Japan nuclear-related exports to reach 2 tril. yen in 2020
17 May 2013 23:18:05kyodonews.jp
Japan will aim to land nuclear power plant construction orders from overseas worth around 2 trillion yen in 2020 from the current 300 billion yen through accelerated efforts to boost infrastructure exports, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Friday.
According to a strategy unveiled Friday, Japan will seek to triple the sales of various infrastructure systems to 30 trillion yen in 2020 by reinforcing cooperation between the public and private sectors or by strategically using yen loans.
Of the 30 trillion yen, around 9 trillion yen is expected to come from businesses related to energy, such as nuclear and thermal power, 7 trillion yen from those related to transportation, and 6 trillion yen from information and telecommunication areas…..
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Belgium to restart nuclear reactors after probe into cracks
Brussels (dpa) – Two large nuclear-power reactors that have been offline for almost a year amid concerns over potential cracks in their core tanks will now reopen, Belgian authorities said Friday.
The country‘s Federal Agency for Nuclear Control said it believes that operations can safely resume, following several rounds of tests.
The GDF Suez energy company has said that the reactors, if allowed to do so, would not restart before June.
Green politicians and activists had advocated for the reactors to stay shut. A leader of the European Parliament‘s Green group, Rebecca Harms, said in March that a restart would be “irresponsible,” arguing that the cause of the defect had still to be determined.
The Doel 3 reactor has been offline since June, when service checks carried out with a new ultrasound technology revealed “several indications of defects” in the steel base of the core tank.
The Tihange 2 reactor, which was produced by the same, now-defunct Dutch manufacturer, was then shut down in August to undergo similar inspections.
Between them, the Doel power plant – which has been in service for more than three decades in the north of the country – and the Tihange plant, which is located in eastern Belgium, meet about 55 per cent of the country‘s electricity requirements.
Belgium has adopted a nuclear phaseout plan that foresees the shutting down of Doel 3 in 2022 and the complete abandonment of nuclear energy by 2025. dpa amh npr Author: Alexandra Mayer-Hohdahl
Experts okay restart of worrisome Belgian nuclear plants
by Staff Writers
Brussels (AFP) Jan 05, 2013
https://nuclear-news.net/2013/01/06/experts-okay-restart-of-worrisome-belgian-nuclear-plants/
Reactor vessel cracks revealed in Belgium earlier this month spark international inspections
http://www.bellona.org/articles/articles_2012/Belgian_reactor_international_checks
As inspectors investigate possible manufacturing shortcomings in the reactor pressure vessel of the No 3 reactor at the Doel Nuclear Power Plant in Belgium – which earlier this month was discovered to have cracks – nuclear safety authorities in other countries are conduction their own test to root out similar flaws.
Charles Digges, 30/08-2012
[….]
The reactor vessel at the Doel No 3 plant was manufactured by the now-bankrupt Dutch firm Rotterdam Drydock Company, which sold a number of such vessels to a variety of international customers. The discovery of the cracks at Doel’s Unit 3 by the use of a new ultrasound measuring technique, sent a nervous ripple through the international nuclear industry.
Rotterdam Drydock Company had sold 21 reactor vessels to nuclear power plants in the US, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Sweden and the UK, according to the Associated Press, though that information was not released until later in the month.
Nuclear-powered cargo ship on display tomorrow in Baltimore
A rare event featuring a nautical vestige of the Cold War.
May 17, 2013 at 7:47 pm
For a revealing look at the nuclear arms race of the 1950s, consider attending the Port of Baltimore’s inaugural Maritime Expo tomorrow morning (Saturday) at Pier 13, located at the southern tip of Canton on Newgate Avenue.
The signature event will be the commemoration of National Maritime Day onboard the NS Savannah between 11 a.m. and 12 noon, featuring former Congresswoman Helen Delich Bentley and U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski.
The commemoration – and the rest of the day’s events from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – is free to the public and will include tours of visiting ships, displays of Lego model ships and maritime heritage activities.
Nuke foes start hunger strike at METI
17 May 2013 07:42:05 japantimes.co.jp
Opponents of nuclear power started a hunger strike Thursday to press the government to drop a lawsuit demanding they remove their tents from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
They sat down in chairs in front of the tents, wearing headbands and happi coats.
“We are not removing the tents,” they announced in a statement. “We are against the restart of nuclear power reactors.”
“People who are fighting for the end of nuclear power generation meet here and get information here,” said Setsuko Kuroda, 62, of Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, who frequently visits the tents.
“I once got reunited here with a person who was evacuated (due to the Fukushima No. 1 disaster) and celebrated the reunion in tears. Forced removal is just unacceptable,” she said.
