nuclear-news

Japanese kids learn about radiation

“Still, there are many children who think nuclear energy is necessary but that’s probably because their parents or relatives have had nuclear-related jobs,”

Third of Fukushima kids got first radiation lessons from disaster: poll Japan Times, 19 March, Kyodo FUKUSHIMA — About a third of the 225 youngsters who were evacuated from around the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant last March but still reside in the prefecture say the disaster made them aware of radiation dangers for the first time, a new survey says.

According to the results of the survey, released Sunday, the
youngsters were either 11 or 14 years old……Of those mindful of
radiation, 44 percent said they are concerned about dosages near their
homes and neighborhoods, 33 percent are worried about food, and 25
percent said they don’t know what they should be concerned, the
responses to a multiple-choice question said.

Some 46 percent said they fear radiation and 42 percent said they
don’t understand it very well, another multiple-choice question said.

The survey was held in February and March in cooperation with eight of
the 11 Fukushima municipalities in the hot zone.

At least 4,000 of some 16,000 elementary and junior high school
students in the 11 municipalities have left Fukushima….
The high percentage of children who learned about radiation only after
the disaster suggests they only started fearing it after the
evacuation, said Mitsuo Yamakawa, professor at Fukushima University.

“Still, there are many children who think nuclear energy is necessary but that’s probably because their parents or relatives have had nuclear-related jobs,” he said.

Asked to write in a free description section what Fukushima will be
like in 30 years, the children’s reactions were mixed.

A female second-year middle-school student wrote: “It will be safe
just like the days before the nuclear accident,” while a male
second-year middle-school student said Fukushima will be powered
mainly by renewable energy.

Those who were pessimistic wrote that Fukushima would remain deserted
or that radiation fears will persist.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120319a9.html

March 20, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, social effects