January 29, 2013
1.Introduction
Comprehensive measures to prevent health problems caused by the Fukushima nuclear disaster have yet to be established. The aim of the Fukushima Health Management Survey is defined as the “reduction of citizen’s anxiety” about health problems due to radiation. The survey assumes that the effect of radiation is “extremely small” and focuses only on the examination of children’s thyroid glands. The contents and methods of the survey have also received many criticisms.
After the Fukushima nuclear disaster, additional 20mSv/year in effective dose was adopted as the standard for evacuation and resettlement. However, the validity of this standard has not been assessed adequately. Moreover, in anticipation of the restart of nuclear reactors, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) is currently discussing standards for radiological protection in emergency situations.
This project aims to establish the committee of citizens and experts in order to conduct independent discussion in regard to desirable health management of citizens and permissible limit of radiation exposure. The committee will consist of various stakeholders, such as experts of radiation effects, medical doctors, lawyers, victims in Fukushima, and representatives from citizen groups.
The committee will review the Fukushima Health Management Survey and NRA’s discussion and reports so as to engage with the following activities:
1)Make urgent recommendations for improving the Fukushima Health Management Survey;
2)Analyze problems of radiation exposure and medical treatment after the Fukushima nuclear disaster;
3)Assess NRA’s discussions and decisions on guidelines for disaster prevention, emergency monitoring and radiological protection and propose alternatives.
Furthermore, the committee will publicize the process and outcomes of its discussion to raise public awareness at the societal level.
2.Committee members
-Saburou Murata / Medical doctor, Vice-director of the HannanChuou Hospital
-Hisako Sakiyama / Doctor of Medical Science, Takagi School, Former chief researcher of the National Institute of Radiological Sciences
-Makoto Yamada / Pediatrician, Representative of the nationwide pediatricians’ network for saving children from radiation
-Isamu Takamatsu / Pediatrician, Pediatricians’ study group on medical problems, Member of the nationwide pediatricians’ network for saving children from radiation
-Susumu Shimazono / Professor of Sophia University (Professor of Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, University of Tokyo until March 2013)
-Masamichi Nishio / Former director of Hokkaido Cancer Center
-Kenji Fukuda / Lawyer, Save Fukushima Children Lawyer’s Network
-Yuko Yoshida / Women's Network for Chernobyl Health Survey and Health-Care Support for the Victims
-Seiichi Nakate / Fukushima network for saving children from radiation
-Seiko Takahashi / Citizen in Fukushima
-Takeshi Sakagami / Citizens Against the Fukushima Aging Nuclear Power Plants
3.Proposers
-Friends of the Earth Japan (FoE Japan)
-Citizens Against the Fukushima Aging Nuclear Power Plants
-Save Fukushima Children Lawyer’s Network (SAFLAN)
Secretariat: Friends of the Earth Japan (FoE Japan)
Kanna Mitsuta
TEL: (+81)3-6907-7217 FAX: (+81)3-6907-7219
Address: 2nd fl. 3-30-22 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-0014 Japan