The campaigners plan to continue the strike at their own pace until noon next Wednesday, the day before the government’s lawsuit against them opens at the Tokyo District Court.
They erected their first tent there in September 2011. METI claims that although it has repeatedly asked the activists to take the tents down and leave the area, the site continues to be unlawfully occupied…..
Fukushima evacuee travels to UN to speak of continuing plight facing citizens
……It makes me sad that I have to come here to make an appeal regarding facts that the Japanese government is trying to cover up and hide from the rest of the world. I am here to let people here know that Fukushima is still here, but also that the Japanese government is attempting to reinvigorate its nuclear power program in the name of economics–a move that endangers the very existence of civilization itself…..
Friday, May 17, 2013
http://tenthousandthingsfromkyoto.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/fukushima-evacuee-travels-to-un-to.html
(Film Trailer on link)
Setsuko Kida, one of the most impassioned speakers amongst the six persons profiled in the recent award-winning documentary film Women of Fukushima, traveled to Geneva, Switzerland last month to speak at the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Kida, who had to evacuate from her home (located between the Fukushima Daiichi and Daini nuclear reactors) following the disaster of March 11, 2011, has remained a tireless campaigner over the past two years for the Japanese government to recognize the rights of Fukushima citizens and give just compensation for their suffering.
Her work includes attending various speaking events and street campaigning in Tokyo (including the ongoing Friday night anti-nuclear demonstrations in front of the Prime Minister’s residence) to remind citizens that the ongoing repercussions of the disaster are far from over.
Kida was accompanied on her trip to Geneva by Jeffrey Jousan, producer of the Women of Fukushima film. As she does not speak English, Jeffrey spoke on her behalf in front of the UN Committee. Allotted only three minutes, the brief speech nevertheless poignantly and powerfully delineates the many problems that continue to face Fukushima residents following the crisis. Their presentation is here:
Uploaded on 29 Apr 2013
This is Setsuko Kida and Jeffrey Jousan’s presentation to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Setsuko Kida and Jeffrey Jousan, United Nations, April 29, 2013
In an e-mail sent to me from Geneva, Kida said the following:
It makes me sad that I have to come here and make an appeal regarding facts that the Japanese government is trying to cover up and hide from the rest of the world. I am here to let people here know that Fukushima is still here, but also that the Japanese government is attempting to reinvigorate its nuclear power program in the name of economics–a move that endangers the very existence of civilization itself.
The only thing I will be able to do is circulate translated materials, and make a short presentation. I am not sure about the extent to which this kind of lobbying will have an impact upon the committee members, but one thing is sure: continuing to merely protest in front of the Japanese Prime Minister’s residence will do nothing to change the politicians in this country. If the same crowd of nearly 200,000 people were to come here and surround the UN buildings in Geneva like they did in Tokyo last year, I have no doubt that the Japanese government would get completely panicked. In any case, the fact that a nuclear refugee such as myself has to come here and make this kind of appeal myself makes me feel very much alone.
I had the opportunity to interview Kida onstage at the Spring Love Harukaze event held at Tokyo’s Yoyogi Park on March 30, 2013. Speaking mostly to an assembled crowd of festival-goers who did not have many opportunities to consider the issues continuing to face Fukushima citizens, Kida gave an extremely powerful presentation regarding what it meant to be a nuclear refugee, as well as related social issues such as the connections between the nuclear industry and the military-industrial complex. She urged Japan to save its peace-guaranteeing Constitutional Article 9, and even ended her presentation by breaking into song–and inviting audience members to sing along–regarding the need for ordinary citizens to stand up and act for justice.
Kida’s visit to the United Nations follows that of Katsutaka Idogawa, the courageous former mayor of Futaba Town near the nuclear reactors who resigned in protest of the national government’s failure to adequately provide for the safety of Fukushima citizens.
–Kimberly Hughes
Japans comfort women -Global comments at the UN – 14 March 2013
…Regarding the issue of “comfort women”, Mr. Okada said that it should not develop into a political and diplomatic issue. He expressed once again Japan’s regret, and said that Japan had set up a reparations fund….
…Japan had not treated honestly the recruitment of comfort women in World War II. China called on Japan to fully implement the recommendations it had accepted and apologize…
…It was deplorable that Japan rejected the recommendation to accept responsibility for Japan’s military sexual slavery system…
….The lack of anti-discrimination legislation on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity was one of the remaining challenges facing Japan…..
