

One statement "Pa" made in the course of the winter really caught my attention. He said, "These times are too progressive. Everything has changed too fast. Railroads and telegraph and kerosene and coal stoves--they're good thing to have but the trouble is, folks get to depend on 'em." Really? Can you imagine living in a world were kerosene and coal stoves were what were depended on for light and warmth?

I had to laugh when I read it. We heard similar sentiments about folks becoming depended on electric power and running water during the aftermath of the storms. Shoot, we ourselves *made* those remarks. I wonder what Pa would think of our day and age?

I had to laugh again (quietly and to myself) when Brother Harold Sellars, our DOM for the Madison Baptist Association, said from the pulpit he was filling this morning, "And we've made such progress; from railroad to air to space and from kerosene to electric lights..."

I guess the message I'm getting (slowly but surely) is that from electric power to storage space to tons of clothes and *stuff* . . . the things that are truly important aren't going to fit in a drawer or closet or storage bin anyway.

Our Community Groups have been talking about The Most Important Thing. It's an interesting way for a person to share the one most important thing with other people.

Anyway, I'm rambling now. Just lots of different thoughts that appear to be heading the same direction. I'm sorting and processing. Relaying them here helps see the connections a little more clearly!

:)

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on grief and guilt . . .

My darling daughter wrote a blog entry today that touched my heart. I asked if I could share it on my blog, and she graciously agreed.

To me, it was interesting to note that guilt (even in the midst of my own grief) was no respecter of persons. I've had to guard carefully against it, because it's neither healthy or helpful. Why did guilt reach for me? Oh, there were lots of angles it took, but I won't go into that here and now.

Jocelyn created her blog a little over a year ago, and at first she sporadically shared funny teaching stories and the like. Since Everett's death, though, she's been more consistent and has used it as an outlet to her thoughts and prayers during this grieving/recovering process. I often read her blog with awe, wondering how she manages to so eloquently express her deepest thoughts.

But then, enough of this proud mom's babble . . . go read for yourself . . .

Prone to Wander.

:)

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technology . . .

When Todd and I first got our iPhones, back in March, I was simply thrilled! I'd wanted one, but I wasn't sure if we could afford two of them, and I knew it was really more important for Todd to have one. But then he called me and said all I had to do was pick mine up when I got off work. I was ecstatic! I went to the AT&T shop, got my phone, got minimal instruction, and hopped out to my car, where I was anxious to use my phone for the first time!

I was a little confused by the contacts list, and hadn't figured out how to make a call, so I decided I'd send a text for my first official phone act, to my daughter. Following is that conversation (my end of the conversation is in green) . . .

Needless to say, I was so embarrassed! I finally figured out what had happened; I'd inadvertently changed the last digit of my daughter's number from a "9" to a "7". Whoops. Lewis, whoever you are, thanks for being my first iPhone text. I'll never forget you.

So today, the laugh and a smile's on me.

And the to-do list post is on my to-do list for tomorrow.

:)

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Gracious . . .

What a week-and-a-half it's been. In my last entry I shared how the weather was already kicking into high gear; it kicked into even high gear later in the day. We were fortunate, to say the least, and did not suffer any major damage. Even people who had uprooted trees or car damage didn't really have major damage, in light of the tremendous loss of life and property that some in our area experienced. Really, all of North Alabama is got hit hard. Several communities in our county were hit with the huge EF5 tornado that swept through Wednesday evening. If you've watched news at all over the past week, you've probably seen images. Photos can't compare to driving down roads and seeing it with your own eyes. It's heartbreaking.

As I said, we didn't sustain anything major. We were without power, but since we're in our RV (and Todd had JUST purchased a generator), we were sitting pretty. When the power went, the refrigerator automatically converted to LP and the battery kept lights shining. Todd was on shift when it all happened (it tends to happen that way), so I was up at the RV by myself. It was a wild, wild and scary evening.

James, Kim & Sawyer came and stayed with us while power was out. We were able to keep Sawyer's milk cold (and heat it) and it was lovely spending time together, and allowing Sawyer to become comfortable in our RV home! We actually had a marvelous time riding around the camp in the golf cart, exploring through Sawyer's eyes!

James, Todd, Jocelyn & Jason have all been able to volunteer and participate in clean-up efforts, and caring for those who were displaced by the storm. The donations of time and materials is overwhelmingly wonderful. A true picture of loving your neighbor as yourself.

Sawyer Graham is walking and walking and walking! I can't believe how fast it's all happened. He's gotten quite stable, although if he wants to get somewhere really fast, he still crawls. So funny! He doesn't need to grasp the concept of running just yet!

My last day of work was this past Wednesday. It's a very good thing. I'll be able to take care of the administrative side of our ministry and shoulder some of the burden that Todd's been bearing by himself. I'm excited, to say the least!

Our guild's bus trip to Paducah was canceled, due to the storms. We were under a very strict curfew, and our departure and arrivals times didn't work in the confines of the curfew times. This makes five years running that something has happened to keep me from going to Paducah!

Kim's last day of work was Friday -- and as happy as I am for her (because I know how much she wanted to be a stay-at-home mommy), I'm sad that I won't have those regular Sawyer days, once a week. Perhaps Kim will soon be ready for some "Kim time" in a week or so, and will allow me to watch Sawyer while she takes some time for her!

Quilting has mostly been on hold through all of this (for one thing, our office/quilt room is also the guest bedroom!), though I do have my finished BOM due next weekend, and a new swap project in the works. More on those next week.

And pictures. My camera has been taking a break; it'll be out and in action again next week!

:)

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stormy weather and blustery life . . .

I'm sitting here, glued to the TV, watching incredibly wild weather make its way into and through our area. I heard one weather man say last night that today's weather would be "as rough as it gets." Yay. They've already delayed school openings by two hours. Lots of school systems in the area have actually closed, but the three systems in Madison County are already having to tag on days at the end of the school year to make up for the snow days they had to take over the winter. They're hoping that a delay will keep buses out of severe weather, and they'll still have time to get kids home this afternoon before the main weather event that's still predicted to come in later. Later, as in when I'm trying to get off work, get to my other job, and get home. Ugh!

And yet, while the storms rolls in all around me, I sit here peacefully. I'm so glad I know the Maker of peace!

Todd and I were invited to a free preview screening of a new movie, Courageous, last night. It was filmed and produced by the same church that did Fireproof and Facing the Giants. The new movie was the best one they've done so far -- great storyline, good acting, and good filming. Todd had already seen it at the ABREA conference earlier this year, but he went because he knew I'd enjoy it. And I did! There was a good balance of action, suspense, drama, and HUMOR! It was relatively realistic, and very well done. In addition, it had a good message that can't fail to hit home. I can strongly recommend it when it comes out in theaters in September.

I know I haven't been very prolific here of late; it's that same old conundrum - do I take time to blog, or use that time to live the life I'd blog about? We've been very busy with birthdays, Camp MACOBA, new job[less] situations, ministry (and ministry and more ministry), Easter celebrations, and a walking grandbaby! All happy things, to be sure, but *so* b u s y!

Saturday, very (VERY) early in the morning, I catch a bus to Paducah!! I will share more on that trip, tomorrow.

For now? I bid you adieu. And STAY WEATHER SAFE!

:)

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