Mr. Hirohiko Izumida, Niigata prefectural
governor, is a respectable person. He
was a former bureaucrat of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Technology. I mean that there are a very few people in
every field who are definitely honest.
It is important to discern between honest people and others. There has never been a time when it was easy
to know good from evil like it is now.
Masatoshi
Takeshita
February
17, 2013
English translation of an excerpt from a
Japanese article: “Soon northern wind will blow” – February 17, 2013 –
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Governor
explodes with anger “Almost murder” over incineration of disaster debris
Yomiuri
Shimbun February 15
In the press conference of February 14,
Niigata Governor Hirohiko Izumida strongly criticized Kashiwazaki city and
Sanjo city for starting full-swing incineration of disaster debris and gave a
comment: “If someone dies, I shall say it is injury resulting in death. But it is almost murder to incinerate
disaster debris knowing the risk of radiation.”
On 12th, he also criticized such
incineration by the two cities as “criminal act.”
In the press conference on 14th,
he exploded with anger, saying “Can both cities take responsibility for the
future?”
Sanjo City Mayor, Yuto Kunisada criticizes
the governor as “dictator.” The governor
rebutted by saying “Is he going to say that I should not give my opinion and is
he going to curb the freedom of speech?
Isn’t it the dictatorship to incinerate disaster debris ignoring
residents’ opinions in his city?”
The governor also criticized the mayor by
name: “I wonder Mr. Kunisada thinks he will not live in Niigata in the future.”
—————————————-
Governor Hirohiko Izumida
of Niigata has always expressed his legitimate opinions on the nuclear power
plant accident and radiation contamination, and submitted a questionnaire to
the Environmental Agency.
Although he was a former
bureaucrat of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Technology, he honestly and
candidly criticizes the government for its lack of common sense which leaves
people to be unfairly exposed to radiation, and he also criticizes
municipalities which follow the central government.
I’d like to introduce what he gave comments
on nuclear power plants in the three regular press conferences held from
December last year to February this year.
—————————————-
Partial excerpt from press conferences and others
on Niigata prefectural governor posted on “kiikochan.blog”
Summary
of regular press interview with Governor Izumida, at Niigata prefectural
government office on December 26, 2012
Partial excerpt (on nuclear plant-related
problems)
Q:
With regard to nuclear power plants, would
you tell us what you are going to urge the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA)
to do, considering the present situation, if any?
A:
Governor
I have already submitted
to the NRA a questionnaire on how to tackle challenges after
taking into consideration the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident.
I want a quick reply from the Authority.
I think nobody will
believe any nuclear safety standards set by the Authority without answering the
questionnaire.
As I have often said, it is doubtful whether they can really develop measures
against nuclear disasters without members having knowledge of local
administration. Niigata
prefectural government had directly accepted evacuees from Fukushima prefecture
and had exchanged information with TEPCO.
However, NRA has not yet answered our questionnaire
for many months.
In spite of that, NRA suddenly
says that it is going to develop nuclear safety standards. We cannot believe the Authority. We are matter-of-factly
urging it to quickly answer the questionnaire, worrying about possible
establishment of meaningless safety standards.
Partial excerpt (on control of radiation
materials contained in disaster debris)
Q:
I’d like to ask you about radioactivity
control issue and other issues associated with it.
A:
Governor
With regard to radioactivity control, the
central government is relaxing it now for the reason of the time of the
accident. This is the reason why it is
accepted to have environmental contamination more severe than that of the
inside of nuclear power plant. It is
likely that a relaxed standard at the time of the accident may reflect their
way of thinking; no need to worry about some effects.
I wonder until when they will continue this
sort of thing.
“First of all, why do they rigidly control
the radioactivity level at the inside of nuclear power plant?”
Additionally, the
other day designation as specific evacuation recommended spots was cancelled. This may be because radioactivity of the
spots was lower than 20 msV per year.
Incidentally, an area with radioactivity of more than 5 msV per year is
called radiation control area. It is
stipulated in the Industry Health and Safety Law that minors should not work in
such areas.
So, why can they cancel such
designation when lower than 20 msV? In a word, if a baby should be in an area
with radiation dose of between 5 msV and 20 msV, would they stop supporting
his/her parents though the parents have to live in area where they are now
allowed to work under the Law.
I cannot understand the
current standards.
Q:
The government is discussing with five
cities about how to dispose of incinerated ash. As a solution,
for example, is it possible to ask TEPCO to accept it?
A:
Governor
I think TEPCO should do
so.
This is because there are professionals who
know how to control radioactive materials in a nuclear power plant.
Municipalities have no such experts.
In fact, it is the utility firms operating nuclear power plants that can professionally keep away radioactive materials from
the environment and control them so that they will never harm human body. Therefore, I think it
is natural that they should control the materials.
Q:
You say that it is not an issue of disaster
debris but an issue of radioactivity control.
With regard to radioactive materials contained in garbage dumped from
the prefecture, you are against burying it with
radioactivity of less than 100 Bq.
A:
Governor
They should make their best effort to control
garbage with high radioactivity. As a
rule, it is against the basic principles to scatter garbage after diluting its
concentration. I
think we should use our wisdom to assemble garbage in one place as much as
possible to keep away from human society.
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