Image source ; http://queens-politics.com/tag/comfort-women/
Consideration of the Outcome of the Universal Periodic Review of Japan
TAKASHI OKADA, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said that Japan had been making an active contribution to the activities of the Council since its establishment, and stressed that it saw the Universal Periodic Review as a vital mechanism to review the human right situation of all United Nations Member States through dialogue and cooperation. The Constitution of Japan was based on the fundamental principles of the sovereignty of its people and respect for human rights. Japan had developed a democratic political system and implemented a policy which promoted and protected human rights and fundamental freedoms as universal values. Out of the 174 recommendations it had received, Japan had agreed to follow up or partially follow up on 125 of them, including those promoting the protection of the rights of women, children, and persons with disabilities, but was unable to accept 26 of the recommendations. Regarding the remaining 23 recommendations, Japan already had sufficient measures in place to address the issues raised by those. Increasing citizens’ awareness of the results of its Universal Periodic Review was important to Japan from a human rights education perspective. Mr. Okada said that Japan would continue to actively contribute as a member of the Council and would work to improve the human rights situation in the country.
Iran took note of the number of recommendations provided to Japan during its Universal Periodic Review and encouraged Japan to accelerate efforts to eliminate discrimination against children of ethnic minorities, non-Japanese nationality and children with disabilities.
Philippines welcomed the recognition by Japan that the issue of “comfort women” was a grave insult to the honour of a large number of women, many of whom were from the Philippines, and appreciated Japan’s apology. The Philippines awaited further action from Japan to overcome all legal impediments to the full ratification of the Palermo Protocol on trafficking in persons, and hoped that Japan would soon conclude its review of the legal implications of ratifying the Convention for the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and their Families.
Republic of Korea said that it had raised concerns about the issue of “comfort women” but Japan had not taken sincere measures and had not accepted the recommendations made by the Republic of Korea. Japan should urgently take appropriate measures in that respect.
Republic of Moldova welcomed the efforts of Japan to improve its domestic human rights situation and contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights at the international level. The Republic of Moldova acknowledged Japan’s commitment to address domestic and sexual violence against women and the efforts to combat sexual exploitation of children, child pornography and prostitution and to protect the victims.
Algeria was pleased to note that Japan had accepted Algeria’s recommendations to increase efforts to prevent the sexual exploitation of children and to ensure greater political representation and participation of women in public life.
China expressed regret that Japan rejected some important recommendations and said that until now, Japan had not treated honestly the recruitment of comfort women in World War II. China called on Japan to fully implement the recommendations it had accepted and apologize. China had no objections to the adoption of the outcome of the Universal Periodic Review report of Japan.
Amnesty International welcomed Japan’s acceptance of the recommendation to establish a national human rights institution in accordance with the Paris Principles and regretted that it rejected the recommendation made by more than 20 States regarding the death penalty, including introducing a moratorium on executions with a view to full abolition. It was deplorable that Japan rejected the recommendation to accept responsibility for Japan’s military sexual slavery system.
Save the Children International appreciated the acceptance by Japan of recommendations relating to the ratification of the third Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and to the adoption of measures to protect the right to health of Fukushima residents. Japan should facilitate and encourage democratic deliberations to implement the act on the protection and support for the children and other victims of the TEPCO disaster.
International Lesbian and Gay Association appreciated that Japan had taken positive steps towards protecting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons by changing relevant policies. The lack of anti-discrimination legislation on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity was one of the remaining challenges facing Japan.
Reporters Without Borders International said that Japan, which could be proud about the freedom of press, had experienced a free fall in the ranking compiled by Reporters Without Borders, due to lack of information available about the accident at Fukushima. It was hoped that Japan would respect the right of its citizens to information.
International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism said that many of the recommendations from the first cycle of the Universal Periodic Review had not been implemented and Japan had failed to establish a national human rights institution in accordance with the Paris Principles. The reality on the ground called for anti-discriminatory legislation, and a prohibition of discrimination on any grounds.
Human Rights Now urged Japan to implement the recommendation concerning the protection of the right to life and health of the people affected by the nuclear accident in Fukushima. The response of the Government was not sufficient and Japan should provide sufficient compensation and support for the relocation of people living in contaminated areas.
Japanese Association for the Right to Freedom of Speech said that during the consideration of its Universal Periodic Review report in October 2012, Japan had made a deceptive reply regarding the issue of political tract distribution. This type of detention violated the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
TAKASHI OKADA, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said that the Universal Periodic Review was an extremely valuable mechanism. Japan was pleased by the great interest shown in its human rights situation by the delegations and civil society. Regarding the issue of “comfort women”, Mr. Okada said that it should not develop into a political and diplomatic issue. He expressed once again Japan’s regret, and said that Japan had set up a reparations fund. Concerning the death penalty, Japan did not think that it would be appropriate to abolish it. With regard to the Fukushima disaster, the Government had provided financial and medical support to Fukushima residents. Japan would spare no effort in making further improvements in its situation of human rights.
