Source: The Japan Times
Debris cleanup at Fukushima reactor may have contaminated rice crops
Dated JUL 14, 2014
KYODO
Debris cleanup work by Tokyo Electric Power Co. at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant may have led to the contamination of rice crops in nearby areas, agriculture ministry officials said Monday.
Radioactive cesium exceeding the government limit of 100 becquerels per kilogram was detected in rice crops from Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, last year, including areas located more than 20 km from the crippled nuclear plant.
Farm ministry officials said they could not deny the possibility that radioactive dust was stirred up when Tepco cleaned up debris at the No. 3 reactor last August and that the dust could have made its way north to Minamisoma.
The ministry told Tepco in March to take measures to prevent dust dispersal, according to the officials.
A Tepco spokesman said the company does not deny the possibility that its cleanup work is to blame but added it isn’t clear whether that was the direct cause of the contamination.
The tainted rice was tested by the Fukushima Prefectural Government and never made it to market.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dfaPhmFGvt8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Published on 3 Sep 2013
"We won't eat it ourselves, but we sell it."
And they are encouraged to do so! And they won't be able to feed their families if they don't. It's a tragedy all around.
========================================*=
Comment by David Bear on this video and its transcript:
========================================*=
"In the agricultural policy managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, it is a priority to dispel the harmful rumor about Fukushima produce."
The above quote is from within the transcript (below). It clearly demonstrates the International Atomic Energy Agency's agenda: to dispel the 'harmful rumors' about contaminated agriculture. And here's how it's done.
First, you define the level of contamination which is "acceptable" (this is based on the International Council of Radiation Protection [ICRP]; these are the guys who did the radiological studies after Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 and 1946 and they created the standards of "acceptable" radiation exposures based on those studies. It is important that you understand this, because DNA wasn't discovered until 1952 (Watson & Crick) and radiological damage to DNA is much more subtle and happens at much lower levels of exposure. It is also important to understand that the ICRP has so far refused to adjust their "acceptable" limits to include considerations for damage to DNA).
Second, you do some generalized surveys, take the average readings and round them off (round them down to the next lowest number) and define that as the "limit" (this does not take into account actual levels of contamination at any particular location). (Of course, you say that any levels of contamination above that "limit" is a problem which will be studied and addressed.)
Third, you define the 'perceived problem' as a 'rumor.'
Fourth, you back it up by saying that the concentration of contamination (i.e., the 'rumor', is below the "acceptable" limits.
And here is the transcript [see link]:
-- David Bear
A full transcription of this video is available here:
http://goo.gl/Hv0aqU
(Thanks to Lissette Roldan for providing the transcription!)
========================================*=
Debris cleanup at Fukushima reactor may have contaminated rice crops
Dated JUL 14, 2014
KYODO
Debris cleanup work by Tokyo Electric Power Co. at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant may have led to the contamination of rice crops in nearby areas, agriculture ministry officials said Monday.
Radioactive cesium exceeding the government limit of 100 becquerels per kilogram was detected in rice crops from Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, last year, including areas located more than 20 km from the crippled nuclear plant.
Farm ministry officials said they could not deny the possibility that radioactive dust was stirred up when Tepco cleaned up debris at the No. 3 reactor last August and that the dust could have made its way north to Minamisoma.
The ministry told Tepco in March to take measures to prevent dust dispersal, according to the officials.
A Tepco spokesman said the company does not deny the possibility that its cleanup work is to blame but added it isn’t clear whether that was the direct cause of the contamination.
The tainted rice was tested by the Fukushima Prefectural Government and never made it to market.
End of Article
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dfaPhmFGvt8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Published on 3 Sep 2013
"We won't eat it ourselves, but we sell it."
And they are encouraged to do so! And they won't be able to feed their families if they don't. It's a tragedy all around.
========================================*=
Comment by David Bear on this video and its transcript:
========================================*=
"In the agricultural policy managed by the Ministry of Agriculture, it is a priority to dispel the harmful rumor about Fukushima produce."
The above quote is from within the transcript (below). It clearly demonstrates the International Atomic Energy Agency's agenda: to dispel the 'harmful rumors' about contaminated agriculture. And here's how it's done.
First, you define the level of contamination which is "acceptable" (this is based on the International Council of Radiation Protection [ICRP]; these are the guys who did the radiological studies after Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 and 1946 and they created the standards of "acceptable" radiation exposures based on those studies. It is important that you understand this, because DNA wasn't discovered until 1952 (Watson & Crick) and radiological damage to DNA is much more subtle and happens at much lower levels of exposure. It is also important to understand that the ICRP has so far refused to adjust their "acceptable" limits to include considerations for damage to DNA).
Second, you do some generalized surveys, take the average readings and round them off (round them down to the next lowest number) and define that as the "limit" (this does not take into account actual levels of contamination at any particular location). (Of course, you say that any levels of contamination above that "limit" is a problem which will be studied and addressed.)
Third, you define the 'perceived problem' as a 'rumor.'
Fourth, you back it up by saying that the concentration of contamination (i.e., the 'rumor', is below the "acceptable" limits.
And here is the transcript [see link]:
-- David Bear
A full transcription of this video is available here:
http://goo.gl/Hv0aqU
(Thanks to Lissette Roldan for providing the transcription!)
========================================*=
