July 15, 2012
The Tokyo metropolitan government on July 9 decontaminated some hot spots in Tokyo from radioactive materials for the first time, at the repeated requests of metropolitan assembly members of the Japanese Communist Party. Tokyo Governor Ishihara Shintaro’s quest to hold the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo makes the authorities reluctant to address the need for decontamination.
An application, which the Tokyo Olympic Inviting Committee submitted to the International Olympic Committee, describes that it is unlikely that the games would be suspended by an earthquake or tsunami and that the Fukushima nuclear crisis is rapidly coming to a close.
At a budget meeting of the metropolitan assembly in March, JCP assemblywoman Shimizu Hideko said, “The metropolitan government claims that ‘Tokyo is entirely safe’, hiding the risk of future earthquakes and the threat of radioactive contamination. The governor’s desire to invite the Olympics to Tokyo lies in background.”
The JCP metropolitan assembly members’ group has conducted a series of surveys of radioactive contamination in many areas in Tokyo and announced that there are a lot of hot spots in residential districts. Based on the survey results, they have requested the metropolitan authorities 16 times to decontaminate all facilities owned by the Tokyo government. The authorities, however, rejected the requests on the ground that the radiation doses are “not high enough” to cause immediate health damage.
The JCP group carried out more detailed surveys and made representations over and over again, and the authorities finally measured radiation doses in Mizumoto Park on June 25, in the presence of the assembly members. They found that 9 out of 16 spots measured exceed the maximum allowable level of radiation set by the central government. The metropolitan government stated, “We will take action for decontamination soon after consultation with the national government.” On July 9, the authorities decontaminated some spots in the park.
Sakamaki Yukio, member of the Japan Scientists’ Association, said, “The special extent of radioactive contamination extends from the bay area to the eastern region of Tokyo. This is no time for the metropolitan government to be excited about inviting the Olympic Games to Tokyo. They should conduct decontamination work in a wider area without delay, putting priority on the safety and security of residents.”
An application, which the Tokyo Olympic Inviting Committee submitted to the International Olympic Committee, describes that it is unlikely that the games would be suspended by an earthquake or tsunami and that the Fukushima nuclear crisis is rapidly coming to a close.
At a budget meeting of the metropolitan assembly in March, JCP assemblywoman Shimizu Hideko said, “The metropolitan government claims that ‘Tokyo is entirely safe’, hiding the risk of future earthquakes and the threat of radioactive contamination. The governor’s desire to invite the Olympics to Tokyo lies in background.”
The JCP metropolitan assembly members’ group has conducted a series of surveys of radioactive contamination in many areas in Tokyo and announced that there are a lot of hot spots in residential districts. Based on the survey results, they have requested the metropolitan authorities 16 times to decontaminate all facilities owned by the Tokyo government. The authorities, however, rejected the requests on the ground that the radiation doses are “not high enough” to cause immediate health damage.
The JCP group carried out more detailed surveys and made representations over and over again, and the authorities finally measured radiation doses in Mizumoto Park on June 25, in the presence of the assembly members. They found that 9 out of 16 spots measured exceed the maximum allowable level of radiation set by the central government. The metropolitan government stated, “We will take action for decontamination soon after consultation with the national government.” On July 9, the authorities decontaminated some spots in the park.
Sakamaki Yukio, member of the Japan Scientists’ Association, said, “The special extent of radioactive contamination extends from the bay area to the eastern region of Tokyo. This is no time for the metropolitan government to be excited about inviting the Olympic Games to Tokyo. They should conduct decontamination work in a wider area without delay, putting priority on the safety and security of residents.”