The Council then adopted the outcome of the Universal Periodic Review of Japan.
http://www.ohchr.org/CH/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=13142&LangID=E
Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority in danger of going soft on environmental crime
Published on 16 May 2013
The London offices of BP and Shell have been raided by European regulators….
WEBSITE: SOTT.NET
SOURCE CREDITS: Rupert Neate and Terry Macalister of The Guardian
PHOTO CREDIT: © Eric Piermont/AFP/Getty Images
NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT is EVER INTENDED. I take no credit for the article or the photos at all…
correction: I said LAKE, I meant to say Lord …oops! I apologize for this error.
“..BP said: “BP is one of the companies that is subject to an investigation that was announced by the European commission. We are co-operating fully with the investigation and unable to comment further at this time.”
Statoil, which is 67%-owned by the Norwegian government, said: “The authorities suspect participation by several companies, including Statoil, in anti-competitive agreements and/or concerted practices contrary to Article 53 of the European Economic Area (EEA) [market manipulation].
“The suspected violations are related to the Platts’ Market-On-Close (MOC) price assessment process, used to report prices in particular for crude oil, refined oil products and biofuels, and may have been ongoing since 2002.” ….”
ARTICLE LINK: http://www.sott.net/article/261898-BP…
Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority in danger of going soft on environmental crime
http://www.bellona.org/articles/articles_2013/PSA_environmental_crime
Bellona is calling for a debate on the role of Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) amid suggestions that only pressure from supervisory bodies compel the government agency to pursue critical legal investigations of environmental crimes.
Several incidents over the past decade that only narrowly avoided becoming serious accidents for Norway’s offshore industry have shown the PSA to be at best overly indulgent of the Norwegian oil industry, and at worst seemingly willfully blind to its missteps.
On an international level, these may seems surprising revelations, given PSA’s well-deserved reputation of one of the best petroleum oversight agencies in the world. But there is still room for improvement, says Bellona.
Bellona advisor Karl Kristensen said that Norway’s Climate and Pollution Agency as well as prosecutors themselves underscored the importance of police investigations and prosecutions of environmental crimes, a topic that was discussed during a Bellona seminar in April.
“Bellona recognized that PSA is undersized in relation to the audit tasks required of it,” said Kristensen. “The increase of funding [to the authority] in recent years has not kept pace with the increase in jobs. Because of this Bellona has requested doubling the PSA budget .
Kristensen noted, however, that such reinforcements would be ineffectual if PSA is reluctant to fulfill its mandate. Kristensen said that “PSA’s lack of willingness to use the strictest measures, as far as Bellona can tell, are unparalleled in Norwegian management practices, which shows an excessively strong and naïve belief in dialogue as the only significant measure.”
Bellona wants PSA to monitor its own obligations in a clearer and more consistent manner. “Our requirements for the use of police reports when justified is thus only a single element of such a change of course,” said Kristensen. “In addition, we want that offshore operations that experience serious and undesired events be stopped until the causes of the events can be determined,” he said.
UK nuclear submarine substantially substandard and seriously stupid! John Large interviewed
Image source ; http://mojosteve.blogspot.co.uk/2009/08/crazy-ivans-spotted-off-folly-beach.html
From the man at the gates 🙂
US State Department’s Response to Osaka City Mayor Hashimoto: “Outrageous and Offensive”, with Transcript Footnote Showing Disgust to Asahi Reporter’s Question
http://ex-skf.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/us-state-departments-response-to-osaka.html
A reporter from Asahi Shinbun went to the daily briefing at the State Department on May 16, 2013 and asked questions to the spokesperson Jen Psaki.
What do you think of Mayor Hashimoto’s comments?
What do you think, were those women “comfort women” or “sex slaves”?
(Oh boy.)
From the US Department of State Daily Briefings transcript for May 16, 2013:
QUESTION: Hi, my name is Takashi from Japanese newspaper Asahi. Osaka City Mayor Hashimoto recently made a comment on the so-called “comfort women” issue, arguing that even though it is unacceptable from the moral perspective value, but the comfort women were necessary during the war period. And he also argued that it is not fair that only Japan is criticized by the United States and other countries, because there are other country military that were provided sexual service by prostitute. And do U.S. has any position on his comment or criticism against the United States?
