Japan Press Weekly

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2011 October 19 - 25 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

JCP local assembly members in Chiba request state support for radioactive decontamination

Japanese Communist Party city assembly members in Chiba’s Tokatsu region on October 18 visited the Environment Ministry to request that its support for radioactive decontamination activities be increased.

In the Tokatsu region consisting of six cities (Matsudo, Kamagaya, Kashiwa, Noda, Nagareyama, and Abiko), the level of radiation has been higher than at other locations in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and several radiation hot spots have been discovered. This has caused severe anxiety among local residents, especially young mothers.

The JCP assembly members demanded that the maximum radiation exposure in the region be set at 0.18 microsievert per hour; that the ministry drastically improve its plan to reduce the region’s radiation level by 60% from the current level within two years; and that the ministry provide technical and financial support to citizens who voluntarily measure radiation counts and carry out cleanup of radiation residues.

An Environment Ministry official said, “We will do our best to offer financial support to residents through their municipalities for voluntary efforts for measurement and decontamination.”

JCP member of the House of Councilors Tamura Tomoko accompanied the local assembly members.