Newspaper: Japanese evacuating country because of radiation — “Passport issuance growing sharply” — “Increase is attracting attention”

Newspaper: Japanese evacuating country because of radiation — “Passport issuance growing sharply” — “Increase is attracting attention”

New figures reveal the number of Japanese leaving their homeland for a life abroad has more than tripled in the wake of last year’s earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident. [...]

Next year the number is likely to climb further, as travel industry research indicates passport issuance is growing sharply.

Worries about radiation, predictions of another devastating quake and diminishing opportunities in Japan’s economically depressed and rapidly ageing society are driving young families and singles and wealthy retirees abroad.

In insular and conservative Japan, this increase is attracting attention. [...]

Foreigners tended to assume Japan had bounced back from the triple disaster, and in some areas that was true. But many Japanese now had, for the first time, a deep distrust of their government. [...]

High radiation found in Fukushima's fish

High radiation found in Fukushima's fish

High radiation found in Fukushima's fishby Staff WritersFukushima, Japan (UPI) Nov 17, 2012

disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only

Fish caught near Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant have radiation levels 100 times higher than normal, officials say.

Japan's Environment Ministry carried out a study that found fish caught near the plant had more radiation than fish caught elsewhere, RIA Novosti reported.

The levels found ranged from 4,400 becquerels per kilogram to 11,400 becquerels per kilogram, against the maximum "safe" level of 100 becquerels per kilogram.

Activist Post: Report reveals Japanese nuclear safety experts received large sums of money from nuclear industry

Activist Post: Report reveals Japanese nuclear safety experts received large sums of money from nuclear industry

While the “profoundly man-made disaster” at the Fukushima nuclear power plant continues unabated with independent experts continually blocked from gaining access, it has now been revealed that the six members of a Japanese government team drafting the new nuclear reactor safety standards have received tens of thousands of dollars from the nuclear industry. 

According to a report put out by Japan’s Kyodo News a whopping four out of six experts on the panel drafting new safety standards have received funds from companies directly involved in the nuclear industry. 

The grants, donations and compensation range from 3 million yen (around $37,290) to over 27 million yen (around $335,600) each, according to data released by the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA). 

While the NRA claimed that the members of the panel “have been selected in line with rules, and there should be no problem,” Kyodo News rightly points out that critics “say the members’ judgments might be swayed by the wishes of donors, exposing safety regulations to the risk of being watered down.”