MS. PSAKI: We have seen, of course, those comments. Mayor Hashimoto’s comments were outrageous and offensive. As the United States has stated previously, what happened in that era to these women who were trafficked for sexual purposes is deplorable and clearly a grave human rights violation of enormous proportions. We extend, again, our sincere and deep sympathy to the victims, and we hope that Japan will continue to work with its neighbors to address this and other issues arising from the past and cultivate relationships that allow them to move forward.
QUESTION: Do you describe this issue sex slave or comfort women?
MS. PSAKI: Again, I don’t know that I’m going to define it. You kind of laid out the specific details there, and we have described this issue in the past as comfort women[ii].
What is the footnote ii? Well I am afraid even the Asahi reporter managed to piss off the State Department (emphasis below is mine):
[ii] Rather than focusing on the label placed on these victims, we prefer to address the fact that this was a grave human rights violation of enormous proportions. The United States is also committed to working with our partners and allies around the world to denounce modern-day slavery and trafficking in persons no matter where it occurs.
これらの被害者につけられたラベル［慰安婦（Comfort women)か性の奴隷（Sex slaves）か］にこだわるよりも、私たちは、これが、重大で恐ろしく大規模な人権の蹂躙であったという事実に向き合う[事実を扱う］方を好む。アメリ カ合衆国はまた、世界のパートナーや同盟諸国と共に、世界のどこであろうと現在存在する奴隷制度、人身取引を強く非難する。
I couldn’t believe it until I read several articles by the Japanese media and tweets by some Japanese, but some people in Japan do seem to think if those women were called “comfort women”, somehow they were part of the legitimate business. And they are shocked that foreign media portrays these women as “sex slaves”. Thus the Asahi reporter asked that question.
If you start to believe in your own shit (often called “tatemae” in Japanese, literally “a facade”), you are toast. But many Japanese do not even know that any more. Lost art of tatemae and honne.
Lying to the United nations made easy! -Japan in focus
…..With regard to the Fukushima disaster, the Government had provided financial and medical support to Fukushima residents. Japan would spare no effort in making further improvements in its situation of human rights…….
Image source ; http://www.dianuke.org/tepcos-radioactive-lies-the-arsonist-investigating-the-fire/
BACKGROUND RELEASE
25 April 2013
Experts to Review Reports of Japan, Iran, Jamaica, Azerbaijan, Togo, Rwanda and Denmark
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights will meet at the Palais Wilson in Geneva from 29 April to 17 May to examine measures taken by Japan, Iran, Jamaica, Azerbaijan, Togo, Rwanda and Denmark to comply with the standards of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The session will be opened on Monday, 29 April with an address from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights or her representative. The Committee will then elect its Chairperson and Bureau, adopt its agenda and discuss organizational matters and its methods of work. In the afternoon meeting, the Committee will hear information from non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions with respect to the reports that it will review during the session.
The forgotten children of Fukushima and the UN conspiracy!
….The UN meetings have gone unreported and the silence has allowed the corruption of a process of justice that the petitioners from Japan were relying on. This is a total whitewashing of recent past and even present history…..
….This charade of a committee with its hidden documents to foil English language searches is a pathetic attempt at stopping the people of Fukushima achieve their Human Rights!……
Update information courtesy of Simplyinfo.org
Posted by nuclear-news.net
By Arclight2011
16 May 2013
For the last week i have been attempting to alert the world to , what i believe, is a miscarriage of justice at the Optional Protocol findings recently held at the UN.
The whole process was not reported in the media or indeed anywhere.
The Japanese delegation had made this statement on the 14 March 2013. This document of the summary of that meeting was placed on a chinese speaking part of the UN website.
In this document we find this statement;
[…]Takashi Okada, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said that out of the 174 recommendations it had received, Japan had agreed to follow up or partially follow up on 125 of them, including those promoting the protection of the rights of women, children, and persons with disabilities, but was unable to accept 26 of the recommendations. Regarding the remaining 23 recommendations, Japan already had sufficient measures in place to address the issues raised by those.
[…]
FOUND ON THE CHINESE UN WEBSITE
http://www.ohchr.org/CH/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=13142&LangID=E
And on an Arabic speaking part of the UN server we discovered this
[…]
The Committee is composed of the following 18 Experts: Aslan Khuseinovich Abashidze (Russian Federation); Mohamed Ezzeldin Adel-Moneim (Egypt); Clement Atangana (Cameroon); Maria-Virginia Bras Gomes (Portugal); Jun Cong (China); Chandrashekhar Dasgupta (India); Zdzislaw Kedzia (Poland); Azzouz Kerdoun (Algeria); Mikel Mancisidor (Spain); Jaime Marchan Romero (Ecuador); Sergei Martynov (Belarus); Ariranga Govindasamy Pillay (Mauritius);Lydia Carmelita Ravenberg (Suriname); Renato Zerbini Ribeiro Leao (Brazil); Waleed Sadi (Jordan); Nikolaas Jan Schrijver (Netherlands); Heisoo Shin (Republic of Korea); and Alvaro Tirado Mejia (Colombia).
[…]
FOUND ON THE ARABIC UN WEBSITE
http://www.ohchr.org/AR/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=13266&LangID=C
There was no mention of Mr Anand Grover on this committee.
Indeed from the replies that concerns the radioactive contamination issues, we get terms like this;
“….maintain a suitable level of living….”
“…radiation was at the level advised…”
“… there was financial support available for refugees…”
“… previous Japanese delegation had said the comments of this Committee were not binding…”
As many reports of misreporting of this disaster flood the internet in video, blog and even main stream media sources, a deafly silence surrounds the plight of the people and environment of the contaminated areas of Japan.
The UN meetings have gone unreported and the silence has allowed the corruption of a process of justice that the petitioners from Japan were relying on. This is a total whitewashing of recent past and even present history.
Tomorrow, in just a few hours, The meeting will be resolved with no attention to the plight of the forgotten people of Fukushima. The pretence of decontamination, run by local Yakusa and other corrupt officials has failed and other more permanent decisions need to be made that include evacuating some areas of young and vulnerable people.
This charade of a committee with its hidden documents to foil English language searches is a pathetic attempt at stopping the people of Fukushima achieve their Human Rights!
Please try to contact anyone you can to let the UN and others know that they failed to hide these disgraceful meetings. Demand a halt to the preceding s until the people of Japan can see for themselves whats is being said and done in their names.. We might have missed the deadline for tomorrow but we can demand a recess on this last meeting if we try to allow some democratic discussion to develop.
A list of names of Japanese government delegation.
http://www2.ohchr.org/English/bodies/cescr/docs/list/List_Japan_CESCR50.pdf
For sending your protest:
1. https://www3.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/mail/qa.html
2. United Nations Information Centre:
UN HOUSE 8F
5-53-70, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001
Tel : 03-5467-4451／FAX : 03-5467-4455
And the names of the committee members (above)can be googled with the terms UN contact email or go here; http://www.un.org/en/contactus/
Other info sources
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights considers Report of Japan – 30 April 2013
Committee on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights
30 April 2013
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights today considered the third periodic report of Japan on how that country implements the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Introducing the report of Japan, Hideaki Ueda, Ambassador in charge of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Japan, said Japan had a target for increasing the number of women in leadership positions and an action plan to combat human trafficking. The number of persons with disabilities in employment had risen and persons with disabilities were offered vocational guidance carefully tailored to their abilities and aptitudes. The Government had implemented emergency support measures in the wake of the financial crisis, and support for employment for youth had been strengthened. An integrated reform of the social security system had taken place and insurance payment requirements for pension payments had been relaxed.
The Committee asked about the labour force supply and demand structure, working hours, labour agreements, the National Wage Council, the linkage between the minimum wage and the benefit programme, the health insurance system, social security, nuclear accidents and how the comments of the Committee were considered in Japan. Also issues concerning the impact of the financial situation on Japan’s ability to implement the provisions of the Covenant, austerity measures, the Fukushima nuclear power station accident and alternative forms of energy were raised.
In preliminary concluding remarks, Mohamed Ezzeldin Abdel-Moneim, Committee Rapporteur for the report of Japan, said that at the time of reporting Japan was one of the largest world economies, and inflation in the economy had led to large debt levels. This had made spending cuts attractive but, in the face of economic recession, this approach had failed time and again. He also mentioned that in relation to the need to comply with obligations, the Covenant noted the need to comply with other elements of international law.
Mr. Ueda expressed his gratitude for a vibrant and comprehensive discussion of economic, social and cultural rights. This was a valuable opportunity for a review and Japan would continue with its efforts to improve access to these rights.
Committee Chairperson Zdzislaw Kedzia thanked all members of the delegation for the fruitful and friendly dialogue. He said there remained differences in the evaluation of some points though a better understanding had been reached.
The delegation of Japan included representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Ministry of the Environment.
The next public meeting of the Committee will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 30 April, when it will consider the second periodic report of Iran.
Report
The third periodic report of Japan can be read here: (E/C.12/JPN/3).
Presentation of the Report of Japan;
Where is Mr Anand Grover? ….when you want him?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anand_Grover
DEADLINE FOR ACTION!!
TOMORROW 17 MAY 2013
Mr Anand Grover was last seen in communication with the world in November 2012
He Had something to say
FOUND ON THE ENGLISH UN WEBSITE
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=12831&LangID=E
The Japanese Government needed to respond to these vile slurs
So they sent there best men.. who DIDNT SAY MUCH BECAUSE A PREVIOUS DELEGATION HAD SAID:
….. a previous Japanese delegation had said the comments of this Committee were not binding…..
The Optional Protocol of 2008 is NOT binding (i.e. Not worth the paper it is written on)
FOUND ON THE ARABIC UN WEBSITE
IF YOU FIND MR ANAND GROVER,PLEASE RETURN HIM TO;
GENEVA
Takashi Okada, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said that out of the 174 recommendations it had received, Japan had agreed to follow up or partially follow up on 125 of them, including those promoting the protection of the rights of women, children, and persons with disabilities, but was unable to accept 26 of the recommendations. Regarding the remaining 23 recommendations, Japan already had sufficient measures in place to address the issues raised by those.
FOUND ON THE CHINESE UN WEBSITE
http://www.ohchr.org/CH/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=13142&LangID=E
The Committee is composed of the following 18 Experts: Aslan Khuseinovich Abashidze (Russian Federation); Mohamed Ezzeldin Adel-Moneim (Egypt); Clement Atangana (Cameroon); Maria-Virginia Bras Gomes (Portugal); Jun Cong (China); Chandrashekhar Dasgupta (India); Zdzislaw Kedzia (Poland); Azzouz Kerdoun (Algeria); Mikel Mancisidor (Spain); Jaime Marchan Romero (Ecuador); Sergei Martynov (Belarus); Ariranga Govindasamy Pillay (Mauritius);Lydia Carmelita Ravenberg (Suriname); Renato Zerbini Ribeiro Leao (Brazil); Waleed Sadi (Jordan); Nikolaas Jan Schrijver (Netherlands); Heisoo Shin (Republic of Korea); and Alvaro Tirado Mejia (Colombia).
FOUND ON THE ARABIC UN WEBSITE
http://www.ohchr.org/AR/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=13266&LangID=C
Further reading
Page 74 concerns refugee issues and page 101 onwards describes the radiological disaster….
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cescr/docs/ngos/JFBA_Japan_CESCRWg49.pdf
h/t simplyinfo
Update -Japanese citizens respond to attempted UN cover up! With only 24 Hours to effect change!
“The supposedly free democratic nation of Japan, which supposedly values and promotes freedom of speech, has officially issued orders to telecommunication companies and webmasters to remove content from websites that counter the official government position that the disaster is over and there is no more threat from the radiation. 20 April 2011”
Image and caption source ; http://weeklyintercept.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/japan-officially-orders-censorship-of.html
UN Report – Bloggers response! – Japanese delegation to The UN spreads Lies and Deception!
14 May 2013
Published by nuclear-news.net
Below, is a report concerning the petition to the UN on behalf of the Children of Fukushima and their petition to the UN. The UN sent Mr. Anand Grover on a Country Visit to Japan on 15 to 26 November 2012. Mr Anand Grover made some comments regarding the nuclear disaster, as well as some other issues in Japan……
Japanese responses
Comment by Mr. Daisuke Shirane, staff at Geneva office of IMADR (The International Movement Against all Forms of Discrimination and Racism)
The Japanese Government Delegation often apply a so-called “official bureaucrats style of talking” when they speak at UN committees when answering questions. It means that they sometime talk vaguely or answer the questions only partly or repeat the same sort of things from a single aspect from the whole situation. As a member of NGO I got an impression that they didn’t want to deliver their clear answers.
Also, in relation to the Japanese government’s report and their answers to committees’ questions, there had been comments such as that there were no honest answers, not appropriate answers to questions and also that international standard hadn’t been applied correctly in Japan.
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/harumi-s_2005/e/bc90e378cf16da2fd9d38e79fb3bea61
IMADRジュネーブ事務所 白根大輔
Anonymous Japanese citizen from Geneva (from private correspondence)
“… thank you very much for the information. This document is really precious and must be told to the Japanese people. All UN documents are written in official UN languages but not in Japanese and I think no one knew and followed what Japanese Government has been doing currently in UN.
Your friend’s info is extremely important. I will also tweet or update in my FB so that we maintain a pressure on the Japanese Government! Thank you again!
Then after some more investigation she wrote:
It’s a kind of cover-up not to show what the Govnt. is doing abroad to hide the ongoing reality in Japan.
I read the article in the UN Arabic section but Fukushima’s conditions are mentioned only briefly and with lies. So, I decided to translate the blog you sent me and translate some parts of UN doc. I also tweeted that Japanese Govnt ‘s activities in UN are only updated in Arabic section.
Japanese mass media are contaminated by money from Nuke lobby and that’s the reason no mass media followed this important human rights issue. I tried to ask my friends in Geneva if there are any journalists who can have access to UN s coming session about human rights and resolution for Japan. I believe we need alternative journalists who show the world what really happens in Fukushima…..”
Posted by on behalf of anonymous by Arclight2011
A list of names of Japanese government delegation.
http://www2.ohchr.org/English/bodies/cescr/docs/list/List_Japan_CESCR50.pdf
For sending your protest:
1. https://www3.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/mail/qa.html
2. United Nations Information Centre:
UN HOUSE 8F
5-53-70, Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001
Tel : 03-5467-4451／FAX : 03-5467-4455
Translation and research support for this article from Mia (JANUK) thttp://fukushimaappeal.blogspot.co.uk/
The Continuing Fukushima Cover-Up – Salon.com
…Buoyed by the WHO study, the Japanese government has already declared Fukushima rice totally safe provided it emits less than 100 Becquerels (Bq) per kilogram (kg). (A Becquerel is one atomic disintegration per second.)
Research conducted after Chernobyl contradicts this directive. According to Starr, children in the Ukraine and Belarus routinely exposed to more than 50 Bq per kg of Cesium-137 (from the Chernobyl meltdown) Chernobyl suffered irreversible heart damage…..
MAY 14, 2013
http://open.salon.com/blog/stuartbramhall/2013/05/13/the_continuing_fukushima_cover-up
The New York Academy of Medicine celebrated the second anniversary of Fukushima’s nuclear disaster with a two day Fukushima Symposium on March 11th and 12th. Sponsored by the Helen Caldicott Foundation and Physicians for Social Responsibility, the event consisted of presentations from a broad range of physician and non-physician researchers specialized in the effects of nuclear radiation on the environment and human health. It was videoed and can be viewed free on-line (see links below).
What the symposium makes crystal clear is that there has been a deliberate effort by Japanese government, the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the Obama administration, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) to minimize the long term health consequences of nuclear fallout, especially to children. Instead of backtracking on the billions of dollars he approved to subsidize TEPCO to build more US nuclear power plants, Obama is participating in an international cover-up to conceal the serious long term dangers of this technology. See After 50 Years Nuclear Power Still not Viable Without Subsidies
I found the March 11th presentation by Dr Steven Starr of the Clinical Laboratory Science Program at the University of Missouri the most illuminating. The focus of Starr’s talk was the long term effects of Cesium-137, which is the main long term contaminant of soil and food following a nuclear accident.
The research Starr presents directly contradicts a study WHO published two months ago called The Health Risk Assessment From the Nuclear Accident after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. The latter supports the Japanese government’s position that the radioactive contamination deposited immediately after meltdown has dissipated and there is no longer any risk of eating food produced there. Buoyed by the WHO study, the Japanese government has already declared Fukushima rice totally safe provided it emits less than 100 Becquerels (Bq) per kilogram (kg). (A Becquerel is one atomic disintegration per second.)
Research conducted after Chernobyl contradicts this directive. According to Starr, children in the Ukraine and Belarus routinely exposed to more than 50 Bq per kg of Cesium-137 (from the Chernobyl meltdown) Chernobyl suffered irreversible heart damage.
According to Starr WHO and IRCP are guilty of four main scientific errors:
- WHO and IRCP quantify radiation exposure in Sieverts or milliSieverts (mSv). This is extremely controversial because a Sievert isn’t a measure of actual radiation exposure but of presumed radiation “effect” based on mathematical modeling.
- WHO and IRCP studies are based on an assumption that Cesium-137is spread uniformly throughout the body, whereas their own research shows it bioaccumulates in specific organs.
- None of the WHO and IRCP studies incorporate Dr Yuri Bandazhevsky’s detailed research into Belarusian children exposed to Cesium-137 following Chernobyl, which has only recently been translated into English.
- None of the WHO and IRCP studies distinguish between external exposure and chronic internal exposure due to radionuclides that accumulate in vital organs.
Basic Scientific Facts About Cesium-137 and Fallout from Fukushima
1 This Month
10 March A LIVE WEBINAR THE REAL EFFECTS OF NUCLEAR POWER
What the Industry Isn’t Telling Us
1:00 PM Mountain, 2 pm Central, 3 pm Eastern. Live on the Keepers of the Water Facebook page
18 March Webinar @ 1 PM EST: An Assessment of SMR Projects: The Case of Canada
register for the zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_o8BIIOUvQ2ONJR1nta65DQ#/registration
of the week – STOP SMALL MODULAR REACTORS IN CANADA
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